Regis Jesuit High School grad Bud Thomas and his Mercer University teammates got their One Shining Moment with their upset of Duke in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament and they looking for just a little bit more time in the spotlight because of it.
Thomas was one of five senior starters for the Bears, a No. 14 seed that knocked off third-seeded Duke — one of the most tradition-laden programs in college basketball — 78-71 on March 21 at PNC Arena in Raleigh, N.C. Mercer, the Atlantic Sun Conference champion, became the 18th team all-time as a No. 14 to knock off a No. 3 and it put them in the running for the award for an ESPY award for Best Upset of 2014.
The annual ESPYs award show is scheduled for July 16 in Los Angeles and Thomas, his fellow seniors and coach Bob Hoffman plan to be there to see if they can top the two other candidates in the Best Upset category: Connecticut’s victory over Florida in the NCAA men’s basketball national championship game and Chris Weidman’s upset knockout of 10-time UFC champion Anderson Silva.
Fans can vote online for a variety of ESPY awards until July 16. To vote for Thomas and Mercer, click here and find the Best Upset category.
— Courtney Oakes, Sports Editor