And, later: I really thought we would win. Its time to change that. March Madness Cinderella Saint Peter's: Two weeks featuring New Jersey PHILADELPHIA It quickly became apparent this wasnt Kentucky or Murray State or Purdue. Keep it Rollin! (Arturo Presotto - Iguana Press/Getty Images). After last season, the Elmont, N.Y. native entered his name into the transfer portal. What happened on day 1 of the men's NCAA Tournament The following season he tied as the 19th best MAAC player in three-point field goals made per game average. First Four: March 19-20. The defensive coverage wasnt there, the opponent was getting open looks on the perimeter and just outside of the paint. We've received your submission. Mar 18, 2022. Fousseyni Drame was the other, scoring 12. Take advantage of this stage. el.parentNode.insertBefore(s, el); 15 seed to make it to the Sweet 16. Saint Peters fans have been spotted wearing fake mustaches in the stands while someone created a Twitter account dedicated solely to the mythical mustache. "I like their chances because were very good defensively," he said. Two large video screens showed a running montage of Saint Peters highlights from the first two NCAA Tournament victories in school history, which happened to come in the past four days in Indianapolis with wins over No. Our defensive intensity wasnt up to par today, said senior star KC Ndefo, one of two Peacocks in double figures, with 10 points. When they were able to pull it off it was just like wow they really just did that. But its like, When? It was a great moment for them.. There was a DJ spinning the usual playlist that signifies triumph (think Queens We are the Champions). Saint Peter's upset No. Saint Peter's shocks Murray State in 2022 NCAA men's tournament It had the look and feel of a high school homecoming. Youve got guys that are going to be remembered for things that they could tell their kids and grandkids about. Clarence Rupert (12) of the Saint Peter's Peacocks shows excitement in a game against the Murray State Racers during the NCAA Tournament on March 19, 2022 in Indianapolis. 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Biden's dog Commander sent Secret Service officer to hospital, bit 6 others after replacing Major, Mothers March takes to NYC streets in support of Ukraine children. In some ways, it was clear Sunday that Saint Peters was going to pay for the way it had comported itself during this three-game joy ride, knocking of Kentucky, Murray State and Purdue. Saint Peter's Peacocks players cheer on their team on the sidelines during the NCAA Tournament game against Murray State on March 19, 2022, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Hassan Drame (14) and Fousseyni Drame (10) of the Saint Peter's Peacocks kiss the floor after defeating the Murray State Racers 70-60 in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on March 19, 2022 in Indianapolis. So even as so much of the Wells Fargo Center bayed and prayed for Peacocks power, Saint Peters fell into a quick 9-0 hole. Fever Pitch! I like our chances.". Saint Peter's makes NCAA tournament history with Elite Eight berth Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Just enjoy it. "The skys the limit for these guys. EVER SEEN A PEACOCK FLY!? PHILADELPHIA The formal ceremony of surrender arrived with . Not against an engaged Carolina. As a player, Holloway was so feared that Hall of Fame former St. Anthony's coach Bob Hurley -- a devout purveyor of man-to-man pressure defense -- started out a game against St. Patrick's in a 1-3 . Inside, outside, drives, tip-ins; nothing went in. A free throw was taken. Its amazing what hes done and what the team has done. I didnt recognize my team the first 10 minutes of the game, Holloway said, regret already settling into his voice. Through the first week, its been quite a show. They wouldnt sneak up on Carolina. Saint Peters wasnt defending like it once did, trying to play fast and thinking offense first. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thanks for contacting us. }; These guys worked their whole life for this moment, Holloway said. Point-blank, period. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. !function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s) Legal Statement. The jobs not finished, added forward KC Ndefo, who was the hero in Saturday nights 70-60 upset of Murray State, scoring a game-high 17 points and adding 10 rebounds, six blocked shots and three assists. Game summary of the Saint Peter's Peacocks vs. Kentucky Wildcats NCAAM game, final score 85-79, from March 17, 2022 on ESPN. 'https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/fbevents.js'); It was going to end 90 or so minutes from campus, after a magic carpet ride that had taken them ever so tantalizingly close to the sun. Were they just forgotten? Saint Peter's Men's Basketball (@PeacocksMBB) March 27, 2022 March 27. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. or redistributed. The. With apologies to the top seeds and their flashy, star-studded rosters, Saint Peters has been the star of these NCAAs. This season is the schools fourth. Saint Peter's head coach Shaheen Holloway questions a call during the first half of a college basketball game against Murray State in the second round of the NCAA tournament, Saturday, March 19, 2022, in Indianapolis. 2 Kentucky and . Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. UMBC. How St. Peter's Became the Belle of the March Madness Ball The Saint Peter's Peacocks' Cinderella run in the 2022 NCAA tournament continued Friday, as they defeated the Purdue Boilermakers to advance to their first-ever Elite Eight. KC Ndefo (11) of the Saint Peter's Peacocks goes up for a dunk against the Murray State Racers in the first half of the 2022 NCAA Tournament on March 19, 2022 in Indianapolis. