The beauty of March is, as always, the unexpected. It’s the one month of the calendar year where everyone thinks David will beat Goliath, sometimes repeatedly. “Down goes Frazier, down goes Frazier,” might as well be the entire month’s slogan.
The latest iteration of madness during the Men’s NCAA tournament involves the pitfalls of Kentucky (-18). A 2-seed, many had high hopes for John Calipari’s bunch to make a deep run over the next few weeks. At the very least, they should’ve made it through the first weekend of play because 2-seeds don’t lose to 15-seeds. They don’t. The glorious Peacocks of Saint Peter’s were but a speed bump in that journey.
Except on those rare occasions where the great basketball conjunction occurs.
PEACOCKS. WIN. pic.twitter.com/Jf10r5zyb4
— Saint Peter’s Athletics (@SPUAthletics) March 18, 2022
Down goes Calipari! Down goes Calipari! Down goes Calipari!
In the history of the 64-team format, Kentucky’s 85-79 loss to Saint Peter’s is only the 10th time a 15-seed has ever beaten the longest odds. Falling in this fashion is rare and futile company for one of college basketball’s blue bloods, and a moment of incredible glory for the Peacocks.
Of course, beyond the celebratory mood for Saint Peter’s, Tennessee also has to feel vindicated. Many felt the committee snubbed the Volunteers out of a 2-seed in favor of the Wildcats and Duke Blue Devils. As it so happens, Tennessee is already on to the Second Round. And Kentucky has to roost in its unwelcome history forever.
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