For a team marking it's first appearance in the Elite 8, the Valdosta State Blazers are acting like veterans.
VSU Men's Head Basketball Coach Mike Helfer says,
"I think they're excited but one thing we did in the South Regional is we stayed loose so we're going to stay loose for this one and see what happens."
The Blazers will dance with second ranked Indiana University of Pennsylvania who won the Atlantic Region. Facing top ranked competition is a familiar road that the Blazers have traveled this season. VSU is taking on its fifth straight top 25 team, and have already beaten the nations number one team twice.
Mike Helfer adds,
"We already played Augusta State who is in the Elite 8. I think we've had a very demanding schedule. I think that reflected in our region rankings throughout the course of the year. It's not like we're going to play somebody who is going to surprise us with their quality of play. Arkansas Tech was as good as we've seen and we were successful against them so we just have to make sure that we're ready."
The nations best eight will compete in Springfield, Massachusetts. As basketball was born here, VSU hopes it will be the birthplace of the Blazers first Men's Basketball Championship.