MILWAUKEE | Despite growing up in Indianapolis, the home of the NCAA, Valparaiso senior Brandon McPherson had never attended an NCAA tournament game until Friday night.

McPherson joined former teammate and current Valparaiso graduate assistant Jake Diebler at the Bradley Center to cheer on Jon Diebler and second-seeded Ohio State.

While the pair would've preferred their first NCAA tournament game together was one they were playing in, McPherson and Diebler enjoyed being spectators Friday.

"I just enjoy being here and watching basketball. I'm a big Ohio State fan now," said McPherson, who played in high school with former Buckeyes Greg Oden and Mike Conley Jr.

Diebler has been able to enjoy watching many of his brother's games live. Due to his own schedule as a player during Jon's first two years at Ohio State, Jake was only able to see his brother play in the Big Ten tournament. This season Diebler was able to get to a regular season game, but Friday night was the first time he'd seen the Buckeyes in the NCAA tournament.

"I was never a big Ohio State fan growing up, but obviously now I've become a huge fan," said Diebler, a Sandusky, Ohio, native. "Just going to the Big Ten tournament and seeing the atmosphere that travels with all the teams, it's awesome."

While McPherson and Diebler were unable to realize their goal of playing in an NCAA tournament game during their time with the Crusaders, Diebler has shifted his focus since joining the Valparaiso coaching staff this season.

"It's frustrating because I was never able to live that dream of playing in a tournament game," Diebler said. "Now I have to channel that dream into coaching in a tournament game and right now, (Valparaiso's) not that far removed from realizing that dream."

Both McPherson and Diebler said the pain of watching another NCAA tournament go on without them is elevated because they know they can still play the game and they are watching players on the floor that they've competed against.

In the place of competition, Diebler has taken to cheering and when Jon knocked down a 3-pointer in the early stages of Friday night's contest, Jake was on his feet before the ball fell through the net.

"I'll be the happiest guy in the world when Ohio State wins," Diebler said. "I don't say it much, but I feel all of the emotion."

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