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St. John's Red Storm Seeks Deep NCAA Run

3/17/2026

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Summary

Story summary

St. John's Red Storm earned a No. 5 seed in the 2026 NCAA Tournament after winning Big East Tournament.
They will face No. 12 Northern Iowa in the first round in San Diego.
The East Region is challenging, with top teams such as Duke and Kansas.
Coach Rick Pitino acknowledged the tough path and said the team is confident and aims for a deeper run than last year's early exit.

History

Historical Context

The NCAA introduced a tournament seeding system in 1985, reshaping college basketball dynamics. That year, Georgetown lost to Villanova in a historic upset, marking Villanova as the lowest-seeded team to win the championship. As teams like St. John's, seeded No. 5, navigate this competitive landscape, the seeding system continues to influence strategies and expectations in postseason play.

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Story summary

St. John's Red Storm earned a No. 5 seed in the 2026 NCAA Tournament after winning Big East Tournament.
They will face No. 12 Northern Iowa in the first round in San Diego.
The East Region is challenging, with top teams such as Duke and Kansas.
Coach Rick Pitino acknowledged the tough path and said the team is confident and aims for a deeper run than last year's early exit.

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