Hall of Famer Rick Pitino is ‘extremely proud’ of Saint Peter’s after NCAA Tournament loss to UNC in Elite Eight

St. Peter's guard Doug Edert (25) is the last player to leave the floor as North Carolina celebrates its win in the Elite 8 round of the NCAA Tournament on Sunday, March 27, 2022 in Philadelphia. North Carolina won, 69-49.

St. Peter's Peacocks head coach Shaheen Holloway becomes animated during the second half of the Elite 8 round of the NCAA Tournament on Sunday, March 27, 2022 in Philadelphia. North Carolina won, 69-49.

Referee Bo Boroski (left) watches as North Carolina Tar Heels forward Armando Bacot (5) grabs a rebound in front of St. Peter's Peacocks forward Hassan Drame (14) during the first half of the Elite 8 round of the NCAA Tournament on Sunday, March 27, 2022 in Philadelphia.

St. Peter's Peacocks forward KC Ndefo (11), forward Hassan Drame (14), guard Doug Edert (25) and guard Daryl Banks III (5) come out of the game as North Carolina starts the celebration late in second half of the Elite 8 round of the NCAA Tournament on Sunday, March 27, 2022 in Philadelphia. The Tar Heels won, 69-49.

St. Peter's guard Matthew Lee (15, left) and forward Clarence Rupert (12) leave the court after North Carolina beat the Peacocks in the Elite 8 round of the NCAA Tournament on Sunday, March 27, 2022 in Philadelphia. North Carolina won, 69-49.

St. Peter's Peacocks head coach Shaheen Holloway (center) has words with guard Doug Edert (25) during a timeout in the second half of the Elite 8 round of the NCAA Tournament on Sunday, March 27, 2022 in Philadelphia. North Carolina won, 69-49.

St. Peter's Peacocks guard Doug Edert (25) and guard Isiah Dasher (13) look back at North Carolina celebrating after the Tar Heels beat the Peacocks in the Elite 8 round of the NCAA Tournament on Sunday, March 27, 2022 in Philadelphia. North Carolina won, 69-49.

St. Peter's Peacocks guards Isiah Dasher (13) and Doug Edert (25) leave the floor after the Peacocks lost to North Carolina in the Elite 8 round of the NCAA Tournament on Sunday, March 27, 2022 in Philadelphia. The Tar Heels won, 69-49.

Fans high-five St. Peter's guard Doug Edert (25) as he leaves the floor after the Peacocks lost to North Carolina in the Elite 8 round of the NCAA Tournament on Sunday, March 27, 2022 in Philadelphia. The Tar Heels won, 69-49.

St. Peter's Peacocks head coach Shaheen Holloway leaves the court after North Carolina beat the Peacocks in the Elite 8 round of the NCAA Tournament on Sunday, March 27, 2022 in Philadelphia. North Carolina won, 69-49.

St. Peter's Peacocks head coach Shaheen Holloway reacts as guard Doug Edert (25) can’t grab the ball during the first half of the Elite 8 round of the NCAA Tournament against the North Carolina Tar Heels on Sunday, March 27, 2022 in Philadelphia.

St. Peter's Peacocks guard Isiah Dasher (13), forward Fousseyni Drame (10), guard Jaylen Murray (32), guard Doug Edert (25) and forward Clarence Rupert (12) during the first half against the North Carolina Tar Heels in the Elite 8 round of the NCAA Tournament on Sunday, March 27, 2022 in Philadelphia.

All 5 St. Peter's players on the floor can’t prevent North Carolina forward Armando Bacot (5) from scoring during the first half of the Elite 8 round of the NCAA Tournament on Sunday, March 27, 2022 in Philadelphia.

St. Peter's Peacocks forward Clarence Rupert (12) lays on the floor against the North Carolina Tar Heels during the first half of the Elite 8 round of the NCAA Tournament on Sunday, March 27, 2022 in Philadelphia.