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Saint Peter's is 0-3 in tournament history with a herculean effort on their hands to improve to 1-3 against the Wildcats. Its getting close, staying close, staying close and at halftime, it's tied. 3-seeded Purdue Boilermakers 67-64 on Friday night becoming the first 15 seed to make the regional final in NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament. He will get other chances, and soon, and if, as expected, he becomes the Seton Hall coach this week you can expect those opportunities to begin as early as next year. or redistributed. Saint Peter's reaches Sweet 16 in March Madness upset By Joshua Lynch March 20, 2022 5:34am Updated 1 of 16 Doug Edert (25) of the Saint Peter's Peacocks attacks the rim during the. This is part of their site tag. Matthew Lee (15) of the Saint Peter's Peacocks lets out a scream after defeating the Murray State Racers in the second round of the NCAA Tournament at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on March 19, 2022 in Indianapolis. 2 seed, in overtime, stunning basketball fans everywhere and dancing its way into the hearts of a country desperately in need. Have Fun. All rights reserved. Saint Peter's March Madness legacy will live on forever - New York Post window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; Is there anything better in sports than believing in the impossible? Updated. We have heart, and that's the only thing that matters.". Politics latest: UK cities need more people in them, says minister - as https://t.co/P78p0IRwym, LET'S GOOOO https://t.co/tHgNRW9e6t, https://t.co/G5UOvHrhD0, What They Gon Say Now Great Game Saint Peter's, On National Peacock Day Never a Doubt!! Yes, Shaheen Holloway pumped his fist a . With 1:21 left, Holloway emptied his bench. We work so hard, and with hard work and a little bit of belief, I think we can accomplish anything. Market data provided by Factset. It feels unreal. "As a result of that, hes brought together the Saint Peters community. Saint Peter's was winless in its three previous trips to the NCAA Tournament, the last in 2011. Doug Edert #25 of the St. Peter's Peacocks reacts after beating the Purdue Boilermakers during the Sweet 16 round of the 2022 NCAA Mens Basketball Tournament held at Wells Fargo Center on March 25, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Zach Koons. We control the game from the defensive end and on the offensive end we slow it down, make teams play at our pace. For us to be the only team to do this is historical. Saint Peters doesnt have a long tournament history, so many fans may not be aware of the program or where theyre from. 15 seed in . Schools like Saint Peter's aren't supposed to make the Sweet 16. . March Madness: Saint Peter's becomes third 15 seed to advance to Sweet Randy Holmes, who starred on the Peacocks during their run to the 1995 NCAA Tournament, told Fox News Digital in a recent interview that this Saint Peters team has "galvanized" the community and it was mostly because of the sharp coaching from Shaheen Holloway. 2024 March Madness: Men's NCAA tournament schedule, dates All Rights Reserved. '-' + pad(this.getDate()) + I got back to doing what I did that got me here, thats being a good defensive coach and locking people up, Holloway said. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Five questions from Kentucky's shocking March Madness upset loss to Winners of 16 of their past 19 games, the Tar Heels were too long and too athletic, too talented and ready for the moment, mentally and physically prepared for Saint Peters unlike its first three opponents. He slowed down the pace at which Saint Peters played and went to a bigger lineup. 15 seed and lost to No. time_zone_diff = time_zone_offset >= 0 ? Not with the Final Four one skinny step away and the potential of whatll surely be an Armageddon rematch with Duke awaiting in New Orleans. The Jersey City schools name flashed across the television screen, opposite big, bad Kentucky. Saint Peter's Peacocks forward KC Ndefo (11) goes to the basket against Murray State Racers forward KJ Williams (0) during the NCAA Tournament on March 19, 2022, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, IN. Saint Peter's cheerleaders complete epic journey to NCAA tournament Keydren Clark of Umana competes with Jerel Mc Neal of Fabi Shoes during the Lega Basket Series. Saint Peters (22-12) kept defending and attacking, Holloway kept coaching. The No. s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s)}(window, document,'script', He said he received a lot of messages after the team's upset win over Kentucky. Its been a great ride but guess what? Now its become hes this folk hero with a mustache.". 3 seed Purdue or No. The break, according to Holloway, is where the season turned. Were blessed with that.. To their credit, they didnt lie down. Elite Eight: March 30-31. https://t.co/scYWgeY4hu. A match between Umana Venezia and Fabi Shoes Montegranaro at Palaverde on October 30, 2011, in Treviso, Italy. Saint Peter's crushed by UNC as magical March Madness run ends By Zach Braziller March 27, 2022 7:11pm Updated PHILADELPHIA It quickly became apparent this wasn't Kentucky or Murray. The three Tar Heels (28-9) combined for 53 points on 21-for-43 shooting. Saint Peter's set for David vs Goliath matchup vs North Carolina, ex The Peacocks are the first 15-seed to make the Elite Eight, and they tied the largest upset in Sweet 16 history (+13), per ESPN Stats & Information research. Saint Peters upset No. Saint Peters was headed to Indianapolis as the No. