It had the appear and feel of a highschool homecoming.
Besides that it was a celebration for an NCAA Candy 16 participant.
There have been balloons.
There was a DJ spinning the same old playlist that signifies triumph (assume Queen’s “We're the Champions”).
Two giant video screens confirmed a working montage of Saint Peter’s highlights from the primary two NCAA Event victories in class historical past, which occurred to return up to now 4 days in Indianapolis with wins over No. 2 seed Kentucky and No. 7 seed Murray State.
And there was the house health club on Montgomery Avenue in Jersey Metropolis — capability 1,820 — stuffed with appreciative followers.
The gamers affectionately referred to as them “Peacock Nation,’’ which fairly probably is a nation that didn’t totally exist till this previous weekend with Saint Peter’s having asserted itself as maybe probably the most shocking Cinderella story within the historical past of the NCAA Event.
(And that story’s nonetheless in progress).
The aircraft transporting Saint Peter’s from Indianapolis touched down at Newark Airport at about 12:30 Sunday afternoon. By 1:30, with the lights turned down within the health club for dramatic impact, the Peacocks triumphantly walked by a set of doorways within the nook of the health club and humbly applauded the followers as a lot because the followers cheered them.
Starting with Saint Peter’s coach Shaheen Holloway, one after the other the Peacocks gamers took turns on the microphone and delivered messages to the gang.
“It’s been an important trip — however guess what? — it’s not over,’’ Holloway, first to go, mentioned.
“The job’s not completed,’’ added ahead KC Ndefo, who was the hero in Saturday evening’s 70-60 upset of Murray State, scoring a game-high 17 factors and including 10 rebounds, six blocked photographs and three assists.
After various the gamers spoke, they mingled with the followers, posing for footage and signing autographs for a couple of half hour.
“That is stunning,’’ Holloway mentioned as he appeared round. “That is what I envisioned after I took the job a pair years in the past, to have moments like this. For these guys, I simply need them to take pleasure in it. That is like … the whole lot. That is why guys come to play Division I basketball — to have this chance.’’
In the event you listened to Holloway and his gamers, it’s a possibility they really consider has solely simply begun.
“I don’t assume no person’s taking Saint Peter’s calmly no extra,’’ Holloway mentioned.
Guard Doug Edert, the Nutley, N.J., native who’s turn out to be equal components cult hero and people hero along with his bushy hair, pencil mustache and deadly outside-shooting prowess, was requested by a TV reporter what message these previous two upset wins has despatched to the remainder of the match individuals.
“I suppose to be careful,’’ Edert mentioned.
Then he was requested, “How far are you able to go?’’
“We will go all the way in which,’’ Edert mentioned with out a trace of hesitation. “I really feel like we are able to beat all people. We work so exhausting, and with exhausting work and somewhat little bit of perception, I feel we are able to accomplish something. All people on our crew has a chip on their shoulder. Our coach has a chip on his shoulder. We thrive on that. We’re simply making an attempt to show ourselves to all people.’’
Ndefo, from Elmont on Lengthy Island, mentioned the pilots on the aircraft trip residence informed the crew they’d picked Saint Peter’s of their NCAA bracket as one of many underdogs to win.
“That is what we dreamed about as children, and to have the ability to dwell that is superb. It’s surreal,’’ Ndefo mentioned.
“This entire journey has been superb,’’ Edert mentioned. “We love the help. It feels unreal. We work so exhausting daily in apply. We acquired placed on the large stage and we’re simply making an attempt to show ourselves. It begins with our coach. He believes in us a lot that have an effect on us as gamers and we begin to consider in ourselves.’’
Each time Holloway is requested about himself and his school taking part in days, he deflects and says that is all about his gamers.
“These guys labored their entire life for this second,’’ Holloway mentioned. “Benefit from it. Benefit from this stage. Present all people what you are able to do. That’s what these guys are doing.’’
By the primary week, it’s been fairly a present. With apologies to the highest seeds and their flashy, star-studded rosters, Saint Peter’s has been the star of those NCAAs.
Now the Peacocks energy on to Philadelphia this week as certainly one of 16 groups nonetheless alive for the nationwide championship. Not like Indianapolis, the place Kentucky and Murray State had been de facto residence groups, Philly will really feel like residence for Saint Peter’s, positioned simply 90 miles up the Jersey Turnpike.
“I feel it’s going to be an important atmosphere,’’ Edert predicted. “An awesome place to get a giant win.’’
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