St. Peter's Peacocks guard Doug Edert (25) is fouled by North Carolina Tar Heels guard R.J. Davis (4) during the first half of the Elite 8 round of the NCAA Tournament on Sunday, March 27, 2022 in Philadelphia.

St. Peter's Peacocks guard Doug Edert (25) and North Carolina Tar Heels forward Armando Bacot (5) compete for a loose ball during the first half of the Elite 8 round of the NCAA Tournament on Sunday, March 27, 2022 in Philadelphia.

St. Peter's Peacocks head coach Shaheen Holloway during the second half of the Elite 8 round of the NCAA Tournament on Sunday, March 27, 2022 in Philadelphia. North Carolina won, 69-49.

A St. Peter's fan holds up a sign surrounded by Carolina fans during the first half of the Elite 8 round of the NCAA Tournament on Sunday, March 27, 2022 in Philadelphia.

With the Peacocks trailing by double digits to North Carolina, this dunk attempt by St. Peter's guard Daryl Banks III (5) did not fall with about 4 minutes to go in the first half of the Elite 8 round of the NCAA Tournament on Sunday, March 27, 2022 in Philadelphia.

With the Peacocks trailing by double digits to North Carolina, this dunk attempt by St. Peter's guard Daryl Banks III (5) did not fall with about 4 minutes to go in the first half of the Elite 8 round of the NCAA Tournament on Sunday, March 27, 2022 in Philadelphia.

St. Peter's forward Fousseyni Drame (10, left) speaks with head coach Shaheen Holloway during the second half of the Elite 8 round of the NCAA Tournament on Sunday, March 27, 2022 in Philadelphia. North Carolina won, 69-49.

St. Peter's forward KC Ndefo (11) blocks a shot by North Carolina Tar Heels guard Caleb Love (2) during the second half of the Elite 8 round of the NCAA Tournament on Sunday, March 27, 2022 in Philadelphia. North Carolina won, 69-49.

St. Peter's Peacocks head coach Shaheen Holloway during the second half of the Elite 8 round of the NCAA Tournament on Sunday, March 27, 2022 in Philadelphia. North Carolina won, 69-49.

St. Peter's Peacocks forward KC Ndefo (11) blocks a shot by North Carolina Tar Heels forward Armando Bacot (5) during the first half of the Elite 8 round of the NCAA Tournament on Sunday, March 27, 2022 in Philadelphia.

St. Peter's Peacocks guard Doug Edert (25) and North Carolina Tar Heels forward Armando Bacot (5) compete for a loose ball during the first half of the Elite 8 round of the NCAA Tournament on Sunday, March 27, 2022 in Philadelphia.

St. Peter's Peacocks guard Doug Edert (25) is fouled by North Carolina Tar Heels guard R.J. Davis (4) during the first half of the Elite 8 round of the NCAA Tournament on Sunday, March 27, 2022 in Philadelphia.

St. Peter's guard Doug Edert (25) is the last player to leave the floor as North Carolina celebrates its win in the Elite 8 round of the NCAA Tournament on Sunday, March 27, 2022 in Philadelphia. North Carolina won, 69-49.

North Carolina Tar Heels guard Caleb Love (2) defends as St. Peter's Peacocks guard Isiah Dasher (13) moves the ball to the hoop during the first half of the Elite 8 round of the NCAA Tournament on Sunday, March 27, 2022 in Philadelphia.

North Carolina Tar Heels guard Caleb Love (2) defends as St. Peter's Peacocks forward KC Ndefo (11) tries to move toward the hoop during the first half of the Elite 8 round of the NCAA Tournament on Sunday, March 27, 2022 in Philadelphia.

North Carolina Tar Heels guard Caleb Love (2) defends as St. Peter's Peacocks forward KC Ndefo (11) tries to move toward the hoop during the first half of the Elite 8 round of the NCAA Tournament on Sunday, March 27, 2022 in Philadelphia.

