It was the biggest upset of the year in any sport, and it came in the form of an instant classic that had everything, including overtime and 16 shifts.
But in the end it was tiny St. Peters, the 15th seeded, that acted as if it had been there before, smashing the Kentucky power plant, among the most historic college basketball program in the country, with On Thursday, Peacock won 85-79 in overtime giving a final example of why this is called the March Madness.
How monumental was the disorder?
St. Peter’s entire annual sports budget is $ 7.5 million, and Kentucky coach John Calipari earns $ 8.5 million per season.
And if the Peacocks return to the court at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Saturday (7:45 p.m.) for the 1/8 finals, they will face another middle ground program that seeks to bet as an outsider in the tournament.
Murray State, the seventh seeded in the Eastern Region, is led by forward K.J. Williams with a score of 6-10, averaging 18.2 points and 8.6 rebounds. Williams scored 18 points and seven rebounds on Thursday in overtime with a score of 92-87 over number 10 in San Francisco.
The Racers also scored 17 points, including three three-pointers, from guard Tevin Brown, and guard Justin Hill scored 15 points.
Read more: How tough the MAAC campaign has prepared St. Peter’s Cathedral to shock the world
St. Petersburg (20-11) was led by a 27-point explosion by junior guard Daryl Banks III, while junior guard Doug Edert scored 20 points against Kentucky as the Peacocks defended and bounced well from start to finish.
Shahin Holloway:When he defeats Kentucky, Seton Hall, who hired him, is “not thrilled.”
Here are three things you need to know about Murray:
1. No team hot
The Racers have the best NCAA record – 31-2. Now they have won 21 in a row with a win over San Francisco. They did not lose in 2022, and the last defeat came from Auburn in December.
Related: St. Peter’s Basketball: Joe Whelan’s Emotional Connection to the NCAA Tour
After a tough fight with Morehead State at the Ohio Valley Conference, the Racers held another productive match Thursday against San Francisco, increasing their lead by eight points two minutes before the end.
2. Regulars of the NCAA tournament
This is not the first time Murray State has moved into the March Madness. This is their 18th performance in the March Madness and the seventh time the Racers have advanced.
In 2019, the Racers, seeded No. 12, killed Marketta, number five, 83-64, in the first round. But they never got to Sweet 16.
St. Peter upsets Kentucky:Where does it rank in the shock list of NCAA tournament history?
This is St. Peter’s fourth trip to the NCAA tournament, and the first time the Peacocks have advanced beyond the first round.
3. OVC v. MAAC
Murray State emerged as a result of a conference in the Ohio Valley, which is currently ranked 25th out of 32 Division 32 basketball leagues based on RPI.
The MAAC, which St. Peter won by defeating Manmouth in the final, finished 14th, in a league featuring Jonah and coach Rick Pittin, regular season title holders.
This means that St. Peter faced better competition week after week during conferences. And that could portend Peacocks in this clash of mid-majors.
