Everyone loves the Cinderella story.

That was played out before the nation as the Oral Roberts Golden Eagle men’s basketball team shocked the nation with their success in the NCAA Basketball Tournament.

ORU had to escape some close games in the Summit League Tournament to even get in the NCAAs. The Golden Eagles were Summit League champions and got an automatic bid.

They were seeded No. 15, which means they were thought to be the 60th worst team in the field. Thankfully, Coach Paul Mills and his players didn’t dwell on that low seeding.

They won with skill, determination, hustle and, yes, prayer.

During the regular season, ORU his 32% of their three-point attempts but it was their defense that powered them to early wins in the tournament.

And ORU had two of the best players in the field in Max Abmas (the leading scorer in the nation) and Kevin Obanor. They gave ORU a chance to win in every game they played.

ORU basketball had been in a slump. They had not made the Sweet Sixteen since 1974. Attendance at the games was light, especially in the era of the Chinese coronavirus pandemic.

But that has changed. Now the entire nation knows and respects Oral Roberts basketball. It is a wonderful story for that university but also for the City of Tulsa.

Now, it should be easier to attract players to ORU and it might even boost student enrollment. Only good can come of this great basketball season.

Congratulations to Coach Paul Mills and his Golden Eagles.