In the 2023 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament, 16th-seeded Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU) achieved what is widely regarded as the greatest upset in the event's history by defeating the top-seeded Purdue Boilermakers 63-58. The victory occurred in the first round on March 17, 2023, in Columbus, Ohio. FDU, which had only qualified for the tournament after winning a First Four game, became just the second 16-seed ever to beat a 1-seed, following UMBC's historic win over Virginia in 2018.
The Knights' victory was defined by a disruptive defensive strategy that neutralized Purdue's 7-foot-4 star center, Zach Edey. FDU's aggressive, full-court pressure forced 16 Purdue turnovers. Despite being significantly outsized, the Knights held Purdue to just 35.8% shooting from the field. Guard Sean Moore led FDU with 19 points, while Demetre Roberts added 12 points.
The upset sent shockwaves through the sports world and ended Purdue's championship aspirations. While FDU's tournament run ended in the next round against Florida Atlantic, the win cemented their place in college basketball lore. Analysts and historians frequently cite the combination of the seed differential, Purdue's stature as a national title favorite, and the decisive nature of FDU's performance as reasons this upset stands above others.
