St.Peter’s Men’s Basketball Historic Run

By Tori Waschek 

One of the biggest moments of March Madness this year was New Jersey’s very own, Saint Peter’s, a small university located in Jersey City. The Peacocks stunned No. 2 seed Kentucky in the first round of the tournament, one of the greatest upsets in the tourney’s history. They proved not to be just a one hit wonder as they turned around and won again against No. 7 seed Murray State.

With this Cinderella run, Saint Peter’s became the third No.15 seed to ever reach the Sweet 16. They are also the first team from New Jersey to be in the Sweet 16 since Seton Hall in 2000. On that 2000 Seton Hall team was Saint Peter’s head coach, Shaheen Halloway, who was the starting point guard.

Saint Peter’s magic carried against No.3 seeded Purdue, ending the Boilmakers season in a dramatic fashion, only by three points. Not to mention, the win came on National Peacock day. However, in the Elite Eight round Saint Peter’s would fall to No. 8 UNC, as the Tar Heels cruised past them, 69-49. It was not the ending fans wanted to see.

Jersey City held a celebratory parade Friday to commemorate the Peacocks’ historic run in the 2022 men’s NCAA tournament. Following the parade, a pep rally was held at the school. It was also announced that St.Peter’s Holloway will be returning to his roots at Seton Hall as its next head coach.

St. Peter’s has joined the list of schools who have etched themselves into March Madness history books. The men’s basketball team has put the school on the map and had united the state of New Jersey to root for them in their tournament run.

It will probably be a very long time before you see anything comparable to what the Saint Peter’s Peacocks have done in the NCAA Tournament again.