Now that Fairleigh Dickinson has fallen and their coach already has left for a new job at Iona (things happen fast in the college basketball world!), we’re down to our last Cinderella here in New Jersey.
But that’s OK, because inflation has driven the price of glass slippers sky high!
The No. 15 seeded Princeton Tigers (23-8, 10-4 Ivy League), after upsets over Arizona and Missouri, have reached the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1967 and will face the Creighton Bluejays (23-12, 14-6 Big East) on Friday night in Louisville, Ky.
MORE: 10 things to know about Princeton as Tigers charge into Sweet 16 to face Creighton
TV: What channel is the Princeton basketball game on tonight | FREE live stream, time, channel
The Tigers are 9.5-point underdogs, but who cares? Missouri lost as a 6.5-point favorite and Arizona was a 13.5-point pick.
(Editor’s note: Even though sports betting is legal in New Jersey, law forbids wagering on N.J. college teams, so unless you drive across the border to New York or Pennsylvania to plunk down money on the Tigers, you’re limited to screaming support and coaching suggestions at the TV.)
It’s been quite a ride for the Tigers. Star forward Tosan Evbuomwan was given a standing ovation at a local restaurant. Coach Mitch Henderson, a March Madness hero for Princeton under Pete Carril in the 1990s, enjoyed spots on CNN and “The Dan Patrick Show” with his players.
Guard Blake Peters became a March meme when he yelled, “Anything is possible!” In a ditty about the tournament, late night host Jimmy Fallon sang, “Missouri got served by some old Princeton nerds, now you’re busted.” Oh, yeah, and the governor visited practice before the Tigers headed to Louisville.
Can the Tigers win? Here’s what we say:
Brian Fonseca, Rutgers beat reporter
A year after Saint Peter’s made the greatest Cinderella run in NCAA Tournament history, fellow N.J. mid-major Princeton has a chance to match the Peacocks. The Tigers beat Pac-12 power Arizona, thrashed SEC surprise Missouri and now meet Big East buzzsaw Creighton in the Sweet 16. The Bluejays are a tough matchup: versatile offensively, long defensively, play at a lightning-fast tempo. In my view, too tough for Princeton to handle. The Tigers were excellent in the first weekend and are a nice story, but their slippers will fall off one step before Saint Peter’s. Creighton 81, Princeton 66.
Steve Politi, columnist
The prevailing wisdom heading into Creighton-Princeton is that the Tigers are certainly better than the No. 15 seed assigned to them on Selection Sunday. The problem is, sixth-seeded Creighton can certainly make the same case. The Bluejays lost six straight games during the non-conference portion of their schedule because one of their best players — center Ryan Kalkbrenner — missed three with an injury. This is a talented, well-coached team with a week to prepare for Princeton, and that will make Friday night a tough assignment for the Ivy League champs. They’ll hang tough for a while and bow out with their heads held high. Creighton 71, Princeton 63.
Kevin Armstrong, college basketball reporter
Bet against the No. 15 Tigers at your own risk. Princeton proved last weekend that it can block six shots against No. 2 Arizona, which had three 7-footers in its rotation, and make a school from the SEC (Missouri) play at its pace. The Tigers still haven’t clicked from beyond the arc, which may mean that there is a deluge coming against No. 6 Creighton. Just another Cinderella from Jersey reaching the Elite 8. Princeton 70, Creighton 67.
Adam Zagoria, college basketball reporter
Creighton’s offense and defense will prove too much for the Ivy League squad. The Bluejays feature five players who average double-figures, led by 7-foot-1 junior Ryan Kalkbrenner, who averages 15.7 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.2 blocks. Creighton has too much size, talent and athleticism, along with future pros in Kalkbrenner and 6-7 sophomore Arthur Kaluma (11.8 ppg, 6.0 rpg). On defense, Kalkbrenner was named Big East Defensive Player of the Year while swatting away more than 2 shots per game and altering many others. Greg McDermott is one of the best coaches in the business and will find a way to get it done against Mitch Henderson’s plucky group. Creighton 76, Princeton 58.
MORE NCAA COVERAGE:
He could’ve been a Yankee: Princeton coach said no to pinstripes to make hoops history | Politi
Princeton’s Blake Peters is the most interesting man in the NCAA Tournament | Politi
N.J. hoops star at center of landmark bribery case returns to Sweet 16
When the magic wears off: Saint Peter’s discovers that miracles don’t last a lifetime
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