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Kennesaw State embraces underdog role for first NCAA tourney bid

Atlanta Journal-Constitution photo by Miguel Martinez via AP / Kennesaw State men's basketball coach Amir Abdur-Rahim reacts to fans as he holds the net after the Owls defeated Liberty in the ASUN Conference tournament final Sunday. With the title, the program also earned its first trip to the NCAA Division I tournament.
Atlanta Journal-Constitution photo by Miguel Martinez via AP / Kennesaw State men's basketball coach Amir Abdur-Rahim reacts to fans as he holds the net after the Owls defeated Liberty in the ASUN Conference tournament final Sunday. With the title, the program also earned its first trip to the NCAA Division I tournament. Atlanta Journal-Constitution photo by Miguel Martinez via AP / Kennesaw State men's basketball coach Amir Abdur-Rahim reacts to fans as he holds the net after the Owls defeated Liberty in the ASUN Conference tournament final Sunday. With the title, the program also earned its first trip to the NCAA Division I tournament.

By CHARLES ODUM / The Associated Press 3 min read

KENNESAW, Ga. — The Kennesaw State men’s basketball program is officially accepting bandwagon fans as the latest potential Cinderella for the NCAA tournament.

“I support it,” junior guard Brandon Stroud said Wednesday. “Let’s go. Jump on now!”

Few teams have landed in March Madness with more compelling rags-to-riches credentials.

The Owls finished 1-28 overall and 0-16 in the ASUN Conference in coach Amir Abdur-Rahim’s first season in 2019-20. Having left Division II in 2005 — Dalton native Tony Ingle coached the program to the national championship in 2004 — the Owls never had a winning Division I record before this season, when they improved to 26-8 by beating Liberty 67-66 in Sunday’s conference tournament final.

Kennesaw State is suddenly drawing a media crowd — including three Atlanta TV crews before Wednesday’s practice — and the spotlight will grow brighter Sunday, when the public is invited to a selection show viewing party at the school’s convocation center.