Unorthodox Peacocks fly into higher expectations in MAAC after surprising competition last year

Shaheen Holloway and Saint Peter's caught MAAC off guard last season, but now face significantly higher expectations. (Photo by Bob Dea/Daly Dose Of Hoops)

If Saint Peter’s were to be compared to a professional sports franchise, perhaps the most apropos, and logical, comparison would be the Tampa Bay Rays.

Much like the reigning American League champions, the Peacocks do not possess a Who’s Who of the sport, relying on the sum of the whole rather than any gaudy individual part. There is no superstar or set rotation in Jersey City, only a commitment to winning placed at the forefront of the program. And much like his major league counterpart, Kevin Cash, Shaheen Holloway has proven his unique method is capable of delivering results.

Picked ninth in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference last season, Saint Peter’s arrived near the top of the league a year ahead of schedule last season, finishing just one game behind regular season champion Siena in the standings and earning four of the five major awards in the MAAC, including Coach of the Year recognition for Holloway, who enters his third season as head coach with perhaps his largest set of preseason accolades to begin a year that, for all intents and purposes, will be just as unconventional as the path to success he has steered his program toward.

“It starts at the top,” Holloway said, citing the accountability he has instilled in the program since being hired in 2018. “I’m not that guy, I don’t look at preseason picks and polls or stuff like that. That’s not important to us or to me. I’m just grateful that we’re practicing. I’m more concerned with that because of everything that’s gone on. Those are the things I’m worried about and the team is worried about, trying to get to know each other and get back on the court and get a feel for the game.”

“As far as expectations for the season, the same thing as the previous two years. We don’t care about anything else as long as we just go out there and play hard and play together. Everything else will take care of itself.”

Last season, Saint Peter’s featured six freshmen and three sophomores — none of which averaged more than 8.5 points per game — in an ever-rotating display of depth and versatility anchored by KC Ndefo, who won both the MAAC’s Sixth Man and Defensive Player of the Year awards. Aaron Estrada and Majur Majak have since transferred, but with seven of the Peacocks’ top nine returning this season, Holloway has valuable roster continuity that gains even greater significance considering how limited the time on the court has been due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We lost some key pieces,” he admitted, also mentioning that prior to last week, the Peacocks had only played 5-on-5 twice since the season ended last March. “I think what a lot of people forget is our guys were young. I still have five freshmen who are now sophomores, who I’m asking to be leaders, and you’ve also got two juniors in KC and Dallas (Watson). So it’s a good core coming back, but guys will still be taking different roles and different steps. Those guys last year were just happy to be in college. This year, I’m asking these guys to be leaders, to step up, score more points and play defense. That’s going to be a challenge in itself.”

Challenge is a word that, given the circumstances surrounding college basketball and the world at large, will be thrown around like water over the weeks and months to come. But for a battle-tested and big-hearted coach like Holloway who will always hold the best interests of his players first, just having the opportunity to compete is a blessing, one that is not being taken for granted.

“It’s been a long seven months for these guys,” he stated. “It’s tough, especially for the freshmen. These guys are coming into college trying to have a great experience, and then it’s taken away from them. We’re just trying to get them to understand that every day, we’re doing something to make sure they’re staying safe. Our leaders have been good, but I’d be sitting here telling you a story if I could say it’s been easy.”

“It’s been very, very hard. The thing that I just keep preaching to our guys is this year’s going to be different than any other year you’ve ever experienced in your life. If you don’t want to be disciplined and don’t want to have a season, then maybe you guys should go home for the year. But if you want to have a season, you’ve got to do all the little things to keep our bubble tight and just kind of stay in the pace.”