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com. Saint Peters is a scrappy team with solid defense. All rights reserved. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Read More: St. Peter's Cinderella March Madness Run: 10 Best Tweets About The Underdogs. Saint Peter's is the only team to win multiple games as a double-digit underdog in an NCAA tournament since the tournament expanded in 1985 (+18.5 vs Kentucky, +13 vs Purdue), per ESPN Stats & Information. Market data provided by Factset. Once the game was over, plenty of stars -- and a few other Cinderella squads -- offered their thoughts on Saint Peter's magical run on social media: St.Peter's !!!!!!! var norm = Math.floor(Math.abs(num)); It allows us to create opportunities for ourselves. var time_zone_offset = -this.getTimezoneOffset(), For the St. Peter's game, House of 'Que will have $25 Bud Light buckets and $35 Big Wave Ale towers. A First Round matchup with No. Remember how they made this tournament their own. And out of the game came Daryl Banks III and Matthew Lee, out came Hassan Drame and KC Ndefo and Doug Edert. The 2022 Hercules Tires MAAC Champions -- a No. The Peacocks' win, done in wire-to-wire fashion, made them just the third No. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. What to know about Saint Peter's March Madness Cinderella story - NPR But Im living through them because its something I would have loved to do and theyre doing it. The Cinderella story of the 2022 NCAA Tournament sprinkled more magic into the Big Dance on Saturday night as No. Beginning with Saint Peters coach Shaheen Holloway, one by one the Peacocks players took turns at the microphone and delivered messages to the crowd. That squad was also a No. 2 UMass in the first round of the tournament. '+' : '-', St. Peter's Tries to Seize Tournament Moment Before Any Change - The Bracket Games Who is Saint Peter's? There were definitely emotions in the locker room of sadness, Ndefo said. The players affectionately called them Peacock Nation, which quite possibly is a nation that didnt fully exist until this past weekend with Saint Peters having asserted itself as perhaps the most surprising Cinderella story in the history of the NCAA Tournament. Removed as this is a conference site. St. Peter's Peacocks players celebrate with head coach Shaheen Holloway after defeating the Purdue Boilermakers 67-64 in the Sweet Sixteen round game of the 2022 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament . A group of guys came in here no one gave a chance to, no one believed in but the people in our locker room thats in our program, administration, us, and made history, the coach said. Patrick Smith/Getty Images Saint Peter's University, a small Jesuit school just outside New York City in New Jersey, continued to stun the sports world Friday with a 67-64 win over Purdue. 2. This is why guys come to play Division I basketball to have this opportunity.. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Its a very emotional time after a loss, a tough loss, and I really thought we were going to win this game, Holloway said. Saint Peters has two seniors, six juniors, two sophomores and five freshman on the team. var _comscore = _comscore || []; Fox News Flash top headlines are here. JERSEY CITY, N.J. KC Ndefo, a senior forward, had no shortage of options after his junior season at St. Peter's University, the tiny Jesuit school in the . fbq('track', 'PageView'); St. Peter's becomes the first 15 seed to reach the Elite Eight after gtag('js', new Date()); Ndefo eventually hit his stride, and so did Saint Peters. March Madness has a way of bringing relatively unknown basketball programs to the forefront. Great story., The best insights from the ultimate insiders, 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Biden's dog Commander sent Secret Service officer to hospital, bit 6 others after replacing Major, Yankees really need to back up weekend's momentum with Subway Series sweep of Mets, Don't waste a chance to watch Aaron Rodgers become the next New York all-timer, Mets need homegrown stars to fix their spiraling seasons, Rick Pitino's remarkable St. John's overhaul just the start of what's to come, Carlos Rodon's ugly moment, Yankees' disastrous stretch doesn't have to define them. gtag('config', 'AW-11078786448'); Saint Peter's is the third No. "We have a good team," said Holloway. From now on, whenever a team takes the floor at the NCAA Tournament with a low seed and long odds, they will tell themselves to remember Saint Peters. The winner will move to the Elite Eight to play the winner of North Carolina and UCLA. Its a brotherhood. Saint Peter's Peacocks players gather near center court after their victory over Murray State during the NCAA Tournament on March 19, 2022, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Congrats @PeacocksMBB #StrutUp #StayDown #JerseyStrong #EliteEight, Peacocks!!!! They gathered with coach Shaheen Holloway before they returned to the bench. We knew we were in, because we won the tournament. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images), "Hes always been a little quirky that way. VCU. From now on, forever, it will be in the hearts, minds and memories of those who went on the ride with them. The Peacocks pulled three straight stunners, the first three NCAA Tournament wins in program history, the first tournament victory for a MAAC team in 13 years.