For Umoja Gibson and Elijah Harkless, this is why they came to Oklahoma

“They’ve made the tournament the past, what, seven of eight years,” Gibson said, “so it’s in their DNA to go to the tournament.”

Northridge’s NCAA Tournament history is sparse, with appearances in 2001 and 2009. The Matadors are 0-2.

North Texas’ only journeys into March Madness were 1988, 2007 and 2010. The Mean Green are 0-3.

(Ironically for Gibson, North Texas won the 2021 Conference USA Tournament and automatically qualified for this year’s NCAA field; they play Purdue on Friday night — also at Lucas Oil Stadium.)

Harkless was similarly impacted when he stepped into the Sooners’ only pre-tournament practice and looked around.

“It was crazy just seeing all the banners and just knowing coach (Lon) Kruger has been there before and just knowing the players,” Harkless said.

But the full magnitude of the whole thing landed on Harkless from elsewhere.

“My friends who texted me, ‘Man, you're really in the tournament,’ ” Harkless said. “I think that's what really got to me more than me actually being there. My friends, my teammates — I used to watch this growing up, and it's like, you're really here. So I just savor the opportunity and make the best of it.”

Harkless and Gibson plan to do more than just look up at the banners and play a game against Missouri. Their goal — even with starting guard De’Vion Harmon out for the weekend because of a positive COVID test, and even with No. 1 overall seed Gonzaga likely waiting in the second round on Monday — is to win. 

And keep winning.

“It’s a good opportunity to be the best team in the country,” Harkless said, “and I think we have the opportunity just as good as anybody else does in the country. We work hard for it, practice every day hard, and I think we get one step closer on Saturday if we can go out there and play our best game.”

“It’s just always been a dream,” Gibson said, “to play in March Madness.”