NCAA Tournament ineligible Fairleigh Dickinson coach on Knights’ success: ‘I’m happy for them’
defeated Merrimack College Fairleigh Dickinson In the Northeast Conference Tournament and under normal circumstances, the Warriors would have had a chance to upset Purdue in the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament.
The Knights reached the Conference Finals, losing by two points to the Warriors. However, due to Merrimack’s move from Division II to Division I, they are ineligible to compete in the National Championships NCAA Tournament or NIT through 2023-24. Fairleigh Dickinson, no. 16th seed in the tournament, she pulled off an incredible upset of no. 1 Purdue in the first round.
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Fairleigh Dickinson forward Sean Moore reacts after a basket against Purdue during the NCAA Tournament Friday, March 17, 2023, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Merrimack coach Joe Gallo appeared on “All Ball With Doug Gottlieb” podcast and said there were “no hard feelings” about not participating in the tournament because they knew NCAA law when they applied. He added that he was happy with the sudden victory of the Knights.
“I think the feedback most people are looking for is not what they’re going to get from me. I’m happy for them. I’m happy for the league. I think people are really good… The league is a lot this year. When every team plays 4-5 games is guaranteed and the league starts.” If you score from 0 to 40, your gauges will never catch up to the leagues.
Fairleigh Dickinson guard Grant Singleton celebrates after a basket against Purdue during the NCAA Men’s Tournament in Columbus, Ohio, on Friday, March 17, 2023. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
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“They go and do what they did—not just in that game, I mean they’re made up of 20 Texas Southerners and it wasn’t even close. I think that them doing that gives our league a little more credibility. … But let’s have FDU keep winning and you get the Merrimack name down.” Because of that “.
Gallo told CBS Sports that he was “happy” to see the Knights win.
Coach Joe Gallo of the Merrimack Warriors during the game against the St. John Reed Storm at Carniska Arena in November. 7, 2022 in Queens, New York. (Porter Binks / Getty Images)
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Fairleigh Dickinson became the second number. 16 stubs to do the unthinkable and disturb no. 1 seed. UMBC was the first to achieve this feat. The retrievers won Virginia in 2018.
