Saint Peter's Peacocks: A Legacy of Surprises in College Basketball

The Saint Peter's Peacocks men's basketball program, representing Saint Peter's University in Jersey City, New Jersey, has a history marked by unexpected triumphs and memorable moments. As a member of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC), the team has consistently strived for excellence, achieving notable success both within the conference and on the national stage. The Peacocks play their home games in Run Baby Run Arena and are currently led by fourth-year head coach Bashir Mason, who was hired on April 12, 2022.

Early Years and the Rise of Don Kennedy

Saint Peter's first season of basketball was 1930-31, which was the same year the college re-opened on a new campus following its twelve-year closure from the impacts of World War I. To celebrate the school's rebirth, the dean named the Peacock as its official mascot. The 1950s saw the program gain momentum with the arrival of head coach Don Kennedy ahead of the 1950-51 season, the fifth head coach in program history. Under Kennedy's leadership, the Peacocks made back-to-back NAIA Tournament appearances in 1953 and 1954. In 1954, Saint Peter's made a run to the NAIA Quarterfinals where they would lose to Arkansas Tech 77-81.

Upsetting Duke and NIT Success

Saint Peter's first gained national recognition on March 18, 1968, with a stunning upset. Led by head coach Don Kennedy, Saint Peter's defeated the nationally ranked No. 10 Duke Blue Devils 100-71 in the 1968 NIT Quarterfinals in front of a sold-out crowd of 19,500 at Madison Square Garden. This was the first sell-out for a college basketball game at the current Madison Square Garden. The Peacocks advanced to the sold-out semifinal game against the Kansas Jayhawks led by future Hall of Famer Jo Jo White. Demand to attend the game was so high that Saint Peter's arranged for the game to be shown on a CCTV feed in the Stanley Theater at Journal Square to a capacity crowd. The Peacocks NIT run ended in a 46-58 defeat and a fourth-place finish. This was the second of three consecutive NIT appearances for Saint Peter's. In 1972, Don Kennedy ended his twenty-two year career as the winningest head coach in program history with a 323-195 (.624) record from 1950 to 1972. Under Kennedy, the Peacocks became known for their fast-pace offensive tactics even with the addition of the shot clock in 1954.

The Yanitelli Center Era and Continued NIT Appearances

On November 29, 1975, the Victor R. Yanitelli, S.J. Recreational Life Center (Yanitelli Center) opened on campus on the former site of Collins Gymnasium as the new home court of the Peacocks with an inaugural game against the Dartmouth Big Green. From 1975 to 1989, the Peacocks made seven appearances in the NIT (1975, 1976, 1980, 1982, 1984, 1987, 1989). Saint Peter's would make its deepest run during that span in the 1980 NIT. During this period, prior to joining the MAAC in 1981, the Peacocks participated in the ECAC men's basketball tournaments (regional end-of-season tournaments played by Division I schools that were independent, with Saint Peter's being in the Metro region) in 1975, 1976, 1980, 1981.

MAAC Success and NCAA Tournament Berths

Saint Peter's University is one of the founding members of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC), which began play in men's basketball with the 1981-82 season. Since then, the Peacocks have compiled the second most wins of any MAAC team and have won the MAAC Championship five times (1991, 1995, 2011, 2022, 2024), tied for the second most all-time. In the early 1990s, Saint Peter's began to find success in the MAAC Tournament under head coach Ted Fiore. In 1991, the Peacocks won their first MAAC Championship over the Iona Gaels 64-58 to send them to their first ever NCAA Tournament. The No. 5 Texas Longhorns would defeat them 65-73 in the First Round of the Midwest Region. In 1995, the Peacocks were again MAAC Champions after upsetting the No. 1 Manhattan Jaspers 80-78 in overtime. They would be matched up against the Marcus Camby led No.

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Keydren Clark's Dominance

From 2002 to 2006, the Peacocks were led by starting point guard Keydren "Kee-Kee' Clark who was one of the most prolific scorers in NCAA Division I history. During his college career at Saint Peter's, Clark amassed 3,058 points and averaged 29.5 points a game. In 2003, he was named MAAC Rookie of the Year. In 2004 and 2005, he led the nation in points scored per game, becoming just the eighth player to repeat as NCAA Division I scoring champion. On March 4, 2006, Clark became only the seventh NCAA player to score more than 3,000 points in his career; on the next day, he passed Hersey Hawkins to become the sixth-leading scorer of all time. The milestone happened in a game where the Peacocks upset the No. 1 Manhattan Jaspers 84-74 in the MAAC Tournament semi-finals. He was later named 2006 MAAC Player of the Year. Clark finished his college career as the sixth all-time NCAA leading scorer and as the NCAA record holder for the most three-pointers made with 435. He was later passed by JJ Redick who finished his college career with 457. Clark led the MAAC in scoring in all four seasons at Saint Peter's and is the all-time leading scorer in Saint Peter's University and New Jersey collegiate history with 3,058 points.

