Maybe we’ve been thinking about this all wrong. Basketball has long been considered the domain of the “bigs,” the tall guys and gals. It’s usually assumed if you’re the taller team, you have the advantage.
Yet, in the NCAA playoffs, St. Peter University’s team with its speedy guards and scrappy players beat taller, more traditional Purdue. The little guys no one ever heard of and never previously won a single game at March Madness fought their way to victory.
St. Pete’s demonstrated extraordinary teamwork, well-honed passing skills, and determination that just never quit. And all this against, get this, THE tallest player of any roster this season, 7-foot 4-inch Zach Edey at Purdue. Yup. This guy is two feet taller than me and towers over every other player.
It’s not actually that the St. Peter’s guys are short. I looked up their roster and nearly every player is over six feet tall. It’s just that Purdue was bigger with bulkier bodies. Purdue had size; St. Pete’s had speed.
Purdue is part of the Big 10 conference and has a long and terrific sports history. Their student population is over 40,000, a land grant Indiana state college with excellent ag and engineering programs. Their alumni endowment and support of sports is tremendous.
I know all this because my parents are both alumni of Purdue, met on campus, fell in love, and upon graduation got married just as the U.S. entered WWII. So, along with cheering for any Big 10 team due to my Hoosier childhood, I was supposed to wish the Boilermakers success.
Instead, I was championing the “little” guys, the “Peacocks” from New Jersey. I never heard of them before and they were considered a “Cinderella team” that was lucky to get a seat at the dance, as they say in playoff parlance. Their coach stayed steady and obviously trained his guys to run like crazy plus never give up.
Think of that old movie, “Hoosiers” when Gene Hackman had his players running up and down the bleachers, up and down the floor never touching a ball until the team got in condition. As a result, his team built endurance and they won the state finals, another underdog champion. (And the movie is based on a true story of come from behind grit.)
With a student population of around 2,600 students, St. Peters is a private Jesuit-based school. I don’t know anything about them, but I expect them to be back in the future, so I will learn more. Frankly, many of the players look like they just walked off the streets with their floppy hair and gritty determination. I loved watching them from the get go and cheered .
The “talking heads” as we call them, meaning the experienced NBA legendary commentators, didn’t think St. Pete’s had a chance. I guess we can all be wrong.
By the way. It’s not that I wished a loss for the Big 10 or any team at this point in the playoffs. Every team has worked hard to achieve their playoff status so, I just enjoy watching a well-played game. My mother taught me not to boo for the opposition; just cheer harder for your team.
In the end, the little unknown team endured and the mighty famous fell. It’s a great lesson in humility and perseverance. Way to go, St. Pete’s. You will be an NCAA legend forever, the come from behind underdogs, and inspire future basketball players at all levels.
P.S. St. Pete’s lost big time on Sunday. It felt like they were exhausted both in spirit and athleticismI still honor you for persevering and providing some very enjoyable sports watching. You have already accomplished lots and represent the hope of every small school. See you next year.
By KAYE SULLIVAN – Special to the Herald Times
