After No. 2 seed Kentucky’s shocking loss in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, coach John Calipari was asked what the Wildcats struggled with against Saint Peter’s.
“Give Saint Peter’s credit,” Calipari said. “I watched the tape of them before the game. These guys can play.”
Indeed they can.
The Peacocks (20-11) busted brackets everywhere Thursday by taking down Kentucky in a first-round overtime thriller – becoming just the 10th-ever No. 15 seed to oust a No. 2 in the NCAA Tournament. They followed in the footsteps of mid-majors Oral Roberts (last year), Middle Tennessee (2016) and Florida Gulf Coast (2013), who became the darlings of their respective tournaments.
Saint Peter’s was the standout among several Cinderellas on Thursday. Both No. 12 seeds New Mexico State (stunned UConn) and Richmond (shocked Iowa) pulled off upsets to reach the second round. “Bye, bye blue-bloods,” New Mexico State star Teddy Allen said in a postgame interview.
Here’s everything you need to know about this team.
Saint Peter’s coach Shaheen Hollway celebrates after his Peacocks stunned Kentucky on Thursday.
Where is Saint Peter’s?
Saint Peter’s University is a private Jesuit university in Jersey City, New Jersey. It has roughly 2,500 undergraduate students, helping to fit the definition of a mid-major.
How did Saint Peter’s make the NCAA Tournament?
The Peacocks won the MAAC’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament by winning the conference tournament, beating Monmouth in the league title game. Saint Peter’s was the second-best team in the MAAC in the regular season behind a Rick Pitino-coached Iona team that was the favorite. Saint Peter’s had never won a tourney game until Thursday, having previously lost in the first round in 1991, 1995 and most recently 2011.
Who are the stars of Saint Peter’s?
Daryl Banks III was the key player for the Peacocks, dropping 27 points against Kentucky. On the season, the junior guard averages 11 points. Junior Doug Edert came off the bench with 20 points while hitting a barrage of clutch shots against the Wildcats. On the season, he averages 9.3 points a game.
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Who is Saint Peter’s coach?
Shaheen Holloway took over the program in 2018 and is in his fourth season. The 45-year-old played college basketball at Seton Hall in the late 1990s and was an assistant at his alma mater from 2010-18.
What’s the Peacocks’ secret for more bracket-busting?
Holloway said in a TV interview after the game, “I’ve got guys who have a chip on their shoulder. I’ve got guys who think they can play for Kentucky.”
We can look at the X’s and O’s all we want, and if we did that, Kentucky was the odds-on favorite to win on Thursday. But the key ingredient may be how poised this group was in pressure situations — determined to pull off a win without fear against an elite program. That’s the type of mindset that Sweet 16-caliber No. 15 seeds have shown in the past, Oral Roberts being the latest to do that last year.
Another thing to note: Saint Peter’s plays great defense, ranking sixth nationally in field-goal percentage defense. It also has smart and patient ball-handlers who are unfazed by power conference teams’ ability to apply ball pressure. It was clear that didn’t work for Kentucky.
Lastly, why are they called the Peacocks?
According to the university’s handbook: With the rebirth of Saint Peter’s in 1930, Rev. Gannon named the Peacock the official mascot of the college, reflecting the spirit of “resurrection and eternal life.” The peacock also ties the college to the settling of Jersey City, originally called “Pavonia,” or “Land of the Peacock.”
Follow college basketball reporter Scott Gleeson on Twitter @ScottMGleeson.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Who is Saint Peter’s? What to know about Peacocks, who upset Kentucky
