UB's 'Mr. March' steps in

TULSA — In high school they called him Stretch Armstrong. Now, they call Jeremy Harris “Mr. March.”

The nickname is a reference to the Greensboro, N.C., native’s elevated level of play when it matters most — in the postseason.

At Page High School in Greensboro, people called Harris Stretch Armstrong because of his tall, lanky frame. “Shoot, he was a good three, four inches over everybody back then. And his wingspan was phenomenal,” Harris’ mom, Nanci Griffith, said.

In March, he stretches his game to a whole new level.

Harris has averaged nearly 20 points a game in postseason play, including last year’s Mid-American Conference and NCAA tournaments. He poured in 31 points in the Bulls’ win over Bowling Green in the MAC Tournament title game this year, and led the team with 21 points in Friday’s NCAA first-round victory over Arizona State.

“March is a big month in college basketball,” said Harris, a senior. “It’s win or go home, so it’s in the back of my head like I have to play well. In March, all the big time players step up in big time games, and I feel like every game is big, so it’s time to show up.”

He certainly has.

“Turned from February to March. Jeremy shows up in March,” Bulls coach Nate Oats explained to reporters here on Saturday during his press conference ahead of today’s second-round matchup between the No. 6 Bulls and third-seeded Texas Tech. (Tip-off is set for 6:10 p.m. Eastern on TNT.)

“Look at last year. Everybody said he was in a slump last year and all of a sudden it was OK. For whatever reason, he turns it up,” Oats said.

Harris also earned praise from Texas Tech head coach Chris Beard, who tried recruiting Harris out of junior college. “I’m happy for Jeremy and his family. It’s worked out great for him,” Beard said. “Not looking forward to coaching against him, but I am very proud of him and the college experience that he’s had.”

That career includes two outright MAC championships, two MAC Tournament titles, plus at least two wins in the NCAA Tournament. If all goes according to plan tonight, he’ll be leading an historic Bulls stampede into the Sweet 16.

“I’m so proud of him because he’s dreamed of this and it’s here,” Griffith said in the lobby of the team hotel. “He’s locked in. So locked in that I haven’t seen him.”

Bulls assistant coach Bryan Hodgson says Harris’ success is a testament to his work ethic. “It’s good to see him have the success that he’s having because he really is a self-made kid,” Hodgson said.

“We all joke about the phrase ‘Mr. March’ and talk about how well he’s playing recently, but I think it’s more of when you work that hard and when you spend that much time in the gym and you’re that good of a kid, it’s bound to come around. For him it’s coming around at the right time,” added Hodgson.

The way Harris handled his scoring funk earlier this season shows his character, Hodgson said. “He’s been a good example to our younger guys because he shows up every day. Even through the whole slump that he had he didn’t pout and cry and whine about it. He continued to just pound the stone like we talk about. Eventually that stone’s going to crack, and it did last week.”

Senior guard Dontay Carruthers, Harris’ roommate on the road, says he’s seen a change in how Harris has been handling himself in the postseason. “I think now he's really out here having fun. He’s not letting all the stuff and the crazy get to him about anything. He’s the type of guy that can really get hot, and I think he’s really just out here having fun.”

Fellow senior Nick Perkins has another explanation: “I would just say it’s March. Big time players show up in March, and he’s a big time player.”