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MARSHALL SPORTS
Marshall mission: four days, four wins
Marshall's Tirrell Baines takes a shot over Suleiman Braimoh of Rice during a C-USA matchup March 4 at the Cam Henderson Center. The Herd plays Rice Wednesday in the first round of the conference tournament.
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HUNTINGTON -- Marshall University will have to win four games in four days to claim the Conference USA men's basketball tournament championship.
That's a difficult chore with teams such as No. 4 Memphis, Tulsa and UAB standing in the way.
But, Tulsa almost pulled it off last year, so it's not impossible.
Tulsa was seeded seventh in 2008 and knocked off East Carolina, UAB and UTEP before falling to Memphis in the finals.
"I don't even know if we thought about it much last year," Tulsa head coach Doug Wojcik said Monday during a C-USA coaches' teleconference. "You just go and play your next game."
The Golden Hurricane used its conference tournament performance as a springboard to winning the College Basketball Invitational.
Marshall (15-16) is the No. 7 seed this year playing No. 10 Rice (9-21) at 1 p.m. Wednesday on the FedExForum court in Memphis.
Thundering Herd head coach Donnie Jones said it's important to rest players as much as possible, especially with a limited bench.
"It's important what we do today," Jones said Monday. "It's important what we do tomorrow, mentally as well as physically.
"You just have to take them (games) one at a time and hope things can go your way."
Marshall meets Rice for the second time in exactly one week. Markel Humphrey had 20 points and Tirrell Baines scored 18 in a 76-62 defeat of the Owls on March 4 in Cam Henderson Center.
Jones said there is good and bad in playing the Owls again.
"It's probably better for our guys because it's fresher," he said. "But, they're a very tough opponent."
Rice head coach Ben Braun also used "fresher" in terms of memory and scouting a recent foe. Braun said it was a good game the first time and he expects another good game.
No. 9 seed East Carolina (13-16) also faces the obstacle of winning four games in four days. East Carolina ended the regular season on a five-game losing streak, but head coach Mack McCarthy said the Pirates are excited to play again. East Carolina and No. 8 Tulane (13-14) face off at 7 p.m. Wednesday.
McCarthy said it's a new season and everybody has a chance.
East Carolina is 0-5 all-time in the C-USA tournament.
"There are great stories written every March," McCarthy said. "Every one of us are going to Memphis hoping to a part of that."
Tulsa, the No. 2 seed with a first-round bye, won't play four games this year. Regardless of what happens Wednesday, the Golden Hurricane's next game is Thursday.
