“A surreal feeling”

On Saturday, Nov. 17, the Furman men’s basketball team stunned defending national champion and eighth-ranked Villanova, 76-68. A week prior to that, the Paladins defeated Loyola-Chicago, 60-58. Both teams reached the Final Four in last year’s NCAA tournament.

“It was quite a surreal feeling,” said senior Matt Rafferty, who is averaging 18.2 points, 9.2 rebounds and 4.8 assists for the 5-0 Paladins. “It really still hasn’t hit me.”

Rafferty graduated from Hinsdale Central High School near Chicago, and the Chicago Tribune checked in with Hinsdale’s all-time leader in rebounds, blocks and steals.