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By Matthew Couden
Contributing Writer
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March Madness officially begins on Tuesday night, with two of the NCAA Tournament's First Four games occurring, but a delay hindered one team's travel plans.
The schedule opens with the 24-8 UMBC Retrievers playing the 23-10 Howard Bison, with the winner getting to play in the field of 64. However, UMBC had a setback with travel due to a flight delay.
Thankfully, the team was able to get to Dayton, Ohio, and will be able to play their game for a right to continue in the Big Dance.
Read More on NCAA
Meanwhile, they faced some harsh online critics suggesting they should just give up their spot in the NCAA Tournament and stop making excuses.
Read more: Stephen A. Smith Reveals Final Four Picks in His March Madness Bracket
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An online critic wrote there were "too many excuses to even count" with UMBC, and they should give the "spot to someone who isn't going to complain the whole time."
The UMBC Athletics X account fired back with a response, basically calling out the NFL's Steelers and their inability to win much in the postseason lately.
"Well, we earned the right be in the tournament by recently winning (multiple) playoff game(s.) We understand that may be an unfamiliar concept due to the pro football team in Pittsburgh you support," they wrote.
The last time the Steelers won a playoff game was in 2016 under head coach Mike Tomlin. While they reached the playoffs again with Tomlin at the helm this past season, quarterback Aaron Rodgers couldn't get them the win. After their exit, Tomlin also parted ways with the team.
In 2018, UMBC made history when they were the first-ever No. 16 seed to defeat a No. 1 seed. The Retrievers defeated Virginia 74-54 in their first-round game before falling to No. 9 seed Kansas State in the second round.
This year's Retrievers are led by three guards, including scoring leader Jah’Likai King, who averages 13.9 points, and DJ Armstrong Jr., who averages 13.2 points. Ace Valentine also contributes 12 points a game, four assists, and four steals.
They earned an entry to the NCAA Tournament this weekend after defeating the Vermont Catamounts, 74-59, to win the America East Tournament championship. A win in tonight's Final Four game gives UMBC, a No. 16 seed, the unenviable task of facing the No. 1 seed Michigan in the Midwest Region.
Current odds favor UMBC to defeat Howard by over a point, suggesting that odds makers believe this could be a game that goes down to the wire. Tuesday's game has a 6:40 p.m. Eastern Time start with coverage on truTV.
Read more: Joe Lunardi Reveals His 2026 NCAA Tournament Final Four Picks
For more about March Madness, visit Newsweek Sports.
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