Rod Strickland and LIU have built a foundation, now look to upset Arizona

SAN DIEGO – The distance between Long Island University’s Steinberg Wellness Center and Viejas Arena in San Diego, the site of the Sharks’ first men’s NCAA Tournament game since 2018: 2,850 miles. 

That travel distance and the fact that they are massive underdogs against the Arizona Wildcats in a first-round matchup Friday don’t seem to faze LIU. The locker room Thursday morning was filled with laughs and an excited energy, blocking out any nervousness that might overcome the group. 

The Sharks hail from the Northeast Conference, the second-lowest conference by yearly revenue. A small budget in this age of college basketball means high school-sized gyms and significantly less money to recruit talent and coaches. 

But on the NCAA Tournament stage, none of it matters. It’s a 40-minute game on a neutral court with legacies on the line. How much revenue a school or conference brings in means little when the ball is tipped. 

It’s called March Madness for a reason.

“It’s always a dream to play in March Madness,” LIU sophomore guard Tre’shawn Sheppard said. “It’s the biggest stage in college.”

Although Siena gave Duke a major scare on Thursday, a No. 16 seed has only defeated a No. 1 seed twice in 161 tries. The last one to do it: coach Tobin Anderson and Fairleigh Dickinson, which knocked off Purdue in 2023. 

LIU guard Greg Gordon, the NEC Defensive Player of the Year and NEC Tournament MVP, was a part of Anderson’s team at Iona the year after his massive feat. While Gordon was at Iona, Anderson instilled what had to happen to take down a Purdue team that was one of the favorites to win it all. 

“He spoke belief into his team before they went out and did the unthinkable,” Gordon said. “He always talked about it and how they never backed down. They came in with pride.”

Now, Gordon has a chance to repeat what his old coach did, this time under New York City native and player-turned-coach Rod Strickland. 

Under Strickland, LIU has found its culture. From three wins in his first season to 24 and an NCAA Tournament appearance in his fourth, the sentiment around this program has shifted. 

“It’s special because it’s home,” Strickland said. “Every home game, especially as we start winning, you can see the excitement in the building.”

Strickland, who had an incredible high school, college and NBA career, has been a part of coaching staffs for a little under two decades. Now, in his first head coaching stint, he’s pushed his playing days away to put all of the spotlight on his guys. Being on this stage before, he understands that this is more important for his players than it is for him. 

“I have to give my knowledge and experience as best as I can to them, and I want to help them grow,” Strickland said. “Let them have their time and let them do something special. I remember my days at DePaul. I remember my days in Memphis and Kentucky. They’re going to remember this.”

If the Sharks want to seize the day, they’re going to have to outmatch a much larger and more physical Arizona squad that has outclassed almost every style of play it has faced. 

It’s a difficult mountain to climb, but there’s a sense of confidence surrounding this bunch. 

“We are already the underdogs,” Sheppard said. “We come here with nothing to lose, and just come to take names.”

That instilled confidence, and not allowing themselves to be overconfident, has been a theme for Arizona, too. 

“Obviously, every game is a big game,” Wildcats senior guard Anthony Dell’Orso said. “It’s do or die. This team, even though they’re a 16 seed, they’re still a great team.”

After Duke, the overall first seed, struggled to beat No. 16 seed Siena on Thursday, not overlooking their opponent is going to be key for the Wildcats. 

Both LIU and Arizona’s games are similar. Both defend the 3-point line well and like to be physical inside on the offensive end. 

“They’re really scrappy, and they have hoopers,” Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd said. “They’ve done a great job putting together a team that makes sense. They’re committed to a style of play that’s going to be aggressive, mostly man-to-man defense. They’re really good in the gaps and really handsy.”

For LIU and Arizona, their journeys to get here were vastly different. But it’s the beginning of a new journey that neither wants to end.

“The ball’s going to go up (Friday) at 10:35 in the morning,” Lloyd said. “We’re going to either win the jump or we’re going to lose the jump. From there, we’re going to figure it out. Next possession.”

Related