It's not very often that a tournament seems like business as usual for a for a Mid-American Conference team. Tournaments are usually a chance for mid-majors to build up their schedule and face teams that are of a higher caliber than the teams they usually face.
The men's tennis team has been facing the best teams in the Midwest all season long. Now they have a chance to face teams that are close to their ranking from around the country.
Of the 12 teams at the HEB Collegiate Team Championship, eight of them are ranked. The field includes No. 41 South Alabama, No. 63 Texas A&M Corpus Christi, No. 66 Texas Tech, No. 68 Cornell, No. 69 Arkansas-Little Rock, No. 71 Memphis and No. 73 Alabama-Birmingham.
The No. 65 Cardinals (5-5) head into the tournament on a two-game skid and do not have a victory over a ranked opponent this season.
Their first chance may come Friday at 3 p.m. when they face the winner of No. 68 Cornell and Marquette.
"Cornell is favorite, but certainly Marquette can win the match," coach Bill Richards said. "That would be a tough first round match for us, which ever team it is."
The Cardinals, through their ranking, received a first-round bye and are the third seed in the tournament.
The tournament will mark the first time the Cardinals have competed outside in the regular season this year.
"The big difference is we're playing outdoors," Richards said. "We were lucky, we were able to practice outdoors Sunday. Once there we get one practice on Wednesday, a couple light workouts on Thursday. I feel very fortunate to spend a couple days here practicing outdoors."
The Cardinals will play three matches this weekend, even if they lose, because tournament rules ensure every team plays at least three games (those without first round byes will play four).
Coach Richards seemed excited and optimistic about this weekend, and his biggest concern was the weather.
"We're looking forward to good weather; the forecast looks pretty good," he said. "It's a change in scenery, and we get to play some teams we don't know very well on neutral courts."
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