Friday, March 17, 2023
By Scott Hennen
shennen@cbussports.com

Princeton may have pulled off the upset of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament in the eyes of many, but that wasn’t the way Matt Allocco saw it.

The 6-foot-4 junior guard knew his 15th-seeded Tigers were prepared when they took the floor against second-seeded Arizona in the opening round of the South Regional on March 16 in Sacramento, California. Princeton used its tenacious approach and defensive prowess to upset the Wildcats 59-55 to become only the 11th No. 15 seed to defeat a No. 2 seed since the tournament increased to 64 teams in 1985.

“There was a lot of excitement for sure,” said Allocco, a Hilliard Bradley graduate. “It was a pretty special feeling, but not a surprising one. We were well-prepared going into the game. We can beat anyone if we have the right mindset.”

The Tigers (22-8) meet seventh-seeded Missouri (25-9) in the second round at 6:10 p.m. March 18 with the game being televised on TNT. The winner advances to play third-seeded Baylor or sixth-seeded Creighton or 11th-seeded North Carolina State on March 24 in Louisville, Tennessee, in a regional semifinal.

Allocco scored six points with three rebounds, two assists and two steals in the victory over Arizona. Princeton was only 4-for-25 on 3-point shooting for 16 percent but held an edge in points in the paint (42-34) and rebounding (38-37) to the much taller Wildcats.

“We were tough and gritty,” Allocco said. “We didn’t shoot it well so we had (defense and rebounding) to hang our hat on. It was nice to enjoy that one, but we have to get ready for the next one.”

Princeton is making its 26th appearance in the NCAA tournament and its first since 2017 when it lost as the 12th seed to fifth-seeded Notre Dame 69-58. The Tigers had lost four consecutive first-round contests with the last victory being a 69-57 win as the fifth seed over 12th-seeded University of Nevada-Las Vegas in 1998. Then they lost to fourth-seeded Michigan State 63-56 in the second round.

Allocco was not alone in feeling the elation as the final horn sounded to secure the victory. His father Gregg Allocco and his mother Jean made the trip to Sacramento. They have numerous relatives in the state that also joined in the festivities.

“What a thrill,” said Gregg, a longtime assistant at Bradley and Upper Arlington. “You have a moment like yesterday, and then you think about the journey.

“When that moment happens you experience that moment and the pure joy and raw emotion of it. It’s such an incredible thing but what makes the moment so special is just thinking about the incredible investments in the game that Matt has had. All of the sacrifice and adversities that come with aspiring to be the best you can be and chasing all of your hopes and dreams.”

Matt started all 30 games for the Tigers this season, averaging 10.9 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.1 assists and earning second-team all-Ivy League. He was 116 of 246 shooting for 47.2 percent and made 44 of 111 3-point shots for 39.6 percent. He made 50 of 67 free throws for 74.6 percent.

“I have had a front-row seat from the time that he first started dribbling a basketball in our basement with a Nerf hoop, and it’s the culmination of a lifetime of work,” Gregg said. “All the credit to him. At the end of the day, he put in the work.

“I’m so proud of how he has conducted himself with poise and grace and has always been so much about the team. Even through his individual work, he has always put the success of his team first. As a coach it’s the most you could hope for.”

At Bradley, Allocco had 1,432 points, second only to Isaiah Speelman (1,509). As a senior, he led the Jaguars in scoring (17.7 points), rebounds (6.0), assists (3.8), 3-point percentage (40.5) and free-throw percentage (87.3) this season and was named first-team all-state and all-district as well as OCC-Cardinal Division Player of the Year.

“It was pure unbridled joy,” Gregg said of the win over Arizona. “My cousin Frank (Allocco) lives in California. He was there and a ton of family and friends from out here. We embraced and it was pretty awesome. Pure joy is the only way to describe it.”

Frank Allocco, a New Jersey native, played men’s basketball and football at Notre Dame and started the Excel Basketball Camps in 1981. He is a Hall-of-Fame high school coach in California and is Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director for External Relations at the University of San Francisco.

“Frank has an Excel basketball camp at New Jersey, and Matt went to that and has always been a bit of a Jersey boy, so Princeton has always been on his radar,” Gregg said. “I think about all of that and the foundation of the game from Excel and then it continued to go and go to another level with coach (Brett) Norris and the Bradley program and to be a part of that.

“Matt has had so many people and family members that have supported him. Without all of that, he’s not on this stage. It truly takes a village and the Alloccos have had the most beautiful village that one could have to make this happen.”

Matt just wants to keep the madness alive by just surviving, and advancing.

“It’s the same thing (as with Arizona),” Matt said. “(Missouri is) a really good team, and we have to prepare well to get ready for them. It’s the NCAA tournament, and everyone can play there. We have to be special again.”