By Mark Schmetzer
Enquirer contributor

While being interviewed by Chris McKendry on Sunday morning's SportsCenter, IUPUI coach Ron Hunter challenged her to explain "IUPUI."

Hunter is hoping the whole country knows what it means by next Saturday morning.

ABOUT IUPUI

• Nickname: Jaguars • Location: Indianapolis • Record: 20-13, 10-4 Mid-Continent • Bid: Conference tournament champion • Coach: Ron Hunter (136-123, ninth year; same overall) • Key Players: Odell Bradley (14.7 ppg); Josh Mullins (12.3 ppg, 45.2 3-FG), Josh Murray (7.9 rpg); Matt Crenshaw (4.3 apg) • Notable: At age 26, Crenshaw, a Navy veteran, is Division I's oldest player.

Hunter's 20-13 Jaguars - who represent Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis - get their chance to make history as a No. 16 seed when they face top-seeded Kentucky (29-3) Friday at Nashville, Tenn., in the first round of the NCAA Tournament's Midwest Regional.

"I think we'll give them a great game," said Hunter, a 1986 Miami University graduate. "I really do. If Kentucky takes us lightly, we'll give them some trouble. If they don't come ready to play, they could be in trouble."

IUPUI is making its first appearance in the tournament in just its fifth season at the Division I level.

"They said (on the bracket announcement show) that Vermont was getting in for the first time in 91 years, so we#re actually getting in in a short time," Hunter said.

The Jaguars earned the Mid-Continent Conference's automatic berth by knocking off Valparaiso 66-64 in the tournament championship game on a last-second 12-footer by junior Matt Crenshaw.

"We're senior-oriented," said Hunter, who boasts seven seniors on his roster. "We've got some older kids, so we're not in awe and shock."

Hunter also hoping to get some mileage out of the experience he and his assistants bring to the tournament. He played on two Mid-American Conference championship teams and made the NCAA Tournament three times at Miami.

Todd Howard, IUPUI's associated head coach, also played on NCAA Tournament teams at Louisville, and first-year assistant Joe Price picked up tournament experience while playing at Notre Dame.

"We're really excited," Hunter said. "A No. 16 team has never beaten a No. 1 seed, so this is something the kids are looking forward to. We're not backing down."

The Jaguars are 14-4 after snapping a three-game losing streak in early January.

They are led by 6-foot-4 junior swingman Odell Bradley, who averages 14.7 points a game, and 6-7 senior Josh Murray, a transfer from Ball State who averages a team-high 7.9 rebounds a game.

IUPUI and the Wildcats have one common opponent. The Jaguars lost 89-45 to Notre Dame in their second game of the season; UK beat the Fighting Irish, 88-73 on Jan. 18.