Madness in Jersey City as Saint Peter’s returns home in preparation for NCAA tournament Sweet 16

JERSEY Town, N.J. — The Cinderella tale for a area New Jersey higher education continues.

Saint Peter’s College, big underdogs in the NCAA tournament, pulled off another massive get Saturday night as it conquer No. 7-seeded Murray Condition to progress to the Sweet 16.

CBS2s Kiran Dhillon was on the Jersey Metropolis campus on Sunday as the Peacocks returned house to a hero’s welcome.

“We’re in this article to keep!” one particular player stated after Saturday night’s 70-60 acquire about Murray Point out, Saint Peter’s abide by-up to Thursday’s shocking upset of No. 2 Kentucky.

The Peacocks, seeded No. 15 in the East Area, and their fans were being still using the large on Sunday.

Thursday’s gain was Saint Peter’s very first victory in March Madness, and the most significant win in faculty historical past. Star participant KC Ndefo mentioned returning house soon after so substantially achievements on the highway has been surreal.

“This is some thing we desire about as children. To just appear in here and have all these remarkable supporters and individuals supporting us every single day is an remarkable feeling,” Ndefo reported.

His teammate, Doug Edert, agreed.

“It is really great. It truly is definitely wonderful. The lovers are excellent. We like their support,” Edert stated.

Edert additional that although enjoying on the national stage as the underdog has been challenging, the players are concentrated on remaining powerful and self-assured on the court.

“It starts off with our coach. He believes in us so much. He believed in us the complete time that we had been going to get each activity. And that has an effect on us players. We get started to imagine in ourselves and then go out there self-confident,” he explained of head mentor Shaheen Holloway.

Holloway claimed he’s recognised all alongside the workforce was going to succeed.

“Basketball is straightforward. It really is no strain. The pressure for these guys is hoping to get A’s in the classroom. We want them to have enjoyment and get it in and go out and do what they have performed their whole lives — just engage in basketball,” Holloway claimed.

Following up for Saint Peter’s is the Sweet 16. The Peacocks will engage in on Friday in Philadelphia against No. 3 Purdue, which conquer No. 6 Texas 81-71 on Sunday evening, and the players say they are up for the problem, but additional for now they are just enjoying the journey.

Admirers say they are, too.

“It feels like the moment in a life span. We would have in no way assumed a 7 days or two in the past. They exceeded our expectations,” alum Chris Martalus said.

“We received the to start with spherical, the next round. Arrive on, 3rd round, let us go! We acquired this. We bought this,” college student Breanna Ntuli extra.

The supporters say stated there is certainly no question in their minds that the Peacocks are going all the way.