St. Francis (PA) reaches March Madness with no budget

St. Francis University in Pennsylvania has made a surprising entry into the NCAA Tournament. The Red Flash won the Northeast Conference, despite having a losing record and no money for player sponsorships, a situation made worse by the rise of NIL (name, image, likeness) deals in college sports. Their victory over Central Connecticut State allowed them to compete in the First Four of the tournament. St. Francis coach Rob Krimmel emphasized the significance of their journey. He stated that the team's achievement feels pure, as they have not sold out for financial gain. The university, with only 2,500 students and located in a small town of 1,168 people, lacks the resources to raise NIL funds effectively. Historically, teams with limited resources like St. Francis have faced similar challenges. Two years ago, Fairleigh Dickinson pulled off an upset in a similar situation, defeating a number one seed. While St. Francis does not present a strong case for beating higher-seeded teams, their journey captures attention. They scored only 46 points in their recent title game and are not favored to advance past the First Four. St. Francis is located in Loretto, Pennsylvania, which is about 70 miles from Pittsburgh. The small school is a central part of the town, which has little else besides a federal prison nearby. The local community is now closely following the team's efforts as they prepare to face Alabama State for a chance to play against Auburn in the tournament.