Long Beach State should know what to expect when it enters NCAA Tournament play Thursday -- the 49ers have already faced eight tournament teams this season.
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"We played pretty much every big team, and it prepared us a whole lot," said senior forward Eugene Phelps, of Taft High School (Scroll down for list of local high school stars).
Six of LBSU's eight games against tournament teams were on the road. The 49ers faced Big East Tournament champs Louisville, No. 1 seed North Carolina, No. 2 seed Kansas, San Diego State, Kansas State, Creighton, Xavier and Montana.
After earning an automatic tournament bid by defeating UC Santa Barbara Saturday in the Big West Tournament title game, Long Beach State drew a No. 12 seed Sunday. The 49ers will take on the Lobos Thursday at the Rose Garden in Portland, marking their ninth trip to the NCAA tournament and first since 2007.
"I think we have the experience to go far in the tournament if we play together and do what we do," said senior forward T.J. Robinson.
What both teams do is play defense. LBSU held Big West opponents to just 63.6 points per game. The Lobos held opponents to just 59.1 points per game.
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"Our advantage all year has been our quickness and athleticism," said LBSU head coach Dan Monson. "But they're as athletic as any team in the country."
Southern California high school players on the 49ers' roster:
- Eugene Phelps, Taft High School
- Mike Caffey, Centennial High School
- James Ennis, Ventura High School
- Mike Vantrimpont, Westchester High School
- Larry Anderson, Jordan High School
- Casper Ware, Gahr High School
- Sean Starkey, Marina High School
- Jerramy King, Crespi High School
- Kyle Richardson, Mayfair High School
Southern California high school players on New Mexico's roster:
- Chris Perez, Centennial High School
- Dominique Dunning, Centennial High School
- Kendall Williams, Los Osos High School
- Tony Snell, King High School
- Demetrius Walker, St. Mary's
Senior forward Drew Gordon transferred to New Mexico from UCLA.
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