On Tuesday night Robert Morris University beat the mighty Kentucky Wildcats 59-57. Not many thought RMU could beat Kentucky, the 2012 NCAA Champions. As RMU took out the one seed in the NIT, but many people forget, in 2010, RMU took Villanova, a two seed, to overtime in the NCAA tournament.
When comparing the two schools, there are big differences. In 2011-2012, Kentucky had an enrollment of 28,094 and RMU only had 5,100. According to ESPN Stats & Info Kentucky home games averaged 23,099 fans while RMU in their 15 home games had a combined attendance of 15,692.
Many people had never heard of the little school, one person who did was Kentucky coach John Calipari who is originally from Moon Township. He went to high school less than a mile away at Moon High School and his mother used to work at Robert Morris back when it was just a Junior College.
RMU’s coach, Andy Toole, had this to say:
“They have some physically gifted players. Guys that are bigger, faster, stronger at every position than our guys. But, that doesn’t mean that we can’t use teamwork fundamentals, technique in order to try and slow some of those guys down.”
The Colonials defiantly took advantage of being at home. Normally the better seed would get to play at home but Kentucky’s home arena is currently being prepared for upcoming NCAA Tournament games. Kentucky is the ultimate blue blood literally and figuratively college basketball program.
RMU will play the winner of Providence vs. Charlotte in the next round. They will try to keep from letting down after such a big boost to the program. A marquee win over Kentucky is HUGE. As for the Kentucky Wildcats, their season fell apart when Nerlens Noel went down. They’ll try to regroup next year with yet another strong recruiting class filled with McDonald’s All-Americans. However, tonight from national champs to first round NIT ouster, Adolph Rupp must be turning over in his grave.
The biggest Kentucky fan, Ashley Judd has moved on to doing other things right now.