DAYTON, Ohio-- When Liberty lost its first eight games and was 10-20 late in the season, almost no one was a believer -- at least in basketball -- at the evangelical Christian school.
But coach Dale Layer said that every year a team finds that the glass slipper fits in March. So he asked his team, "Why can't it be us?"
Five victories and a Big South title later, the Flames (15-20) are the unlikeliest of NCAA teams heading into their First Four game on Tuesday night against North Carolina A&T.
The Aggies (18-16) have their own Cinderella story.
They also had a sub.-500 record heading into their conference tournament -- and the program was close to a 16th consecutive losing season -- before grabbing an automatic NCAA bid.
Associated Press