FDU’s Incredible Upset of Purdue: Jersey’s Cinderella Tale

Just moments after his team dismantled Texas Southern in the First Four round of the NCAA Tournament, Fairleigh-Dickinson coach Tobin Anderson made an audacious claim in the locker room. Standing among his jubilant players, Anderson confidently declared, “The more I study Purdue, the more I believe we can take them down.”

His bold assertion proved to be eerily accurate.

In a stunning turn of events, Anderson’s Knights shocked the basketball world by toppling the top-seeded Boilermakers with a 63-58 victory in Columbus on Friday.

This historic upset marked only the second time a 16-seed has defeated a No. 1 seed in the history of March Madness. Just a year after Saint Peter’s made headlines with a Cinderella story, another small school from just 15 miles away achieved an even greater upset.

From finishing a dismal 4-22 last year and hiring a new coach from Division II, to coming up short as runners-up in the Northeast Conference — often considered the weakest in Division I basketball — FDU overcame enormous odds to secure a victory that will be remembered every March.

In the repercussion, Anderson triumphantly exclaimed, “We shocked the world!”

Here’s how the monumental win over Purdue was described:

“Saint Peter’s Princeton Fairleigh Dickinson — CINDERELLA IS A JERSEY GIRL” — Nicole Auerbach, The Athletic.

“FDU’s triumph over Purdue is the BIGGEST UPSET in NCAA Tournament history. Unlike UMBC in 2018 or St. Peter’s in 2022, FDU didn’t secure an automatic bid. Merrimack did, but was ineligible, and FDU came from the First Four.” — Jon Rothstein, CBS Sports.

“Purdue is the first team to lose to a 13-seed or worse in three straight NCAA Tournaments.” — Jeff Rabjohns, 247Sports.

“Just a year after a 4-22 season and with a coach and backcourt from Division II, 16-seed FDU has sent the Big Ten champions packing. The biggest upset in NCAA history — and tonight, the Knights were simply the better team.” — Jerry Carino, Asbury Park Press.

“The shortest team in the country (FDU) beat the tallest team (Purdue).” — Chris Vannini, The Athletic.

“This tournament is bursting with Cinderellas, like a kindergarten Halloween party.” — Dan Rather.

“I genuinely believe this is the biggest upset in NCAA history. FDU entered the tournament without winning their conference and was ranked outside the top-300 in KenPom before facing Texas Southern. This is utterly surreal.” — Sam Vecenie, The Athletic.

“An interesting twist: if not for the rule requiring teams transitioning to D-1 to wait four years for tournament eligibility, Merrimack, the NEC regular-season and tournament champions, would have been in the tournament instead of FDU.” — Jeff Goodman, Stadium.