Saint Peter's magical postseason run continues to Elite 8

ZGeogheganKSR

On3 image — Photo by Patrick Smith | Getty Images

The more Saint Peter’s wins basketball games, the more validation Kentucky fans should feel.

Okay, I get it. That loss still stings. But how about these freaking Peacocks? I can at least take some solace in knowing that the 15-seed that took down Kentucky might actually, truly, legitimately be good at the game of basketball. On Friday night, Saint Peter’s did the unthinkable once again, upsetting 3-seeded Purdue 67-64 in the Sweet 16 as the Peacocks move on to the Elite 8.

Saint Peter’s is the first-ever 15-seed to make the Elite 8 and the first team ever seeded 13 or higher. The Peacocks beat 2-seed Kentucky in the opening round and then 7-seed Murray State in the Round of 32. They’ll next face the winner of North Carolina-UCLA on Sunday with a shot at the Final Four on the line.

But hey, at least Kentucky can say they took Saint Peter’s to overtime! ¯_(ツ)_/¯

CINDERELLA 🦚

SAINT PETER’S MAKES COLLEGE BASKETBALL HISTORY‼️ pic.twitter.com/FxWta9eUF0
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) March 26, 2022

"What they gonna say now?" 😤

Head Coach Shaheen Holloway and Saint Peter's were fired up after moving on to the Elite Eight pic.twitter.com/V67fBIW6mC
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 26, 2022

To me, Every St Peter’s win makes the story less that Kentucky lost and more that the Peacocks are America’s darling

No one cares that UCONN lost to George Mason. They just remember George Mason

So I am all in on the Peacocks
— Matt Jones (@KySportsRadio) March 26, 2022

Saint Peter’s never let Purdue get ahead by more than six points throughout the game, biding its time before striking in the second half. The Boilermakers took a 33-29 lead into the halftime break before the Peacocks unleashed an 8-0 run to start the second half that shifted all the momentum in their direction. Purdue’s Jaden Ivey had a shot to send the game into overtime at the buzzer, but his game-tying triple came up short.