UTA reaches new heights, meets loftiest foe Friday

ARLINGTON — The UT-Arlington Mavericks face a tall task as they play in the NCAA Tournament for the first time.

The Mavericks, who are known for a strong inside game, will play Memphis, which is ranked second in the latest Associated Press poll and is by far the biggest team UTA has faced this season.

The Mavericks and Tigers meet Friday at the Alltel Center in Little Rock in the first round.

UTA (21-11) is the South Region’s sixteenth seed.

UTA earned the first NCAA berth in program history by winning the Southland Conference tournament, beating Northwestern State 82-79 in Sunday’s final in Katy.

The Mavericks stayed at the arena after the game to watch the bracket announcements on TV.

UTA junior forward Anthony Vereen, who was selected MVP of the SLC tournament, said he wasn’t worried when he saw which team the Mavericks play next.

“I was just relieved to get it over with,” he said. “Waiting was more nerve-racking than playing Northwestern State.”

Second-year coach Scott Cross said the team will travel to Little Rock on Wednesday, likely by bus.

He said UTA’s game plan will likely include sophomore guard Rog’er Guignard, who sprained his right ankle late in Sunday’s game.

Memphis (33-1) presents a big challenge for UTA.

The Tigers start two 6-foot-9 forwards (with a 6-10 backup) and three guards who are 6-7, 6-6 and 6-3.

The Mavericks’ starting forwards are 6-4 and 6-5 and their guards are 6-2 and 5-11.

The Tigers can shoot from outside (35 percent on 3-pointers) and have averaged only 12.2 turnovers per game.

“We knew we were going to play one of the best teams in the country,” Cross said. “We’re not going to go in intimidated.

“You never know. It is March Madness.”