BLOG: NCAA Tournament play ushers in new era

For the first time in school history, the University of South Dakota women’s basketball team is going dancing, making it to the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament.

The No. 15 seeded Coyotes  faced second seed Stanford in Ames, Iowa, Saturday.

As the Coyotes travel to their first ever NCAA tournament game, they have a slight advantage. Although they are playing a tough Stanford team, the Coyotes have the “home-court advantage” as they only have to travel three hours, whereas Stanford comes from California. With that being said, the Coyotes should have a better crowd turnout than Stanford. Unless they have a outstanding traveling fan club like North Dakota State football has, it should be an advantage to the Coyotes.

This is a milestone for the university, as the Coyotes reach the NCAA tourney for the first time as a Division I team. That says a lot about the university, but more about the players, coaches and fans. After losing to South Dakota State both times the Coyotes faced them during the regular season, defeating them in the Summit League tournament was a monumental moment in the team’s success.

The transition into D-I is a big deal and to make it to the NCAA tournament after only two years in D-I postseason eligibility is remarkable. It is definitely the start to showing the nation who USD is and getting its name out there. It started with Tyler Starr making it to the NFL combine and now this gets the name out even more. It shows the University of South Dakota produces elite athletes who accomplish goals and make a statement for themselves and their teams.