Former Super Bowl winner Eli Manning shows support for Saint Peter's in NCAA Sweet 16

Like everyone in New Jersey, former New York Giants QB Eli Manning supports the Saint Peter's Peacocks in March Madness. The team is known for its impeccable play and is getting the support of everyone.

It's only fitting that Manning started supporting the Peacocks since he spent his entire professional career in New Jersey.

Two-time Super Bowl MVP is known for pulling off big plays in the big moments. Despite his social media shortcomings, he still connects with his fans.

During the NCAA's March Madness, people who didn't know about Saint Peter's before the tournament suddenly became aware of the team.

The team's Cinderella run has been generating a lot of support for the small school in Jersey City. It's also going to benefit the school and the conference in the long run.

The Peacocks will face off against the toughest team they've faced so far in the tournament when they take on the Purdue Boilermakers on Friday. Head coach Shaheen Holloway said that his team includes fearless players from New Jersey and New York City.

"I got guys from New Jersey and New York City. You think we're scared of anything? You think we're worried about guys trying to muscle us and tough us out? We do that. That's who we are," Holloway said.

Game preview

The story of the 2022 NCAA Tournament so far is Saint Peter's. After going through an 0-4 start to the season, the Peacocks are now the 15th seed to reach the Sweet 16. They'll face off against the third-seeded Boilermakers.

The team's impressive run through the tournament has been highlighted by victories over two of the top teams: the No. 2-seeded Kentucky Wildcats and the No. 7 Murray State Racers.

The path to the Sweet 16 for Purdue started with a resounding victory over the 14th-seeded Yale.

In the Round of 64, guard Jaden Ivey led the way with 16 points. Reserve guard Trevion Williams had an excellent game for the team with 22 points when they faced the Longhorns last Sunday.

What to watch

The Peacocks are expected to be outclassed by the high-scoring Purdue team. During the non-conference season, Saint Peter's scored over 70 points against teams from other conferences.

Despite their impressive offensive numbers, Saint Peter's is not considered one of the most efficient teams in terms of efficiency in certain areas. For instance, they are ranked 19th in free throw percentage and 87th in 3-point percentage.

Saint Peter's is a defensive team. It's 12th in the nation in defending 2-point shots and is 48th in turnover percentage.

Since most of the team's regulars are shorter than 6-foot-7, they'll have a hard time containing the post players of the Boilermakers, such as Zach Edey and Trevion Williams. However, they have a balanced offense that features several players capable of contributing at any given time.

If Purdue's defense is focused on holding opponents to a low number of 3-point attempts and 2-point shots, then the Boilermakers might have a solid winning chance. This will also affect Saint Peter's ability to score from the free-throw line.

The Boilermakers' weak points on defense are its lack of pressure and its tendency to allow other teams to set up their offense. This causes teams to make a lot of 3-point shots.