Overview
- St. John’s is 16-5 overall and 9-1 in the Big East with a seven-game winning streak that has the Red Storm trailing only UConn in the league race.
- The Red Storm excel on the offensive glass but lag on the defensive boards, ranking 17th nationally in offensive rebounding rate and 144th in defensive rebounding rate, and they were outrebounded in four of their five losses.
- Tempo-driven defense is a concern, with St. John’s 58th in adjusted pace while allowing 60.1 field-goal attempts per game (266th), giving up 72.5 points per game, and ranking 195th in fouls per game and 144th in opponent free throws.
- Perimeter vulnerability and late-game slippage add risk, as opponents shoot at a rate that places St. John’s 159th in opponent three-point percentage and 126th in opponent second-half points, with multiple losses after halftime leads.
- Bracket outlooks peg St. John’s near a No. 6 seed, a line historically prone to upsets, while Pitino’s last non-vacated second-weekend run was in 2008–09 and the program has not advanced beyond the second round since 1998–99.