Syracuse vs. UNC-Asheville: Matt Reynolds Is The Tie That Binds

When you think of the Syracuse Orange and the UNC-Asheville Bulldogs, you don't think of too many things they share.

Look hard enough and there is one, however. It would be UNCA's director of basketball operations, Matt Reynolds.

Reynolds is a former manager for the Orange basketball team and was with the team during their 2010 NCAA Tournament run.

While he's still clearly a Cuse supporter, he's gotta take care of his own and right now his own are the Bulldogs...

"We're playing your boys," Bulldog senior Matt Dickey said, hugging Reynolds.

To close out the party, UNC Asheville coach Eddie Biedenbach called up his seniors, one by one, to say something to to the crowd. Then, he called up Reynolds as the players and fans roared.

"During the past week, all of the bracketology guys had that we might be playing Syracuse. The guys have been giving me a hard time, asking me who I'd be rooting for. I can tell you this: Nothing would make me happier than to see a No. 16 seed beat a 1 seed. Let's go get 'em," Reynolds said to a standing ovation.

Here's some video of Reynolds getting called out by Dickey.

Pete, who was kind enough to do a write-up on the Bulldogs seeing that he's a Cuse fan and Asheville grad, also mentioned that Reynolds met up with the SU team when they were at NC State this season and that Scoop Jardine was wearing a "UNC Asheville Basketball" t-shirt during post game interviews of the NC State game.

Here's the video and sure enough it's as clear as day at the end. Well played preemptive strike, Reynolds. Well played...