Is Princeton the next Saint Peter’s? Plus, previewing Friday’s men’s and women’s tournament action

Happy Friday, everyone! Wow, what a day of basketball. And guess what? We get to do it all over again today and throughout the weekend.

Let’s get right to it.

Good morning to everyone but especially to…

THE PRINCETON TIGERS…

In 1996, Mitch Henderson played on the Princeton team that beat reigning champion UCLA in the first round of the men’s NCAA Tournament. Twenty-seven years and two days later, Henderson coached his alma mater to another all-time NCAA Tournament upset, with the 15-seed Tigers topping 2-seed Arizona, 59-55, as 16-point underdogs.

• With 4:43 left, Azuolas Tubelis put the Wildcats up 55-50, and it looked like they might escape. Little did they — or anyone — know those were the last points Arizona would score, as the Tigers closed on a 9-0 run.
• Keeshawn Kellman and Ryan Langborg scored on consecutive possessions, and Langborg gave the Tigers the lead for good on a tough layup with just over two minutes left.
• It’s just the 11th 15-2 upset ever, but it’s now happened in three straight seasons: Saint Peter’s last year and Oral Roberts the year before.

Princeton did a magnificent job grounding Arizona’s high-flying attack, finishing with an edge in rebounds and paint points and limiting Arizona to just eight fastbreak points. The Tigers will face another Tigers team — Missouri — tomorrow.

… AND ALSO A GOOD MORNING TO THE FURMAN PALADINS

Does anyone know what a Paladin is? Whatever it is, it sure fits into Cinderella’s slipper.

No. 13 seed Furman stunned 4 seed Virginia, 68-67, in a wild ending that will live on forever.

• Trailing by two with under 10 seconds left, Furman trapped Virginia guard Kihei Clark, who threw an inexplicable desperation pass (despite the team having a timeout to use) straight into the hands of Paladins big man Garrett Hien.
• Hien fired a pass to JP Pegues, who nailed the go-ahead 3-pointer with 2.4 seconds left. Reece Beekman‘s shot at the buzzer for Virginia was off the mark.
• Conference player of the year Jalen Slawson (19 points, 10 rebounds) and Marcus Foster (14 points, four 3-pointers) led the way.
• It’s Furman’s first NCAA Tournament win since 1974. The Paladins were one of the day’s biggest winners, writes our David Cobb.

Everyone will remember Pegues’ shot, but the fact that Furman even had a chance was the result of terrific playing and coaching down the stretch. The Paladins trailed by as much as 12, but Furman coach Bob Richey…