Cinderella awaits latest dance as Saint Peter’s tackles Purdue in Sweet 16

Shaheen Holloway has kept Saint Peter’s focused on NCAA Tournament run amid distractions en route to Sweet 16 matchup against Purdue. (Photo by Bob Dea/Daly Dose Of Hoops)

PHILADELPHIA — In a city that embraces toughness and adopts underdogs that reflect the scrappy, blue-collar mentality of the nation’s sixth-largest metropolis lies a local group of hardwood pugilists whose presence here may almost be written in the stars.

Saint Peter’s, only the third No. 15 seed to survive the opening weekend of the NCAA Tournament since the field was expanded to 64 — and later, 68 — teams, takes its place in the City of Brotherly Love this weekend not only as the Rocky Balboa of college basketball, so to speak, but also as the darling of the nation who is still searching for new impressions to leave on its newfound aficionados.

“Everybody’s rallied around us,” head coach Shaheen Holloway, whose charisma and magnetic personality has helped endear the Peacocks to the masses, proudly declared. “It’s been tremendous. The support has been unbelievable. The sendoff we had last night was unbelievable.”

Winners of nine straight since a February 20 loss to Siena, Saint Peter’s latest challenge comes in the form of Purdue, the No. 3 seed in the East Regional, against whom the Peacocks battle Friday in the Sweet 16. The Boilermakers possess a pair of mountains masquerading as men in 7-foot-4 Zach Edey and 6-foot-10 Trevion Williams, not to mention a dynamic point guard in Jaden Ivey, but the imposing presence of the Big Ten power is only that on paper to an unfazed and unintimidated unit with nothing to lose.

“I feel like we’ve had that all year,” senior forward KC Ndefo said of his team’s fearless nature. “This is who we are. Just being on the big stage finally shows this is what we do, that this toughness and this chip on our shoulder is what we bring to the table. Coach thrives on it, and shows us we should bring that passion, that determination to the game and to practice every day.”

Holloway’s own mentality and image as a hard-nosed point guard-turned coach continues to be reflected and projected in his young charges, who he makes sure to highlight first and foremost despite his own exploits as the leader of the last local team to reach this stage, his Seton Hall outfit of 1999-2000.

“When you bring a group of guys in who kind of fit you, fit your personality and know what you want, it makes it very easy,” Holloway said of the manner in which he constructed his roster. “I’m the head of the snake, in practice, I’m this and that, but these guys have carried the mission out to a T. I don’t think they’re getting enough credit for what they’re doing, or what they did.”

“As far as my experience, I just try to share a little bit with them, but not too much. I want it to be about them, not about me. I want them to enjoy the ride, understand who we are and where we are, and continue to keep working hard.”

Saint Peter’s was 12-11 one month ago, standing 10-6 in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play after an 84-70 defeat at the hands of Siena in Albany. Since then, the Peacocks’ elite defense — something Holloway cited as the essence of his program, especially in a 26-day COVID pause during the holiday season — has allowed a scant 55.7 points per game, forcing opponents to place shot making at a premium while Saint Peter’s own confidence grows larger and stronger with each possession.

“The only difference, I would say, is everybody’s more confident now,” Holloway said. “Before, we had a lot of guys that weren’t sure of their roles on the team, a lot of guys still trying to find themselves. The COVID pause actually helped us. I know it messed a couple of teams up, but it actually helped us. Since the COVID pause, the team’s been a different team. We’re kind of locked in, following the goal, and the goal is to be a defense-first team.”

“I think a lot of teams underestimated them,” said Edey of Purdue’s next test. “They kind of doubted their ability because of the number next to their name, but we’re coming into this game like we’re playing the 2-seed because they beat the 2-seed (Kentucky). We have to have the mentality that they’re a really good team, and we have to respect them.”

Holloway admitted Thursday that he tried to insulate his players after Tuesday’s media blitz in Jersey City, as Saint Peter’s attempts to navigate the media attention and distractions that come with it, such as the future of the Peacocks’ coach. Holloway immediately said he was unaffected by the speculation of his potential hire at Seton Hall as the successor to his former boss, Kevin Willard, and praised his team’s ability to keep external noise to a minimum approaching the biggest game of the season.

“This team, they’ve been good,” Holloway reiterated. “They haven’t worried about too much, but for the most part, these guys have been level-headed and even-keeled. We’ve just got to try to keep that going.”

“This is an amazing opportunity,” Ndefo echoed. “It’s surreal and our feelings are surreal, but staying the course is our main focus. Being the underdogs and being doubted is what we thrive off of, and we’re just trying to keep that mindset and keep doing what we’re doing.”