Saint Peter’s pays Purdue, the Peacocks will play the Elite Eight!

No rest for the March Madness because it was still necessary to play the last four games of the Sweet 16 this Friday. Who continues the adventure, who can already prepare their holidays? Come on, let’s go for the recap.

Les scores

  • Purdue (#3) – Saint Peter’s (#15) : 64-67
  • Kansas (#1) – Providence (#4) : 66-61
  • UCLA (#4) – North Carolina (#8) : 66-73
  • Miami (#10) – Iowa State (#11) : 70-56

Chef’s surprise

It’s the beautiful story of this March Madness and we have to talk regarding them as Saint Peter’s delights lap following lap. While they are only seeded number 15, the Peacocks continue to drop big chunks. John Calipari’s Kentucky in the first round, Murray State in the next and now Purdue! To get rid of the Boilermakers, it will have taken a constant fight and Saint Peter’s has long been in the position of the hunter. By dint of not succeeding in taking a break, Purdue is surprised at the worst of times, in the money time. Daryl Banks III plants two baskets in a row and puts the Peacocks at +4. Mason Gillis brings Purdue back two lengths thanks to a huge offensive rebound but Daryl Banks, once more, does not miss on the line. It’s starting to smell like a fir tree for the Boilermakers but the nugget Jaden Ivey plants a huge bomb from the parking lot. There is only one point difference with 8 seconds remaining! Edert makes his shots for the Peacocks but Ivey can send all these beautiful people in overtime. He spins at full speed but his shot only bounces off the circle. Victory Saint Peter’s!

It’s the first time in NCAA history that a No. 15 seed has made it to the Elite Eight. Whatever happens next, the Peacocks are already historic. The Cinderella of March Madness continues her daydream. And why not to the title?

The performance to remember

The big blow of heat came to us from the clash of the night in the NCAA, a nice classic between UCLA and North Carolina. The two prestigious universities had an appointment at the Wells Fargo Center for a colorful duel. A shock that led to the victory of the Tar Heels. Michael Jordan’s darlings have taken advantage of Caleb Love’s rise to prominence. Limited to only 5 points in the first period, the guard will put his whole team on his shoulders when he returns from the locker room. Big drives, finishing with contact, a rain of 3-pointers with or without a hand in front of the face, Love becomes unplayable and plants 25 pawns in the second half alone. While UCLA had managed to regain the lead late in the game, he chained two big shots from distance before going to finish the job on the throw line. An XXL perf.

The nice moment

We talk a lot regarding Saint Peter’s but there was also another great story that night. Miami quietly managed Iowa State, thanks in particular to a fiery Kameron McGusty, and the Hurricanes qualified for the Elite Eight for the first time in their history! It deserved a celebration worthy of the name and it was coach Jim Larrañaga, 72, who had the right to the shower when he joined the locker room. We will appreciate the small dance step of the man with the palette to accompany his young flock.

The perfs of the main prospects

  • Jaden Ivey (Purdue) : 9 points (4/12 shooting, 1/6 from afar), 8 rebounds and 2 assists once morest Saint Peter’s.

Highlights

Saturday’s program

  • 0h : Villanova (#2) – Houston (#5)
  • 1h50 : Duke (#2) – Arkansas (#4)

The Sweet 16 is already over and we are attacking the Elite Eight this Saturday with two great matches. Will Coach K and Duke reach the Final Four? Answer next night.

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