ESPN's 24-Hour College Hoops Tip-Off Marathon

On November 17, 2009, Saint Peter's garnered national exposure by hosting the Monmouth Hawks as part of the second annual ESPN's 24-Hour College Hoops Tip-Off Marathon. The marathon of live games across ESPN's networks marked the first day of the college basketball season. Ahead of the game, the university hosted an 11-hour "all-nighter" of campus activities with free breakfast and a pre-game pep rally.

2011 MAAC Championship and NCAA Tournament Appearance

In 2011, the Peacocks won their third MAAC Championship over the No. 2 Iona Gaels 62-57 which sent them to the 2011 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament. This was their first trip to the NCAA Tournament since 1995 and third trip overall. Saint Peter's drew the No. 3 Purdue Boilermakers in the First round.

2017 Season

In 2017, led by head coach John Dunne, the Peacocks went 23-13 and 14-6 in conference to play to finish second in the MAAC. In the MAAC Tournament, they defeated the Canisus Golden Griffens in the quarterfinals 61-58 before losing to the lona Gaels in the semifinals 65-73.

Yanitelli Center Renovation

On July 22, 2020, Saint Peter's announced that through a $5 million lead gift from alum and former basketball player Thomas P. Mac Mahon, they would begin a phased renovation of the Yanitelli Center. The renovation included the creation of a more modern basketball/volleyball arena with new retractable bleachers with an allotment of chairback seating, a full replacement of the hardwood court surface, updated branding and signage, a reimagined entryway to the facility, enhanced lighting and new video scoreboards.

The Historic 2022 NCAA Tournament Run

In 2022, the Peacocks won their fourth MAAC Championship defeating the Monmouth Hawks 60-54 and earning a spot in the 2022 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament where they would again earn national recognition. Led by head coach Shaheen Holloway, Saint Peter's became the tenth No. 15 seed in history to upset a No. 2 seed after knocking off the Kentucky Wildcats 85-79 in overtime. They then defeated the Murray State Racers in the next round 70-60, becoming the third No. 15 seed in tournament history (and the third in the last nine years) to make the Sweet 16. In the Sweet 16, they upset the No. 3 seed Purdue Boilermakers 67-64, to become the first No. 15 seed in tournament history to advance to the Elite Eight. Their historic Cinderella run came to an end with a 49-69 loss against eventual national runner-up No. 8 North Carolina. The Peacocks concluded their historic 2021-22 season with an overall record of 22-12 and the best NCAA post-season run with the most wins in a single NCAA Tournament by any MAAC program (men or women) in the conference's 41-year history. Following the tournament, Jersey City held a parade for the team along John F. Kennedy Boulevard to celebrate the Peacocks' historic run. On April 5, 2022, Saint Peter's was ranked No.

Battle of the Bracket Busters

On November 15, 2023, the Peacocks took on the FDU Knights in a regionally and nationally televised game on the YES Network dubbed the "Battle of the Bracket Busters" & "Battle for the Hackensack" at the Knights home court, the Bogota Savings Bank Center. Both New Jersey programs were recent NCAA Tournament bracket busters with Saint Peter's being the first No. 15 seed to make a run to the Elite Eight in 2022 and FDU becoming the second No. 16 seed and first First Four team to beat a No. 1 seed when they defeated the Purdue Boilermakers, 63-58 in 2023.

2024 MAAC Championship and NCAA Tournament

In 2024, the Peacocks returned to the NCAA tournament after they defeated the No. 2 Fairfield Stags in the MAAC Championship, 68-63 for their fifth conference title. Saint Peter's would not be able to replicate their 2021-22 Cinderella run season and lost in the First Round to the No. On November 26, 2024, the Peacocks played in a "Battle of the Bracket Busters" & "Battle for the Hackensack" rematch against the FDU Knights at Bogota Savings Bank Center that was also televised on the YES Network.

Bob Hurley's Legacy

The Hall of Fame high school basketball coach Bob Hurley is a Saint Peter's alum, Class of '71, and former freshman Peacock basketball player where under head coach Don Kennedy, he averaged 20 points per game. Hurley has credited the "speed and precision" of Kennedy's fast break offense as ahead of its time and the template for the principals he employed as the head coach of the St. Anthony High School Friars in Jersey City. Hurley used those principles to lead St.

Conclusion

The Saint Peter's Peacocks men's basketball team has a rich history filled with unexpected victories and memorable personalities. From their early success in the NAIA Tournament to Keydren Clark's scoring records and the unforgettable 2022 NCAA Tournament Elite Eight run, the Peacocks have consistently defied expectations and brought pride to Saint Peter's University and Jersey City. With a solid foundation and a commitment to excellence, the Peacocks look to continue their legacy of surprises and achievements in the years to come.

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Broadcasting

NBC Sports' comprehensive schedule is set to feature 16 Associated Press preseason Top 25 teams, including seven men’s teams from the Big Ten and BIG EAST, six Big Ten women’s teams, and three interconference matchups featuring No. 2 Alabama and No. 10 Arizona on the men’s side and No. The college basketball season tips off next week as NBC Sports’ schedule features a record 150-plus games from the Big Ten (men’s and women’s), BIG EAST (men’s), and Atlantic 10 (men’s and women’s) live on Peacock, NBC, and USA Network. Throughout the season, Peacock will exclusively stream more than 120 games live.

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