Saint Peter’s, molded in Shaheen Holloway’s image, reaps benefits by staying true to its identity

Shaheen Holloway and Saint Peter’s are household names today after Peacocks’ massive upset of Kentucky. (Photo by Bob Dea/Daly Dose Of Hoops)

In the initial reaction to Saint Peter’s stunning upset of Kentucky Thursday night in the NCAA Tournament, Peacock guard Daryl Banks III admitted most people probably would not know where the program’s Jersey City campus is even located.

Not even 24 hours after becoming just the tenth No. 15 seed to win an opening-round game, the Cinderella on Kennedy Boulevard, a 15-minute ride on the PATH train away from midtown or lower Manhattan — depending on which line you take — is now firmly embedded in the public eye, and warmly embraced in return.

“Truly, it feels amazing,” junior forward Doug Edert, the catalyst behind Saint Peter’s comeback, said Thursday. “We had our little section too, I don’t know if anybody saw that, but we did. They came and supported us. It’s a huge win for the program, our coaches, our teammates. It just feels amazing.”

The Peacocks embody the city they call home, and the coach for whom they play. Shaheen Holloway, no stranger to his own share of March Madness lore from his time at Seton Hall, has molded Saint Peter’s into a mirror image of his own days as a point guard, creating a 12-man rotation that takes zero prisoners, fights first and asks questions later. Against Kentucky, even with senior leader KC Ndefo plagued by early foul trouble, Holloway remained a beacon of composure as he steered his scrappy bunch to a stage many thought was improbable.

“That happened to us a couple of times this year,” he said of enduring early adversity. “I just told the guys, ‘just keep fighting.’ We knew it was going to be tough, we knew it was going to be a home game for (Kentucky). We had to fight through all that stuff, and we just kept fighting and did what we do. I told them we couldn’t get into a running match with these guys, we had to throw the game down and defend. And I thought we did that in the second half.”

“We always take it one game at a time. We’re not looking forward, we’re not looking past anyone. We’re just trying to figure out how we can get better for the next game.”

The even-keeled nature of Holloway is also blended with a seemingly bottomless stream of two-way confidence: His own in the players he recruited with this vision in mind, a trust reciprocated by the young men who put their faith in a hard-nosed competitor who demands intensify, but also has everyone’s best interests at heart and on his sleeve.

“We got good players,” Holloway said, attributing Saint Peter’s success to its on-court execution. “It’s a cliche, but we have guys that really have a chip on their shoulder, really believe they belong at big-time schools, and I give the guys freedom to play offense. As long as they do what they gotta do for me on defense, on offense, they have their freedom.”

“He believes in us so much,” Edert echoed, lauding Holloway. “He knows what we’re capable of, and I feel like his belief gives us belief in ourselves to make those plays and shoot those free throws at the end of the game.”

Saint Peter’s will rely on that belief Saturday, when it takes on Murray State in Indianapolis, with a trip to the East Regional semifinals awaiting the winner. The Racers are 31-2, winners of 21 straight and nationally ranked, but the Peacocks have a greater knowledge of the landscape this time of year, and with that comes Holloway’s desire to not just make the tournament, but make a run in it, something he has discussed with his team and used as a motivator.

“This team just understands,” he said. “These guys have been in this program a very long time. Two years ago, I thought we had a chance. We beat Iona, COVID came and shut us down, last year we came a little bit short, and this year, I felt like it was our year. I told the guys we were coming down here to win two games, not just be a part of it. I thought if we could survive the first seven minutes, we would be fine, and that’s what happened.”

“We’re not fazed by anybody, man. This team is never afraid. I would never allow it to happen. They kind of take on my personality. We’re never going to be intimidated by anybody.”