For those among us not particularly well-educated on their patron saints, let this author present some hastily-researched fun facts about Saint Peter. He is recognized as the traditional first pope of the Roman Catholic church. He was a fisherman, and the patron saint of various nautical craftsmen: shipbuilders, fishermen and netmakers. And, if you are in any way affiliated with a college basketball team waltzing deep into March—perhaps, a No. 15 seed bearing his name—it will behoove you to know that Saint Peter, multitalented as he would seem, may also soon condone cutting nets down.
As you may have heard, the Peacocks of Saint Peter’s, the No. 15 seed in the East region, have stolen just about all the thunder there was for the taking in a men’s tourney that, after three rounds has seen three No. 1 seeds bow out, many of its biggest stars erased, and chaos erupt across the bracket, all while the winningest college coach of all time has staved off defeat in the face of retirement. Saint Peter’s improbably toppled heavily favored Purdue on a Friday night that also saw a No. 8 seed (North Carolina) and a No. 10 seed (Miami) advance to the regional finals. Whatever platitudes anyone wants to use to describe how utterly decimated their bracket may be, they apply. It’s nice to believe in miracles, but at this point in the tournament, this author will believe pretty much anything.
Chris Szagola/Associated Press
