Kentucky Basketball: Twitter Reacts To First Round NIT Loss To Robert Morris
By Chris Walder
It was bad enough that the defending NCAA National Champion Kentucky Wildcats were unable to qualify for the big March Madness tournament this year, but to lose in the first round of the NIT?
Talk about sad.
Forward Mike McFadden hit two free throws with 8.7 seconds remaining to help the Robert Morris Colonials knock off Kentucky by a final score of 59 to 57 on Tuesday night.
The Wildcats were down by 13 in the second half, but were never able to take over the lead after tying the game on two different occasions.
Lucky Jones led Robert Morris with 15 points on 4 for 5 shooting, but was ejected in the first half for a flagrant foul on Kentucky guard Archie Goodwin.
Kentucky had lost six of its last ten games after losing star pupil Nerlens Noel to a serious knee injury.
The Colonials were delegated to the NIT after being upset in the conference tournament, even though the school won the Northeastern Conference regular season championship.
Missing out on the NCAA tournament must have been disappointing, but defeating one of the biggest basketball schools in the country on your home court will easily rank as the biggest win in the history of Robert Morris.
Here is a look at the immediate reaction on Twitter to this huge college upset.
Kentucky averaged 23,099 fans at home this season. Robert Morris' total attendance in 15 home games: 15,692.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) March 20, 2013
Love this. RT @KariVanHorn RT @SEC_Logo: Robert Morris's Wiki page has been updated: pic.twitter.com/TzKccLWqNf
— patrick (@muldowney) March 20, 2013
There are 81 players who played at #Kentucky that have gone on to play in #ABA or #NBA There is 1 player in #NBA who played at Robert Morris
— Robert Raiola, CPA (@SportsTaxMan) March 20, 2013
Q: Why did the chicken cross the road? A: I don't know, but Kentucky just lost to Robert Morris in the 1st round of the NIT
— Faux Pelini (@FauxPelini) March 20, 2013
Robert Morris beat Kentucky! A Morris hasn't taught us a "money can't buy happiness" lesson like this since Zack paid Lisa to date Screech!
— Not Bill Walton (@NotBillWalton) March 20, 2013
Hard to fathom Kentucky's collapse. Start season top-5. Miss tourney. Lose to Robert Morris first round of NIT. Fade akin to Coolio's career
— Brad Evans (@NoisyHuevos) March 20, 2013
I'm tired of Robert Morris winning everything... #NIT
— Eric Stangel (@EricStangel) March 20, 2013
They will talk about this forever at Robert Morris, "Remember the night we played Kentucky here...and freakin beat 'em?"
— Scott Van Pelt (@notthefakeSVP) March 20, 2013
we're no Robert Morris experts, but this win over Kentucky has to be the program's biggest victory ever, right?
— SB Nation (@SBNation) March 20, 2013
Kentucky loses to Robert Morris 59-57 in the 1st round of the NIT! John Calipari struggle face. pic.twitter.com/ufsDuyKau5
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 20, 2013
In fairness, if Nerlens Noel was healthy, Kentucky might have an outside shot to knock off a program like Robert Morris.
— The Pickle (@sportspickle) March 20, 2013
Chris Walder is the Editor of Sir Charles in Charge. You may follow him on Twitter at @WalderSports
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