SAN DIEGO - Imagine the Hatfields & McCoys feud relocating to East L.A.
That is the equivalent of what the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee did when it inexplicably chose to place Marshall and West Virginia University both in the East Regional here.
Think about it.
The state of West Virginia's only two Division I college basketball programs who, by the way, no longer play each other on a regular basis traveled a combined 4,697 miles Wednesday to California.
And to do what?
The one thing Marshall and WVU won't do within the confines of the Mountain State.
Namely, play each other.
Welcome to the theatre of the truly absurd.
Yet, as ridiculous as all this sounds, it actually could happen. If No. 13 seed Marshall can upset No. 4 seed Wichita State at 1:30 p.m. Friday here in Viejas Arena and, then, WVU defeats Murray State in the following game well, the unthinkable will happen.
After a two-year hiatus interrupted 38 straight years of play, the often-bitter rivalry will be revived on Sunday.
But on the West Coast instead of in West By Gosh.
OK, right about now, most of us are shaking our heads with a mixture of amazement, contempt and irony.
And justifiably so.
But there's one group of individuals who aren't the least bit taken aback by this geographically challenged scenario -- Marshall's coaches and players. On the contrary, they view this unforeseen opportunity as an unexpected pleasure.
"The series always has been fun in my opinion," said MU star point guard Jon Elmore, a Charleston native. "I think it is great for the state. The people of West Virginia get to come together and bicker at each other for a little bit ... butt heads.
"But we've got to take it one game at a time. Wichita is going to be a tough task. We're going to go in there focused on that. But if we could get that West Virginia-Marshall matchup that would be awesome.
"I say they move it from San Diego to the (Charleston) Civic Center and see whose got what."
It is the quintessential motivational carrot dangling on a stick in the Herd's face.
"It is," said Elmore. "I want to win the Wichita game as bad as anybody just because I want that West Virginia matchup. But Wichita State is going to be a tough team. You hear about the history they have and the runs they have made here of late. So, that's what we are focused on, first and foremost.
"But that second game? It would be awesome."
That's why this coveted opportunity can be pushed only so far into a corner of Marshall's mind-set.
"Exactly," said freshman guard Jarrod West, a Clarksburg native. "You can't totally forget about it. It's exciting, for sure. Actually, my buddy Chase Harler (sophomore WVU guard from Moundsville) texted me right after they got selected and we got selected to play. He said, 'See you in Cali.' "
Many people hope it happens, including MU coach Danny D'Antoni.
"I've always wanted that game," he said. "It would be justice for us to do that. It would be a shame it's not back in West Virginia, but television ratings will go up."
So, was the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee the hand of fate?
Perhaps.
It certainly seems like it's meant to be.
That is the equivalent of what the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee did when it inexplicably chose to place Marshall and West Virginia University both in the East Regional here.
Think about it.
The state of West Virginia's only two Division I college basketball programs who, by the way, no longer play each other on a regular basis traveled a combined 4,697 miles Wednesday to California.
And to do what?
The one thing Marshall and WVU won't do within the confines of the Mountain State.
Namely, play each other.
Welcome to the theatre of the truly absurd.
Yet, as ridiculous as all this sounds, it actually could happen. If No. 13 seed Marshall can upset No. 4 seed Wichita State at 1:30 p.m. Friday here in Viejas Arena and, then, WVU defeats Murray State in the following game well, the unthinkable will happen.
After a two-year hiatus interrupted 38 straight years of play, the often-bitter rivalry will be revived on Sunday.
But on the West Coast instead of in West By Gosh.
OK, right about now, most of us are shaking our heads with a mixture of amazement, contempt and irony.
And justifiably so.
But there's one group of individuals who aren't the least bit taken aback by this geographically challenged scenario -- Marshall's coaches and players. On the contrary, they view this unforeseen opportunity as an unexpected pleasure.
"The series always has been fun in my opinion," said MU star point guard Jon Elmore, a Charleston native. "I think it is great for the state. The people of West Virginia get to come together and bicker at each other for a little bit ... butt heads.
"But we've got to take it one game at a time. Wichita is going to be a tough task. We're going to go in there focused on that. But if we could get that West Virginia-Marshall matchup that would be awesome.
"I say they move it from San Diego to the (Charleston) Civic Center and see whose got what."
It is the quintessential motivational carrot dangling on a stick in the Herd's face.
"It is," said Elmore. "I want to win the Wichita game as bad as anybody just because I want that West Virginia matchup. But Wichita State is going to be a tough team. You hear about the history they have and the runs they have made here of late. So, that's what we are focused on, first and foremost.
"But that second game? It would be awesome."
That's why this coveted opportunity can be pushed only so far into a corner of Marshall's mind-set.
"Exactly," said freshman guard Jarrod West, a Clarksburg native. "You can't totally forget about it. It's exciting, for sure. Actually, my buddy Chase Harler (sophomore WVU guard from Moundsville) texted me right after they got selected and we got selected to play. He said, 'See you in Cali.' "
Many people hope it happens, including MU coach Danny D'Antoni.
"I've always wanted that game," he said. "It would be justice for us to do that. It would be a shame it's not back in West Virginia, but television ratings will go up."
So, was the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee the hand of fate?
Perhaps.
It certainly seems like it's meant to be.