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By Byron Lasser
For the Mirror
This year's NCAA Tournament brought back many great memories and comparisons between two college men's basketball teams I have followed.
Back in 1991, Saint Francis University was led by coach Jim Baron, who was in his first head coaching position.
After four years, Baron led the team to its first NCAA Tournament bid with a tremendous group of unselfish players, led by Mike Iuzzolino and Joe Anderson.
Early in the season, there was never a problem getting tickets or a parking place.
But that year the better they played, the more people wanted to fill the 3200-seat Stokes Field House.
When the Red Flash played Fairleigh-Dickinson for the Northeast Conference title and then Fordham in a play-in game to get into the tournament, they had complete sellouts and appeared on ESPN.
Many similarities can be seen while watching Florida Atlantic University -- FAU -- climb to the Final Four this year.
Dusty May is in his fifth year of his first head-coaching position and taking his team to the NCAA Tournament.
At the beginning of the season, maybe 1000 spectators were in the 2900-seat arena. Ticket purchases and parking were never a problem.
As their winning streak reached 15, the fans came from many neighboring areas.
Tickets had to be purchased online, it was hard to get a parking space, and all games the last third of the season were sellouts.
FAU is an eight-guard team with a 7-foot center, and they can't be double-teamed since all the players can score.
Like Saint Francis, FAU made it to the tournament while playing as a cohesive team and are now two games away from a national championship.
When comparing the careers of these two coaches, there are also similarities.
Baron left St. Francis and became a highly respected coach at St. Bonaventure, Rhode Island and Canisius College with a final record of 452-430.
May was a student manager under Bob Knight and then an assistant at Eastern Michigan, Murray State, UAB, Louisiana Tech and finally Florida before getting his first head job at FAU.
When there is a bad play by one of his FAU players, he cheers them on with words of encouragement. He is destined for bigger coaching jobs as he grows in his career.
He is a players' coach and should be in demand.
The biggest contrast between these two programs is the trip to watch Saint Francis can be one through the ice and cold while driving to see a game at FAU is made in a convertible while the warm breeze hits your face.
(Byron Lasser resides in Hollidaysburg.)