North Carolina Tar Heels guard Caleb Love (2) defends as St. Peter's Peacocks guard Isiah Dasher (13) moves the ball to the hoop during the first half of the Elite 8 round of the NCAA Tournament on Sunday, March 27, 2022 in Philadelphia.

With the Peacocks trailing by double digits to North Carolina, this dunk attempt by St. Peter's guard Daryl Banks III (5) did not fall with about 4 minutes to go in the first half of the Elite 8 round of the NCAA Tournament on Sunday, March 27, 2022 in Philadelphia.

St. Peter's Peacocks forward KC Ndefo (11) blocks a shot by North Carolina Tar Heels guard Caleb Love (2) during the second half of the Elite 8 round of the NCAA Tournament on Sunday, March 27, 2022 in Philadelphia. North Carolina won, 69-49.

St. Peter's Peacocks head coach Shaheen Holloway during the second half of the Elite 8 round of the NCAA Tournament on Sunday, March 27, 2022 in Philadelphia. North Carolina won, 69-49.

St. Peter's Peacocks guard Doug Edert (25) and forward Hassan Drame (14) pressure North Carolina Tar Heels guard R.J. Davis (4) during the second half of the Elite 8 round of the NCAA Tournament on Sunday, March 27, 2022 in Philadelphia. North Carolina won, 69-49.

St. Peter's Peacocks head coach Shaheen Holloway during the second half of the Elite 8 round of the NCAA Tournament on Sunday, March 27, 2022 in Philadelphia. North Carolina won, 69-49.

St. Peter's Peacocks head coach Shaheen Holloway during the second half of the Elite 8 round of the NCAA Tournament on Sunday, March 27, 2022 in Philadelphia. North Carolina won, 69-49.

North Carolina Tar Heels forward Armando Bacot (5) and guard R.J. Davis (4) close in on St. Peter's Peacocks guard Jaylen Murray (32) during the second half of the Elite 8 round of the NCAA Tournament on Sunday, March 27, 2022 in Philadelphia. North Carolina won, 69-49.

North Carolina Tar Heels forward Armando Bacot (5) wins the opening tip over St. Peter's Peacocks forward Clarence Rupert (12) to start East Region final at the Elite 8 round of the NCAA Tournament on Sunday, March 27, 2022 in Philadelphia. North Carolina won, 69-49.

By

Rick Pitino knows a thing or two because he’s seen a thing or two.

But the Iona head coach and Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer had never seen anything like this: a 15-seed advancing to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament.

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But that’s where the dream ended for Saint Peter’s, which lost 69-49 to North Carolina on Sunday at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pa.

After the game Pitino, a two-time national champion, turned to Twitter to shower praise upon the Peacocks:

What a remarkable season for the @PeacocksMBB . For those of us who have watched you up close and personal, we are EXTREMELY proud of your accomplishments!!!

Pitino has made no attempt to hide his affection for Saint Peter’s and its head coach, Shaheen Holloway. Pitino has called Holloway a “young superstar” who would a great fit at Seton Hall to replace Kevin Willard, who was hired last week by the University of Maryland.

Following Sunday’s loss, speculation began that Holloway could be hired by Seton Hall in a matter of days. However the head coach tried to keep the focus on his team.

“I’m not worried about that right now. I’m worried about those 15 young men whose hearts are broken and really down. It’s my job as their leader to cheer them up, make sure they understand what they did the last two weeks. And like I said, we’re going to walk out of here the same way we walked in here, with our head up.”

NJ Advance Media contributor Adam Zagoria reports “I’m told no deal is done but all signs point to this marriage most likely being wrapped up before the Final Four.”

MORE SAINT PETER’S:

- The ‘stache is from Nutley: Doug Edert is making my hometown proud | Politi

- ‘Holy sh*t!’ A day in the crazy life of Saint Peter’s: Fake mustaches and a win by a whisker

- Saint Peter’s Guardian Angel: Meet the Run Baby Run guy who Spent Baby Spent

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Mike Rosenstein may be reached at mrosenstein@njadvancemedia.com.

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