Here’s the link for the live stream. We tip off against No. 5 seed Cal in the Final Four at 8:30 p.m. ET // 7:30 p.m. CT. If we win, we’ll play Kansas in the national championship game immediately after.
I’ll be hanging out on Twitch for a press conference as soon as this email is published. Come say hi if you want.
Major shout-out to the great Mike Rutherford for doing a Leathernecks hype video. Mike is way too good at this:
Western Illinois vs. Cal rosters and line
You know we have a line for tonight (via David Fucillo of Draft Kings Nation):
Our Leathernecks enter as a 95 overall. Here’s a look at the roster:
Cal enters as a 97 overall. Here’s a look at the Bears roster.
The Bears have four players rated in the 90s, compared to two for us. It’s worth noting their tallest player is a 6’8 small forward.
Could this be a big night for our star center Deke Van? He seems relaxed and ready:
Can we recognize the RTs/likes combo there? Thank you. Whoever started that account gets official Leathernecks Booster status. Someone started an Instagram fan page, too.
Uh, also, the real Western Illinois basketball program has changed their Twitter avatar to a picture of Deke.
What a world.
I was even invited to do a radio hit on 670 The Score in Chicago to promote this.
Thank you so much to everyone who has followed along, shared, and donated. The Venmo handle is ricky-odonnell-1. The generosity of Leatherneck Nation has blown me away.
To answer a few frequently asked questions:
1) Yes, I will continue this series even if we win it all tonight.
2) Yes, I will recap the results in a new email/post, probably on Sunday or Monday. The video of tonight should be rewatchable on my Twitch page after the stream ends, too.
To quote Scottie Pippen in the “Mr. Sub” commercial: “Ladies, let’s have a party.”
I’ll see you guys on Twitch. Leatherneck Nation forever.
Nice work!
Yo, Coach Rick. Is there an e-mail to contact you with. I've got a sick idea for what has happened with your creation, and I think Leatherneck Nation would love to see it happen.