Before Hampton's First Four matchup against Manhattan, a reporter asked coach Edward Joyner Jr. how he felt about his team's chances against Kentucky if they beat the Jaspers. His response? He said he hoped to have Jesus on speed dial.
So after Hampton's win over Manhattan, Joyner took out a cell phone -- it looks like someone else's -- and pretended to call Jesus. (He was holding the phone the wrong way, but still.) After acknowledging that Jesus couldn't suit up for the Pirates, he asked what type of chance his team had, and... Jesus hung up. "I guess he'll get back to me," Joyner said.
It seems rather unlikely that the Pirates will become the first No. 16 seed to beat a No. 1 seed. But right now, that doesn't matter. Nobody thought Hampton, a 6-seed in the MEAC tournament, could make it to the dance. And nobody thought Hampton, a representative of one of the nation's worst leagues, could win. But here they are, with a tourney win in their pocket. And nobody can take that from them.
Between this and the cool bench celebrations, we kind of love Hampton. So they've got that going for them, if Jesus never calls back.