SAN DIEGO — Liu Knows the Story

The Sharks are aware of their daunting challenge.

With a staggering 30.5-point gap indicating their opponent’s advantage, facing the top-seeded and Big 12 champion Arizona is no small feat.

But for Rod Strickland’s team, these numbers don’t seem to matter.

This marks the first time in eight years that the NEC regular-season and postseason champions are competing in the NCAA Tournament.

“We have to go in with the mindset of winning,” stated LIU forward Shadrach Russ. “I think the entire team has been gearing up for this moment, and there’s a shared belief that we can win.”

There’s a little inspiration from one of the two No. 16 teams that achieved the impossible.

Guard Greg Gordon has a connection to coach Tobin Anderson, who previously led Iona College and orchestrated a stunning comeback against Purdue in the 2023 tournament while at Fairleigh Dickinson.

“He laid out his vision for us before we left, and pulled off the unexpected,” Gordon remembered. “That’s what stands out about this team. He always emphasized not backing down and approaching the game with pride.”

That pride was unmistakable from the LIU (24-10) squad on Thursday.

It’s worth noting that just four years ago, the team managed only three victories in Strickland’s inaugural season.

Every year, they’ve shown steady improvement, culminating in this winter’s achievement of their most wins (24) since the 2011-12 season.

During this journey, the LIU supporters, known as “The Reef,” have become an online phenomenon with their catchy “Fins Up” cheer — a gesture where fans raise their arms to mimic a dorsal fin.

It’s caught on so much that even the players are doing it on the bench now, and Nebraska fans have joined in, too.

“I feel like the first time everyone does the ‘Fins Up’ reaction sends shivers down your spine,” Gordon said. “I wouldn’t be surprised to see it catch on in Arizona. It’s a great vibe, and everybody enjoys it.”

Defensively, LIU is no slouch either, leading the NEC in three-point defense (30.1 percent) and blocks (14.6 percent). Their offensive rebounding percentage also places them in the top 50 nationally.

The key trio of Gordon, Malachi Smith, and Jamal Fuller averages nearly 45 points per game combined.

In contrast, Arizona (32-2) is a top contender for the Final Four in Indianapolis next month.

Yet, I believe LIU is equipped to challenge such a formidable opponent.

They’ve already faced tournament-level teams like Illinois and Georgia this season.

“Confidence is key. You can’t head into any matchup feeling defeated,” Strickland, a former point guard from the Knicks, stated. “Our aim from the start was to win the regular season, clinch the conference, and then make noise at the tournament. That’s the ultimate goal.”

“They definitely possess confidence. However, I’m sure they’re aware of the tough matchup ahead, and that awareness can be beneficial.”

Truthfully, the odds are stacked against LIU.

Since the NCAA Tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985, only two No. 16 seeds have triumphed over a No. 1 seed out of 161 attempts.

Interestingly, Siena almost pulled off a stunning upset against Duke earlier, leading by as much as 13 points in the second half before ultimately falling 71-65.

A similar twist of fate happened not too long ago when FDU, where a former student of mine played, was down 23.5 points yet managed to achieve a stunning victory.

“I’m hoping he passed some of that magic to me,” quipped Gordon.

Three Keys to LIU’s Potential Upset

Start Strong

It’s vital for LIU to instill doubt in their opponents early. The closer the game becomes, the more LIU will believe, potentially tightening Arizona’s grip. Under Tommy Lloyd’s leadership, the Wildcats have faltered in the tournament before, losing to No. 15 Princeton as a No. 2 seed in 2023.

Make Three-Pointers Count

LIU isn’t known for excessive three-point shooting (averaging 15.6 attempts per game), but they do have a respectable 36.1 percent success rate from long distance. To succeed, they’ll need to sink about ten shots from beyond the arc since scoring inside against Arizona’s 7-foot-2 center Motiejus Krivas will be quite the challenge.

Pray for an Upset

Arizona enters the tournament as a strong favorite. With only two losses this season, Jaden Bradley stands out as one of the best point guards in the nation, ranking high in both offensive and defensive efficiency.