Ten crazy facts about Robert Morris’ upset of Kentucky in the NIT

Photo courtesy of @albyox.

On Tuesday night, Robert Morris shocked the world by taking down the winningest program in the history of college basketball, Kentucky, in the first round of the NIT, 59-57.

The program will now be forced to wait many long months before adding to its 2,111 victories. Is that a fun fact? Yes it is, but it’s only about Kentucky.

[Related: This radio caller blamed Kentucky's NCAA snub on 'liberal socialism']

Following what is by far the biggest win in Robert Morris history, we compiled 10 facts regarding the matchup that you may have known, but probably not.

1. The reason No. 1-seed Kentucky was playing on the road, at No. 8-seed Robert Morris in the NIT, was because actual NCAA Tournament games are scheduled to be held at Rupp Arena in Lexington over the weekend. Basically, there was a party in Lexington and the ‘Cats weren’t invited. Now the town is drinking, but only out of unbelievable disappointment.

2. According to ESPN’s Darren Rovell, RMU recently pulled off a $40 million fundraiser, easily the largest in the small school’s history. The next six years of Kentucky coach John Calipari’s contract will pay him $27 million, not too far off.

3. More from Rovell and on cash, the actual Robert Morris was the first American to use the “$” dollar sign on official documents.

4. According to ESPN’s Stats and Info, Kentucky averaged more than 23,000 fans per home game in 2013. Robert Morris’ total attendance in 15 home games this year? 15,692.

5. Also from Stats and Info: Since the NCAA Tournament field expanded to 64 back in 1985, Kentucky is the first defending national champion to lose in the first round of the NIT the very next year. Wow, just wow.

6. Interestingly, this is the second consecutive year a top-ranked Wildcats’ squad has lost in the first round of the NIT. Last year, Arizona lost to Bucknell, 65-54. One more time, gracias, Stats and Info.

7. According to Kristi Dosh, Kentucky spent a whopping $15.1 million just on basketball, and just last year. Robert Morris came in at a far more modest $1.4 million.

8. According to Steve Wiltfong of 247Sports, Vegas only listed Robert Morris as a 3.5 point underdog to mighty UK — go figure.

9. The very first basketball camp Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban attended as a kid was at none other than Robert Morris — go figure, times two.

10. They had this guy on the bench:

The real reason Robert Morris won. An early 2000s Ludacris/Rasheed Wallace hybrid working the bench. twitpic.com/ccrxrq

— Ben Jones (@Ben_Jones88) March 20, 2013

OK, so that last one’s a bit of a copout, but it’s a pretty fun picture, is it not?

I mean, who would have guessed that Robert Morris was going to be bringing huge game, as well as huge style, to Tuesday’s NIT battle?

No, it’s not a fact, but we love it.

Just like we love upsets — and RMU just kicked off March Madness with a bang loud enough to be heard across the nation.

MORE RMU: Fans react to the insane Robert Morris upset of mighty Kentucky

What do you think Gamedayrs?