Colgate has won four straight NCAA Tournaments and has returned nearly 50 percent of its points from last season. Despite general inexperience and a slow start, this Raiders group was unfazed by the bright lights of Rupp Arena – even though it seemed that way early Wednesday night.

Colgate went into a 17-0 hole after beating Kentucky. But the Raiders soon found a rhythm thanks to a 2-3 zone defense that hampered the Wildcats’ offense. Head coach Matt Langel said after the game that the plan from the start was to go into the zone, but only with made baskets. Colgate didn’t score for almost the first seven minutes of the game. Once they did, they found the groove and had the Big Blue Nation sweating at the very end.

Kentucky still emerged victorious 78-67. However, it certainly wasn’t pretty Mark Pope‘Steam. Colgate student Parker Jones and Co. made things difficult for the Wildcats. It was a two-point game at halftime. Jones dropped a team-high 17 points on 6-9 shooting (4-7 3PT) and six rebounds. He has played in similar environments before, having gone to Arizona as a freshman in 2023-24.

But the opportunity to perform (and perform well) in a building as historic and iconic as Rupp Arena was very special for the California native.

“First of all, this is pretty sick. I’ve never attended a press conference before, so this is just a pretty high level for meJones told the media after the game. “I’m sorry if my answer isn’t of the highest standard, but after half-time we were all really excited.

“I mean, when you play a team like Kentucky – at least I personally dreamed of it. In my backyard I’m thinking about it: “Parker Jones is on the bench, he’s hitting a three-pointer!”, like all these things that come to mind. I don’t know, just being in that environment was really cool and kind of surreal.“

It’s not often you see raw emotion in a postgame press conference during a random non-conference game in mid-December. Most college basketball players will never have the chance to play against a team like Kentucky in a gym like Rupp Arena. Jones didn’t want to pretend it wasn’t a big deal that he’s now in the minority.

Just a cool, human moment from a kid who loves basketball.