Fairleigh Dickinson Knights: 20-13, 12-6 in the Northeast Conference
Head coach: Greg Herenda (6th season)
Players to watch: Darnell Edge (16.4 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 46.9 3PT%); Jahlil Jenkins (13.5 PPG, 4.5 APG); Kaleb Bishop (10.1 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 1.0 BPG)
Season recap: For a team that just was just able to punch their ticket to the Big Dance, the Knights got off to quite the rough start to the season. They finished nonconference play at 5-7, with massive losses to the likes of Rutgers and Holy Cross. They seemed to win every other game against inferior competition, at least as far as the NCAA tournament goes. They had players posting solid statlines, but never at the same time, with Edge repeatedly leading the team in points but failing to turn in the same type of performance when his other teammates heated up.
Where the squad flourished was late in conference play. The Knights have not dropped a game since Feb. 14th against St. Francis (Pa.), who they got their revenge against in the conference championship game, winning by a final of 85-76 to ensure their entrance into the tournament, their first appearance in the field of 68 since 2016, and only their third appearance in the millennium. On this eight-game winning streak, Darnell Edge has put the team on his back, leading the team in points in four contests. Bishop has stepped up on the glass, and Jahlil Jenkins continued to dish as he has throughout the season.
Fairleigh Dickinson is a team that can only be described as scrappy, or even gutsy. The size and weight fails to match up with most Division I programs, with three guards failing to crack 185 pounds, and none standing taller than 6-foot-4. It will rely on other teams underestimating its ability and their current hot streak to make an impact in the tournament this year.
How they can make a run: Darnell Edge absolutely explodes, in every sense of the word. While the team will need everyone to contribute, Edge is the obvious choice for team MVP, and can score in a variety of ways.
How they falter: Lack of depth. Fairleigh Dickinson only sports six players that register significant minutes, and if one goes down or has an off game, the Knights will be looking at a very early March Madness exit.
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