Logic and long odds indicate that the Omaha Mavericks will experience a drive-by relationship with their first NCAA Tournament bid. The owners of the Summit League’s automatic bid are the 15th seed in the West Regional and will play No. 2 seed St. John’s, winners of the Big East regular-season and conference tournament.
Regardless of the outcome, the Mavericks — by inadvertently and literally kicking the can down the road — carry attention not usually associated with a No. 15 seed.
In late December, when Omaha had lost nine of 11 games to drop to 4-9, the pre-game atmosphere for the contest with visiting Cal Poly was desultory. With Christmas just days away, there was no spirit — holiday or otherwise — in the Mavericks’ locker room. Associate head coach Kyan Brown read the room and didn’t like what he saw. But he did see and seize the day.
“I didn’t even plan it,” he explained. “I just saw a big trash can sitting in the corner, and I just went over and kicked the hell out of it. Probably said some choice words that I can’t repeat to the public.”
The players erupted. Brown’s Knute Rockne had worked. Then, he doubled down.
“If you’re still in here after the game, I’m gonna whip your ass again.” (Here’s a link from the team website with Kyan Brown’s long-form take “Once Upon a Trashcan.”)
You know where this is going, right? Final score: Omaha 86, Cal Poly 82. In the post-game locker room, Brown had to be reminded of his threat. He assaulted the trash can again. And after 17 subsequent victories, a plastic trash can has been punished. The players have taken turns with WWE body slams (no injuries, thankfully). Even the team mascot Durango put its faux horns to use and gored a trash can after the Summit League tourney title.
Social media videos of the post-game celebrations/assaults became so popular that the school staged a promotion at a late January home game. Fans in attendance could bring a five-gallon trash can (properly lined or sanitized) and for $5 fill it with popcorn. A season-high crowd of 3,356 showed up at Baxter Arena. The players commented during practices that they could smell the corn being popped in preparation.
Omaha became a Division I program in 2012; during its time in Division II, it made a dozen NCAA appearances. This season’s 22-12 record is the best in its short DI history and just its fifth winning season. The Mavericks have the city’s name but have been little brother to Creighton. The Bluejays are making their 26th NCAA Tournament appearance.
The topic was broached by HoopsHQ via Zoom during Wednesday’s press conference in Providence, R.I. Mavericks coach Chris Crutchfield, who played football and basketball at Omaha when it was in Division II, says it’s a help, not a hindrance, to share the city’s basketball spotlight.
“I’ve been fortunate in the three years I’ve been here,” he said. “(Creighton coach Greg McDermott) is a good friend and I think it’s great for the city to have two good basketball programs going at the same time.”
The Mavericks’ biggest non-conference opponent was Iowa State in mid-December. The Cyclones, a No. 3 seed in the South Regional, romped to an 83-51 victory in Ames. That blowout loss came before the Cal Poly visit and the trash can kick. To avoid a one-and-done, Omaha will have to take down St. John’s, ranked No. 12 in KenPom.com. The Red Storm are a tough-minded, physical team that relies on defense and rebounding (especially on the offensive end). St. John’s averages a combined 15 steals and blocks per game, which is tops in the nation.
“We have to rebound every possession,” Tony Osburn, a 6-foot-2 junior guard who is acknowledged as the Mavericks’ leader, said during Wednesday’s press conference. “That has to be an emphasis. (In our conference) we’re kind of the bigger team and impose our will a little bit. It’s a completely different ball game here, so every possession we need focus on the boards and try to not be sped up, be calm the whole time.”
A study of the Mavericks’ stats reveal that their 22 victories are somewhat mystifying. They’re outscoring opponents by just three points per game and are just slightly ahead in the other major categories. Omaha is No. 156 in KenPom’s net team ratings. St. John’s is 11th and No. 1 in defensive efficiency. Omaha’s top player is 6-foot-7 senior forward Marquel Sutton. The Summit League player of the year averages 17.8 points and 7.5 rebounds per game.
Brown admitted that he thought his inspirational trash can stunt would be short-lived. Crutchfield, in his third season as the Mavericks coach, believes in not messing with a winning streak. “He’s like ‘We’re not superstitious, but we’re a little ‘stitious… We gotta keep it going,’” Brown said. After winning the Summit League tournament, the team posed for a photo with the trophy placed on an upside-down trash can.
Of course.
