Catholic ‘Cinderella story’ featuring Saint Francis University inspires college basketball fans nationwide

CV News Feed // In a stunning victory over the top team in its conference, a tiny Catholic university in Pennsylvania achieved a major athletic milestone this week. 

Saint Francis University’s (SFU) men’s basketball team clinched the Northeast Conference (NEC) Championship March 11, earning its first NCAA Tournament bid since 1991. ​

In the final, the Red Flash edged out the Blue Devils of Central Connecticut State University (CCSU) with a 46-43 victory. Freshman Juan Cranford Jr. led the team with 14 points, while sophomore Daemar Kelly dominated the boards with seven rebounds, according to CT Insider.

CCSU’s team had a lot going for it in the championship game. They enjoyed the home-team advantage, a winning season (22-6), and the longest winning streak in the nation, heading into the tournament. SFU had a 13-17 record going in and had already lost to CCSU twice this season.

With his team on the verge of history, Coach Rob Krimmel turned not to strategy, but to faith. On his play card for Tuesday night’s championship game, according to CBS Sports, he had written three simple yet profound phrases: “Audience of One,” “Thy Will Be Done,” and “Surrender.” It was a testament to his trust in God’s plan, whatever the outcome.

With 33.1 seconds left, SFU took a 43-41 lead as Valentino Pinedo hit a close-range shot and drew a foul. But CCSU refused to yield. With 17 seconds remaining, Joe Ostrowsky drove to the basket and finished a layup, tying the game.

In that crucial moment, Krimmel chose faith over control, resisting the urge to call a timeout. 

“The last couple possessions, I think, epitomizes this team,” he told CBS Sports. “They trust the coaches and we trust them. I don’t need to call a timeout. Go make the plays you need to make.”

Eight seconds later, Kelly did just that. With confidence, he drained a midrange jumper, delivering the game-winning shot. CCSU’s Devin Haid launched a last-ditch half-court attempt at the buzzer that came within inches of falling, but it missed — securing SFU’s  first NCAA Tournament bid since 1991.

The Red Flash rushed the floor in celebration, a moment of triumph not only for the program but for the values of trust, faith, and perseverance that SFU champions.

Located in small-town Loretto, Pennsylvania, SFU was founded in 1847 by six Irish Franciscan friars. It is the oldest Franciscan institution of higher learning in the United States. The university’s mission is deeply rooted in Catholic tradition, emphasizing virtue, truth, and compassion. 

The win is particularly significant for Krimmel, an SFU alumnus who has dedicated his career to the university. After previous championship game appearances in 2017, 2019, and 2020, finally winning the title marks a pinnacle in his coaching journey. ​

“This is the team that has embraced the journey the best,” Krimmel told CBS Sports. “Even in our darkest moments, maybe some of our most embarrassing losses, they were able to come in the next day and try to move the needle and just be a little bit better.”

As his players celebrated at midcourt, Krimmel, 47, stood on the sideline, soaking in a victory 29 years in the making. 

Growing up in State College, Pennsylvania, he dreamed of playing basketball at Penn State, where his parents worked and his brother played, according to CBS Sports. But he wasn’t good enough for the team. When SFU recruited him, he dismissed the idea because he envisioned attending a college with a big campus and huge stadium.

Six months later, he committed. He never left. Arriving in 1996, Krimmel played four years before immediately joining the coaching staff. After 12 seasons as an assistant, he was named head coach in 2012.

“The thing that’s kept me there so long is the people are special,” Krimmel told CBS. “I believe the college experience is a four-year experience, but it’s about developing people. And that’s at the heart of what Saint Francis is.”

The team received a “heroes’ welcome” upon returning to SFU on the team bus, Lancaster Online reported. Police escorted the bus through campus, and fellow student-athletes and coaches greeted the players as they disembarked.

“It feels great seeing all the students and teachers around the campus supporting us,” Kelly, told the outlet. “The police escorting us – it was great. I hope we can replicate it next year. It’s crazy, especially the way we got there. It’s like a dream come true.”

SFU will learn the details of its first tournament game during the NCAA Selection Show, which will be on CBS at 6 p.m. March 16. 

The post Catholic ‘Cinderella story’ featuring Saint Francis University inspires college basketball fans nationwide appeared first on CatholicVote org.