After enduring an unpleasant 13-17 common season, it solely is sensible that Saint Francis (PA) received the Northeast Convention championship in hideous vogue.
The Crimson Flash secured an unbelievable NCAA Match bid on Tuesday evening with a 46-43 win over tourney 1-seed Central Connecticut (25-7, 14-2 NEC), which entered the convention title recreation on a 14-game successful streak.
Saint Francis (PA)’s 46 factors have been the fewest by a successful crew in a convention match championship recreation since Georgia State scored 38 factors within the 2015 Solar Belt remaining. (h/t Stathead)
Saint Francis (PA) and Central Connecticut mixed to shoot 31% (36-of-116), together with 18.6% (8-of-43) from past the arc. Central Connecticut had a season-high 16 turnovers.
It is the second consecutive heartbreaking finish to the season for the Blue Devils, who have not made the NCAA Match since 2007. Final season, they have been additionally the NEC common season champions however misplaced at house within the convention match, stopping them from snapping their March Insanity drought.
As for Saint Francis (PA) (16-17, 8-8 NEC), the win marks this system’s first NCAA Match look in 34 years and solely the second in program historical past. The Crimson Flash final reached the massive dance in 1991, its third season as an NEC member.
Saint Francis (PA) is No. 308 in NET rankings and No. 317 in KenPom and equally poor in offensive and defensive effectivity. Getting into Tuesday, it was No. 237 within the nation in scoring (71.9 level per recreation) and No. 199 in factors allowed (72.5 factors per recreation).
In 4 video games in opposition to Quad 1 opponents, Saint Francis (PA) was outscored by a mean of 35 factors per recreation, together with a 111-57 loss at Related Press No. 11 Maryland (24-7, 14-6 in Large Ten) on Dec. 17. It started convention play with a 15-point house loss to Central Connecticut and was 5-8 by means of 13 video games earlier than successful three consecutive additional time video games to finish the common season.
Not even a month in the past, Saint Francis (PA) was hardly related in its personal convention. Now, it is season will final for no less than another recreation, seemingly within the First 4 for the best to play a No. 1 seed subsequent Thursday or Friday.
As dire as issues appeared for the Crimson Flash earlier this season, they’re already one among March’s largest winners. Now, it is solely a matter of how lengthy the epilogue lasts.
