‘Shock the world’: FDU delivers on coach’s words
COLUMBUS, Ohio– Fairleigh Dickinson coach Tobin Anderson stated he believed the cameras were off Wednesday in the locker room when he informed his players what he actually thought about their next challenger.
“The more I enjoy Purdue,” the Knights first-year coach stated quickly after they won their NCAA tournament play-in game in Dayton, Ohio, “the more I think we can beat them. … Let’s go shock the world.”
On Friday night, Fairleigh Dickinson did just that.In knocking off the Boilermakers 63-58, the Knights became just the 2nd men’s 16-seed ever to beat a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament.Entering Friday, 16-seeds
were 1-150 in the opening round. However Fairleigh Dickinson signed up with the University of Maryland-Baltimore County, which ended up being the very first males’s 16-seed to beat a No. 1 by knocking off Virginia in 2018. Editor’s Picks 2 Related”I desired our men to believe,”
stated Anderson,
who noted he didn’t recognize his postgame message Wednesday would appear on the national broadcast after Fairleigh Dickinson’s play-in win. “We [could not] just enjoy to be here. “As it ended up, the Knights aren’t going anywhere simply yet.Despite owning the shortest lineup in Department I guys’s basketball– with a typical height of 6-foot-1– Fairleigh Dickinson relentlessly assaulted the rim, even with Zach Edey, Purdue’s 7-foot-4, All-American center, strolling inside.Edey scored 21 points, got 15 rebounds and obstructed three shots, but the Knights countered with 24 points in the paint on the
other end(to Purdue’s 26 ). In various methods throughout the night, Fairleigh Dickinson turned its evident size downside into a strength. The quick Knights swarmed Edey and pressured Purdue’s guards. They required the Boilermakers into 16 turnovers, turning those into 15 points the other way.The last 2 of those shown to be the most critical.With 1:42 to go and Fairleigh Dickinson holding on to a one-possession lead, Knights forward Sean Moore swiped the ball away from Edey. Off the turnover, Moore got the ball back for a driving layup, putting the Knights up 58-53.”You might inform he was exhausted, “Moore stated of Edey in the 2nd half.” We just kept attacking him, running him in transition. … There aren’t many groups that can hang with our speed and transition and how we move.”On the next ownership, Moore nailed a 3-pointer from the top of the key, which offered him a career-high 19 points in his home town of Columbus. After both baskets, chants of” F-D-U”started pouring below the Nationwide Arena stands, as even fans of the other groups in Columbus enjoyed in witnessing the upset.Fairleigh Dickinson University – Located in Teaneck, New Jersey – Member of the Northeast Conference – Went into Friday 2-6 all-time in NCAA tournament games(0-5 in round of 64)- Tobin Anderson is in his first season as coach of the Knights – 63 points on 38.7%FG shooting vs. Purdue are both FDU’s most affordable in a win this season – 58 points are the fewest FDU has actually
allowed its competition history The Boilermakers had one last opportunity to connect the score in the closing seconds. However Moore obstructed Braden Smith’s layup attempt out of bounds. And off the inbounds play, a Fletcher Loyer 3-point effort from the corner missed whatever prior to falling into the arms of the fastest player on
the court, 5-foot-8 Demetre Roberts, who sealed the success with 2 totally free throws
and another block at the other end.”We revealed why we belonged here,” said Roberts, who scored 12 indicate support four assists.Roberts was among the players Anderson brought with him from his previous stop, Division II St. Thomas Aquinas College. Beginning guard Grant Singleton, who had 5 assists and three steals Friday, is another St. Thomas Aquinas transfer.Together, they made three Sugary food 16 looks in the Division II NCAA tournament
and had a 14-5 postseason record going into Friday. Anderson stated that experience was a big key for Fairleigh Dickinson, specifically against Purdue’s freshman backcourt duo of Loyer and Smith, who integrated to devote 10 turnovers. “It’s difficult for freshmen to bet two fifth-year senior citizens, “Anderson stated.”[ Their] 2 freshman guards are going to be great.
However I think having two fifth-year elders … we had the benefit there.” Fairleigh Dickinson closed as a 23.5-point underdog, making it the biggest upset by point spread given that the NCAA competition expanded to 64 groups in 1985. The Knights were 16-1 to win Friday’s game straight-up at Caesars Sportsbook and even larger long shots at other sportsbooks. Purdue was 10-1 to win the entire tournament.” We had some decision-making in there that simply wasn’t very good,”Boilermakers coach Matt Painter said. “And just kind of enabled them to linger and hang in the game.”
Leaving out Very first Four games, Purdue became the first team to lose consecutive NCAA tournament games against 15-seeds or worse; the Boilermakers lost to 15-seed Saint Peter’s in last year’s Sweet 16. Purdue now has six losses versus double-digit seeds in the round of 64, the most amongst Huge 10 teams.”I desired our people to think. We [could not]
simply enjoy to be here.” Fairleigh Dickinson coach Tobin Anderson “I’m just still in shock right now,”Moore stated nearly thirty minutes after the win, still soaked in water from the postgame event in the locker room. “With a moment like this, not understanding you ‘d be here and after that you’re here. … Possibly tomorrow I
‘ll feel typical once again. “In the previous three days, Fairleigh Dickinson has actually won half as lots of games as it did all of last season, when it finished 4-22. The Knights didn’t even win their conference tournament. Merrimack defeated Fairleigh Dickinson 67-66 in the Northeast Championship game but was ineligible for the NCAA tournament as it continues the process of reclassifying from Department II. Hence, the conference’s automated bid went to the Knights.Fairleigh Dickinson drifted in the play-in game Wednesday, controling Texas Southern 84-61, and 2 days later on, the Knights made history.Anderson, who ended up being the very first coach in his very first season at any school in the past 30 years to win in the preliminary of the tournament as a 15-or 16-seed, said his group was delighted to prepare to keep its run alive. Fairleigh Dickinson next plays Sunday versus Florida Atlantic, a 66-65 winner over Memphis.But first, Anderson confessed, the Knights had laundry to do. They just loaded a lot for the journey.”I had belief, “Anderson stated, “but I’m unsure I had that much belief.”ESPN Statistics & Information added to this report.