SAN DIEGO >> Stephen F. Austin is riding high owns a 29-win streak that ranks second in college basketball. The Lumberjacks have not stumbled since Nov. 23 and are coming off their most impressive win yet: an overtime stunner of Virginia Commonwealth that stands as one of this NCAA Tournament’s pre-eminent thrillers.
“I forgot what it feels like to lose,” guard Thomas Walkup said.
Head coach Brad Underwood has done his best to keep the celebration short, and for good reason. At 4:10 p.m. today, fourth-seeded UCLA (27-8) will seek to end that run and carry hopes for its first Sweet Sixteen appearance since 2008.
“You move on to the next one,” Underwood said. “Reality slaps you in the face when you see UCLA.”
In just his first year at No. 12-seed SFA (32-2), Underwood has guided the Lumberjacks to their first-ever NCAA tournament win. He’s also introduced college basketball fans to a group of scrappy underdogs from Nacogdoches, an east Texas city of 32,000 that lies more than a two-hour drive from Dallas and Houston.
Playing in the “big dance” has offered a dramatic change of scenery.
“I think the police escort’s pretty cool,” junior forward Jacob Parker said. “Me and Thomas were talking today. We saw the free Gatorade and water in the locker room. That was nice.”
Underwood has instilled that no-frills mentality into the program. He needed 27 years in the business to find a Division I head coaching job after bouncing through a pair of junior colleges and a handful of assistant spots before accepting an offer from SFA.
He insisted he has all the resources to build a winner.
“We’re fine going to an Outback,” he said. “We don’t have to have catered-in food to our hotel.”
Their play matches that workmanlike mentality. The Lumberjacks don’t have a starter that stands over 6-feet-6 and essentially use what would amount to a five-guard lineup at most programs. Deficient height usually hurts a basketball team more accutely on defense, but Stephen F. Austin ranks fourth in the country in turnovers forced and makes opponents lose the ball on 24.1 percent of their possessions.
Stephen F. Austin also exudes patience and ranks 31st in offensive efficiency, but 312th in adjusted tempo. That latter figure puts them behind every UCLA opponent this season except Washington State.
The Bruins, of course, will try to maintain their usual breakneck pace — and do so without getting careless with the ball.
“We have to play under control,” forward Tony Parker said.
UCLA, too, is brimming with confidence, even if that feeling isn’t backed by a winning streak that stretches back before Thanksgiving. After an ugly 18-point loss to the Cougars in Pullman, Wash., the Bruins have looked like a refreshed powerhouse. They knocked off top-seeded Arizona to win the Pac-12 Tournament and have beaten three of their last four opponents by at least 17 points.
The Bruins, favored by nine points according to online sportsbookBovada.lv, said they aren’t distracted by the plucky underdog storyline.
“It doesn’t matter,” Parker said. “When you step on the floor, none of that matters.”
Added senior forward Travis Wear: “I don’t think we’re viewing ourselves or even paying attention to going into this game as a Goliath or a favorite.
“Stephen F. Austin is a great team. We’re not overlooking them at all.”
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