Marshall started his NCAA success with win over Notre Dame

Before “Are you satisfied?” and “Play angry,” there was “They’re planning a parade.”

“The St. Patrick’s Day speech — that will definitely be in Winthrop’s hall of fame,” former Winthrop guard Chris Gaynor said. “They’ll get the actual script and post it.”

Wichita State coach Gregg Marshall, then at Winthrop, won his first NCAA Tournament game against Notre Dame in 2007, still the only NCAA victory in the main draw by a Big South school. Seventh-seeded Wichita State (30-4) plays third-seeded Notre Dame (31-5) on Thursday in a Midwest Regional semifinal and his former Eagles will remember their shining moment in Spokane, Wash., on March 16, 2007.

“We were so well-prepared, so fired up,” said former Winthrop player Antwon Harris. “There was no way we were going to lose that game.”

That 74-64 win represented the culmination of nine seasons of work for Marshall at Winthrop. He pushed the Eagles to seven NCAA Tournament spots, never higher than a No. 14 seed until 2007. That team went 28-4, 14-0 in the Big South, and defeated Mississippi State, Missouri State and Old Dominion in non-conference play to earn a No. 11 seed.

“This is our best chance,” Marshall said.

The Eagles — who lost by 10 points to Gonzaga in 2005 and 63-61 on a last-second shot to Tennessee in 2006 — didn’t waste the reward from the NCAA selection committee. Experience favored the Eagles, even though Notre Dame started seniors Russell Carter and Colin Falls, junior Rob Kurz and freshmen Tory Jackson and Luke Harangody. The Eagles believed their guards could handle Notre Dame’s backcourt and their big men enjoyed an edge.

“Everything we worked for was not to make the NCAA Tournament, but to win in the NCAA Tournament,” Winthrop guard Torrell Martin said.

Notre Dame invented the fiery pre-game speech of legend and lore. This time, the “Win one for the Gipper” factor went against the Irish. Marshall told his team that the Irish had been invited to march in Spokane’s St. Patrick’s Day parade the next day. To this day, he isn’t sure how true the story is. He ran with it and his players will never forget. News reports from the time confirm that Notre Dame coach Mike Brey did at least consider the possibility of joining the parade.

“The Irish, of course, being Irish, had been asked to be grand marshals or something,” Marshall said. “That’s what we had been told. I made mention of that to my team, of course.”

Gaynor remembers Marshall’s speech this way: “They were supposed to be the grand marshal for the parade. We’ll make them invite us instead. They’re already celebrating and thinking they’ll walk all over us and go to a parade the next day.”

No parade for the Irish.

“Marshall had a knack for giving speeches,” Martin said. “He had a knack for getting up under our skin.”

Notre Dame flew home after trailing by 20 points in the second half, making 4 of 22 three-pointers and giving up 24 points to Eagles center Craig Bradshaw. Martin scored 20 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. Michael Jenkins handed out 11 assists.

“It was an overwhelming feeling — as a kid that’s what you work for, to play in the NCAA Tournament,” Gaynor said. “It was a big sigh of relief.”

Winthrop led 32-28 at halftime and started the second half on an 8-0 run. Bradshaw’s layup gave the Eagles a 54-34 lead with 13:15 to play.

“We scored at will,” Harris said. “Coach Marshall is a very confident coach and his team reflect that. We were confident, man one through man 12.”

Notre Dame cut the lead to seven quickly, helped by missed free throws. Gaynor missed the front end of two one-and-one opportunities.

“Coach Marshall kept yelling at me,” Gaynor said. “He threatened to take me out if I missed the next one. Sure enough, I missed one. It was just about a minute and he put me back in.”

The Irish grew desperate and that helped their rally. The Eagles committed three turnovers in just over a minute and missed five straight shots. Notre Dame cut the lead to one point with 5:01 to play and led 63-62 with 2:21 remaining after a three-pointer by Jackson.

“We had never seen them exert any full-court pressure,” Marshall said. “What do you do when you’re down 20 in the NCAA Tournament? You press. Now it’s a game again.”

A basket by Bradshaw regained the lead for Winthrop. Gaynor’s three-pointer with 1:26 to play made it 67-63 and started Winthrop’s closing run.

“Probably the biggest shot of my career,” Gaynor said. “That pretty much gave us the separation that we needed.”

Martin remembers a passionate celebration in the locker room. After six seasons of disappointment, Marshall and the school had its NCAA victory. The junior and seniors who came close in previous seasons made history.

“We were crazy for like five or 10 minutes. Then we brought it together and realized we could do more,” Martin said. “Marshall doesn’t let you bask in the win too much.”

Third-seeded Oregon ended Winthrop’s season with a 75-61 win two days later.

In 2013, several of those Winthrop players went to Atlanta to watch the Shockers in the Final Four — the season WSU made “Are you satisfied?” and “Play angry” catchphrases. After WSU’s loss to Louisville, they gathered in Marshall’s hotel room and shared stories. They will watch Thursday’s game and cheer for Marshall again.

“In my bracket, of course, I have Wichita winning this game,” Harris said.

This story was originally published March 24, 2015 at 4:27 PM with the headline "Marshall started his NCAA success with win over Notre Dame."