It’s safe to say that nobody could’ve predicted the Cinderella run of St. Peter’s University in the NCAA March Madness tournament. The underdog team from Jersey City stunned college basketball fans everywhere (and ruined their brackets) when they beat Kentucky in the first round. Matthew Lee, Doug Edert, KC Ndefo, Hassan Drame, Daryl Banks III, and the rest of the Peacocks brought the magic into the second round, as well, when they faced off against Murray State. The underdogs once again, St. Peter’s secured their spot in Sweet 16.
(Photo credit: @saintpetersuniversity)
This is the first time since 2000 that a team from New Jersey has made it to the second weekend of March Madness. St. Peter’s head coach, Shaheen Holloway, was playing for Seton Hall more than two decades ago, the last time a team from the Garden State has advanced this far in the popular sporting event.
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It’s no surprise, then, that New Jersey basketball fans are thrilled to see the small school from Jersey City make such a splash on the national stage. With each advancement, the social media celebrations have gotten better and better. As St. Peter’s prepares to take on Purdue in the Sweet 16, we’ve rounded up the best (and most LOL-worthy) tweets about this team’s magical, unforgettable Cinderella run.
haters mad https://t.co/FKinXUHuIf
— New Jersey (@NJGov) March 20, 2022
jersey city is the center of the universe https://t.co/cKh6FjZsSd
— Megan Coyne (@megancoyne23) March 20, 2022
How Jersey jackin St. Peter’s now that Rutgers and Seton Hall out 😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/az9WPPLkOC
— jimmy ⚡️ (@jimmmy_110) March 20, 2022
New Jersey is going to be insufferable for a while 🦚 pic.twitter.com/xPOwENlyR4
— Mara Grassroots Power! Novak (@NaraMovak) March 20, 2022
WELCOME TO NEW JERSEY. DOUG EDERT DRINKS FOR FREE.
— Chris Gethard (@ChrisGethard) March 20, 2022
GET ON BOARD THE SAINT PETER’S TRAIN OR GET OUT THE WAY! 🚂🦚#MarchMadness #Sweet16 pic.twitter.com/G0Wvvtedy5
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 20, 2022
Somehow the State of New Jersey liquified and reconstituted in the form of this #SaintPeters kid tonight.#JerseyCity #SweetSixteen pic.twitter.com/yjqFBkXNFR
— Scott Fallon (@NewsFallon) March 20, 2022
I’m cracking up about how the commentators keep acting surprised that @PeacocksMBB don’t seem scared of this moment. Of course they’re not scared. These guys have to cross Kennedy Blvd every day. That is way scarier than this game.
— Meghan Howard Noveck (@MeghanHoward08) March 20, 2022
The 201 is simply a bigger institution than the State of Kentucky
— J.J. Post (@JayJayPost) March 20, 2022
“You think we’re worried about guys trying to muscle us? WE do that.” 💪
Shaheen Holloway on @PeacocksMBB’s mentality. #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/BuVSv4rmn0
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 20, 2022