Coach of Fairleigh Dickinson rival ineligible for NCAA Tournament on Knights’ success: ‘I’m completely satisfied for them’

Merrimack College defeated Fairleigh Dickinson within the Northeast Conference Tournament and beneath regular circumstances it could’ve been the Warriors getting the prospect to upset Purdue within the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament.

The Knights made the convention event ultimate and misplaced by two factors to the Warriors. But as a result of Merrimack moved from Division II to Division I, they’re ineligible to compete within the NCAA Tournament or the NIT till 2023-24. Fairleigh Dickinson, the No. 16 seed within the event, pulled off an unbelievable upset of No. 1 Purdue within the first spherical.

Fairleigh Dickinson ahead Sean Moore reacts after a basket in opposition to Purdue in the course of the NCAA Tournament Friday, March 17, 2023, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Merrimack coach Joe Gallo appeared on the “All Ball with Doug Gottlieb” podcast and mentioned there have been “no arduous emotions” about not stepping into the event as a result of they knew the NCAA rule as they moved up. He added that he was completely satisfied for the Knights for his or her upset victory.

“I believe the reactions most individuals are searching for aren’t what they’re going to get out of me. I’m completely satisfied for them. I’m completely satisfied for the league. I believe individuals actually variety s— on our league loads this yr. When each workforce is enjoying 4-5 assure video games and your league begins out 0-40, your metrics are by no means going to catch as much as the leagues.

Fairleigh Dickinson guard Grant Singleton celebrates after a basket in opposition to Purdue in the course of the males’s NCAA Tournament in Columbus, Ohio, Friday, March 17, 2023. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

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“They go and do what they did – not solely in that recreation, I imply they 20-pieced Texas Southern and it wasn’t even shut. I believe for them to try this offers our league just a little extra credibility.… But let’s have FDU preserve successful and have Merrimack’s title preserve getting put on the market due to it.”

Gallo informed CBS Sports he was “completely satisfied” to see the Knights win.

Head coach Joe Gallo of the Merrimack Warriors in the course of the recreation in opposition to the St. John’s Red Storm at Carnesecca Arena on Nov. 7, 2022 within the Queens, New York. (Porter Binks/Getty Images)

Fairleigh Dickinson grew to become the second No. 16 seed to do the unthinkable and upset a No. 1 seed. UMBC was the primary to perform the feat. The Retrievers beat Virginia in 2018.