INDIANAPOLIS — They promised they might play with no concern.
They didn’t.
They mentioned they’d pay no consideration to the title on the entrance of their storied opponent’s jerseys.
They didn’t.
Saint Peter’s coach Shaheen Holloway spoke on the eve of Thursday night time’s NCAA Match recreation in opposition to No. 2 seeded Kentucky concerning the significance of his gamers “surviving the primary 5 to seven minutes’’ in opposition to the high-flying Wildcats, who entered the sport as 18-point favorites.
They did.
Who knew that, ultimately, it was Kentucky — not No. 15 seed Saint Peter’s — that needed to survive, not the opposite method round?
Saint Peter’s, which hadn’t been to the NCAA Match since 2011 and hadn’t gained a event recreation within the faculty’s three earlier appearances, boldly declared Jersey Metropolis in the home for March Insanity 2022 with a scintillating 85-79 time beyond regulation win over Kentucky in an East Regional recreation at a Gainbridge Fieldhouse that was filled with a sea of blue-clad Wildcats followers.
The efficiency by the Peacocks — who superior to a Saturday Spherical of 32 recreation in opposition to Murray State, which beat San Francisco 92-87 in time beyond regulation — was as stirring because it was beautiful.
It was beautiful, nevertheless, to everybody apart from Saint Peter’s.
“No disrespect to anybody — however we wasn’t coming down right here to lose,’’ Holloway mentioned. “We got here to combat.’’
So that they did: Saint Peter’s by TKO.
Saint Peter’s grew to become solely the tenth No. 15 seed since 1985 to upset a No. 2 seed. Earlier than Thursday night time, No. 2 seeds have been 135-9 in opposition to No. 15 seeds.
Insanity.
When Holloway was requested afterward what March Insanity means to him, he paused and mentioned, “Tonight, proper?’’
“You simply should be good on this night time,’’ Holloway mentioned. “It’s not about your file. It’s not about what faculty you at. It’s whoever is nice on that night time, and tonight, it was our night time.’’
It was Daryl Banks III’s night time. He was exceptional from the opening tip, scoring a career-high 27 factors, however setting the tempo with 16 within the first half.
It was Doug Edert’s night time. The Nutley, N.J., native got here off the bench and scored 20 factors for the Peacocks on 5 of seven capturing, together with a few daggers from the 3-point arc. Edert tied the sport at 75-75 in OT with a 3-pointer. On the finish of regulation, his runner within the paint tied the sport at 71-71.
Saint Peter’s trailed, 68-62, with 4:08 remaining in regulation — Kentucky’s largest lead of the sport — and outscored the Wildcats 9-3 the remainder of regulation.
There have been 25 lead modifications and 15 ties, together with 37-37 on the half.
“We obtained good gamers,’’ Holloway mentioned. “Now we have guys that basically have a chip on their shoulder, guys that basically imagine they belong at big-time faculties.’’
Earlier than the sport, Holloway joked that the collective chip on his gamers’ shoulders is so huge they imagine they need to have been recruited by Kentucky.
Kentucky coach John Calipari may have used a number of good males off the Saint Peter’s roster. Aside from the monster efficiency by huge man Oscar Tshiebwe, who scored 30 factors and had 16 rebounds, Kentucky was finished in by poor capturing (Kellan Grady was 1-for-9 and TyTy Washington Jr. was 2-for-10).
There’s nothing cooler within the NCAA Match than a small-time faculty taking part in big-time basketball. It’s the definition of March Insanity. Till additional discover, St. Peter’s is the star of March, sporting Cinderella’s slipper.
“Each basketball participant’s dream is to play within the NCAA Match and make a run in it,’’ Edert mentioned.
“Job shouldn't be completed,’’ Saint Peter’s huge man KC Ndefo mentioned. “With onerous work and protection and the way in which we compete each night time, the sky is the restrict for us.’’
Earlier than the sport started, Calipari knew what he was up in opposition to.
“I watched the tapes,’’ Calipari mentioned. “Let me let you know, I used to be apprehensive going into the sport. I wasn’t exhibiting anyone. I used to be whistling and skipping and dancing and we are able to’t wait. However I’m like, ‘Ooohh, they rebound.’ I imply, they rebounded with us (35 rebounds to Kentucky’s 36).
“Let’s give them credit score. They back-doored us to demise and beat us on the bounce and made threes coming off screens. Shaheen has finished a fantastic job. I instructed him that previous to the sport.’’
Survive the primary 5 to seven minutes?
On the five-minute mark, Saint Peter’s led Kentucky 8-7. On the seven-minute mark, Saint Peter’s led, 15-10.
Intimidated?
If anybody was intimidated it was the Kentucky gamers, who have been undoubtedly questioning, “Who the hell are these guys?’’
“It was cool placing Jersey Metropolis on the map,’’ Banks mentioned.
Kentucky absolutely figured Saint Peter’s, with its robust Jersey Metropolis roots and Holloway as its coach, would present some combat to start out the sport. And Saint Peter’s did precisely that.
It felt just like the Wildcats have been ready for the Peacocks to finally come off that early adrenaline excessive, put on down, understand who they have been taking part in, discover the title on the entrance the Kentucky jerseys and go away.
However they didn’t.
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