Back to today’s briefing

Story perspectives

St. John's Faces Northern Iowa in NCAA Showdown

3/16/2026

34 8 Full Breakdown

Summary

St. John's Tournament Bid

St. John's Red Storm, the Big East champions, earned a No. 5 seed in the East Region of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Tournament.
They will face No. 12 seed Northern Iowa on March 20 in San Diego.
Coach Rick Pitino leads St. John's, featuring Big East Player of the Year Zuby Ejiofor.
Northern Iowa returns to the tournament after a decade, known for defense but with offensive struggles.

Summary

UConn's March Madness Doubts

The University of Connecticut Huskies (UConn) lost to St. John's in the Big East Tournament final, raising questions about their March Madness readiness.
Coach Dan Hurley attributed the defeat to 17 turnovers and poor shooting, casting doubt on UConn's NCAA placement as a No. 2 seed.
St. John's has won back-to-back Big East titles and is gaining momentum, while UConn aims to replicate its 2023 NCAA tournament run.

History

Historical Context

Established in 1979, the Big East Conference transformed college basketball by uniting northeastern schools like Georgetown, Syracuse, and St. John's. Its partnership with ESPN, launched the same year, amplified its visibility. The conference quickly gained prominence, culminating in a competitive legacy that continues today, exemplified by St. John's recent back-to-back titles under Coach Rick Pitino and Player of the Year Zuby Ejiofor.

1 of 3

St. John's Tournament Bid

St. John's Red Storm, the Big East champions, earned a No. 5 seed in the East Region of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Tournament.
They will face No. 12 seed Northern Iowa on March 20 in San Diego.
Coach Rick Pitino leads St. John's, featuring Big East Player of the Year Zuby Ejiofor.
Northern Iowa returns to the tournament after a decade, known for defense but with offensive struggles.

1 / 3