LISTEN: Fairleigh Dickinson Coach Says Youth Is On Knights' Side In NCAA Tournament

TEANECK, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- Some might look at Fairleigh Dickinson's roster and believe the Knights' youth is a detriment in the NCAA Tournament.

Coach Greg Herenda believes it can be an asset.

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Fairleigh Dickinson was the third youngest team in the nation this season. But the Knights (18-14) still won the Northeast Conference tournament to earn an automatic bid to the Dance, where they will face Florida Gulf Coast on Tuesday night in a First Four matchup.

"The kids believe in themselves," Herenda told WFAN's Mike Francesa on Monday. "We were 7-3 in January, and that's when it started. And these guys have just great faith in themselves. I think they're too young to realize what they're doing and what they've done."

Competing in the First Four means Fairleigh Dickinson must win just to reach the round of 64. But Herenda doesn't seem to mind because his team will be playing in a nationally televised game against "a like opponent," rather than assuming the role of David against Goliath.

But the coach knows it won't be an easy game against a Florida Gulf Coast program that reached the Sweet 16 in 2013.

"They're good," Herenda said of the Eagles. "For us to win, it's going to be very, very difficult. We respect them a lot. But my guys don't know any better. They're on the bus right now ... and they think they're going to win the basketball game. And when your players start believing, then you've got a team."

The winner of the game will advance to play top-seeded North Carolina on Thursday night.

Fairleigh Dickinson, which has no seniors and just two juniors on its roster, is led by sophomore guards Darian Anderson (15.4 PPG) and Earl Potts Jr. (14.7 PPG).

Before the season, the Knights appeared to one of the biggest long shots in the country to reach the NCAA Tournament. Not only were they young, they were picked to finish in ninth place out of 10 teams in their conference. They were also coming off an 8-21 season in which they lost 15 straight.

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But those memories were officially buried Sunday night when the team watched its name called on TV during the selection show.

"When you actually see it and you know that the world and country is seeing it with you, it's almost a surreal experience," Herenda told WCBS 880's Kelly Waldron.