The Saint Peters Peacocks are attempting to make history on Sunday. If they can defeat the North Carolina Tar Heels in the Elite Eight, they will become the first 15-seed to ever advance to the Final Four.
While it has been a truly Cinderella run for the Jersey City school, this would take things to a whole other stratospheric level.
Of course, it’s very easy for everyone to get caught up in Saint Peter’s fever and, given the interest that the school has gained in recent days because of the tournament run, no one would blame the players for feeling that hype.
The Saint Peter's Peacocks men's basketball Twitter account (@PeacocksMBB) has grown by 29,000-plus followers during their NCAA Tournament run: https://t.co/eIaHsmtSD0
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) March 26, 2022
But head coach Shaheen Holloway isn’t about to let the Peacocks fly away on all that excitement. He’s doing his best to keep his players on track and focused on the task at hand. Before Sunday’s big Elite Eight showdown, he posted a photo from the book “Daily Wisdom.” Specifically, he zeroed in on a quote from Texas head coach Chris Beard when he was discussing whether or not he was going to make changes when his team was dealing with a series of setbacks.
“Stay the course,” reads the quote.
🗣🗣🗣🗣🗣🗣🗣🗣🗣🗣 pic.twitter.com/bV1TDh59WD
— Shaheen Holloway (@CoachSha10) March 27, 2022
While Saint Peter’s issue is the opposite, that they have had a string of huge victories, the idea remains the same that it’s all about focusing on the here and now rather than worrying about what others are saying and what’s happened in the past.
Whenever the Peacock’s magical run ends, there will be plenty of time to look back on it. Not to mention, there are likely many questions ahead, including whether or not Holloway will leave to take the head coaching job at alma mater Seton Hall.
But for the moment, just for today, Saint Peter’s will look to stay the course and make history.
