This year’s NCAA men’s Final Four might be billed as the Blueblood Four.

Duke, Villanova, the University of North Carolina and the University of Kansas represent basketball royalty, with 17 national titles between them and a stunning 59 Final Four appearances.

That said, the school that drew the most conversation during the 2022 NCAA Tournament might have been giant-killer St. Peter’s University of Jersey City, N.J. The unheralded Metro Atlantic Conference champion St. Peter’s Peacocks upset Kentucky, Murray State and then Purdue to be the first 15 th-seed to reach the Elite 8.

Cinderella wore peacock feathers before the stroke of midnight came last Sunday with St. Peter’s 69-49 loss to North Carolina in the Eastern Region final in Philadelphia.

It was all an uphill climb for the team that finished 22-12. St. Peter’s basketball budget of about $1.6 million (as of 2021) was dwarfed by the tournament’s high rollers.

For example, Kentucky’s annual hoops budget is about $20.2 million. Purdue sits at $9.6 million.

Richmonders remember the Peacocks. St. Peter’s opened this season in November with a 57-54 loss to Virginia Commonwealth University at the Siegel Center.

With success comes consequences. By most reports, Peacocks Coach Shaheen Holloway is leaving St. Peter’s to become head coach at his alma mater, Seton Hall University in South Orange, N.J.

Duke University Blue Devils

Record: 32-6

Coach: Mike Krzyzewski aka “Coach K” (43rd season, 1,129-308)

Conference: Atlantic Coast Conference

Road to New Orleans: Duke defeated Cal State-Fullerton 78-61; Michigan State 85-76; Texas Tech 78-73;

Arkansas 78-69.

NCAA titles: 1991, 1992, 2001, 2010 and 2015

Final Fours: 17

Blue Devil legend: Grant Hill, 1990 to 1994; became seven-

time NBA All-Star Currentheadliner:6-foot-10freshmanPaoloBanchero,averages

17.1 points, 7.7 rebounds; a likely NBA lottery pick. Virginia connection: Mark Williams, 7-foot-1 sophomore,

is from Virginia Beach and attended Norfolk Academy. Basketball budget (2021; Source: Department of

Higher Education website): $22.2 million

University of Kansas Jayhawks

Record: 32-6

Conference: Big 12 Conference

Coach: Bill Self (19th season, 553-124)

Road to New Orleans: Defeated Texas South-

ern 83-56; Creighton 79-72; Providence 66-61; Miami 76-50.

NCAA titles: 1952, 1988 and 2008

Final Fours: 16

Jayhawks legend: Wilt Chamberlain, 1956 to 1958; 13-time

NBA All-Star; four-time MVP.

Current headliner: Senior forward Ochai Agbaji; the Big 12

Player of the Year averages 19 points and five rebounds. Virginia connection: David McCormack, senior 6-foot-10 center, is from Norfolk and played at Oak Hill Academy

in Mouth of Wilson.

Basketball budget (2021): $12.5 million

Villanova University Wildcats

Record: 30-7

Coach: Jay Wright (21st season, 516- 197)

Conference: Big East Conference

Road to New Orleans: Defeated Delaware 80-60; Ohio State 71-61; Michigan 63-55; Houston 50-44.

NCAA titles: 1985, 2016 and 2018

Final Fours: 7

Wildcat legend: Paul Arizin, 1947 to 1950; went on to be 10-

time NBA All-Star

Current headliner: Graduate student guard Collin Gillespie,

averages 16 points, has 120 assists; hits 90 percent at foul line, 41 percent of 3-pointers.

Virginia connection: Starting forward Brandon Slater is from Centreville and played at St. Paul VI Catholic High School in Chantilly.

Basketball budget (2021): $14.4 million

University of North Carolina Tar Heels

Record: 28-9

Coach: Hubert Davis (first season, 28-9)

Conference: ACC

NCAA titles: 1957, 1982, 1993, 2005, 2009 and 2017

Final Fours: 20

Road to New Orleans: Defeated Marquette 95-63;

Baylor 93-86 (OT); UCLA 73-66; St. Peter’s 69-49.

Tar Heels legend: Michael Jordan, 1981to 1984; 14-time NBA

All-Star; six-time MVP; six-time NBA champion.

Current headliner: Brady Manek, a 6-foot-9 transfer from Okla-

homa, scores inside and out and has a hand in most everything that turns out well for UNC.

Virginia connection: Armando Bacot, from Trinity Episcopal High in South Richmond, was the ACC runner-up Player of the Year and East Region MVP, averaging 17 points, 13 rebounds; UNC roster also includes walk-on Jackson Watkins from Collegiate School.

Basketball budget: $11.2 million.