St. John's Enters March Madness as Big East Champions

The Red Storm look to make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament as a No. 5 seed in the East Region.

Mar. 15, 2026 at 11:36pm

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The Big East champion St. John's Red Storm enter the 2026 NCAA Tournament as the No. 5 seed in the East Region. Led by dynamic forward Zuby Ejiofor, the Red Storm have won 19 of their last 20 games and are making their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2025. St. John's boasts a versatile frontcourt and a top-ranked transfer class that has delivered two conference titles to Queens.

Why it matters

St. John's is looking to make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament and prove they are one of the top teams in the country. The Red Storm's success this season has reinvigorated the basketball program and fan base in Queens, and a strong tournament performance could further cement the school's status as an emerging power in the Big East.

The details

St. John's started the season slowly at 9-5 but has been one of the nation's hottest teams since the start of the new year. The Red Storm's versatile frontcourt of Zuby Ejiofor, Dillon Mitchell, and Bryce Hopkins has been dominant, while point guard Dylan Darling has emerged as a key piece. St. John's also received a major boost from its top-ranked transfer class, which has helped the team win back-to-back outright regular season and conference tournament titles in the Big East.

  • St. John's started the season 9-5 after an ugly home loss to Providence on January 3.
  • Since then, the Red Storm have won 19 of their last 20 games.
  • St. John's became the first Big East team ever to win back-to-back outright regular-season and postseason titles.

The players

Zuby Ejiofor

A dynamic 6-foot-9 forward who was named the Big East Player of the Year and the conference tournament's Most Outstanding Player. Ejiofor leads the team in scoring, rebounds, assists, and blocked shots.

Dylan Darling

The Red Storm's starting point guard who has emerged as a key piece for the team this season.

Rick Pitino

The head coach of St. John's, who is making his third NCAA Tournament appearance with the Red Storm and has led six different teams to the Big Dance over his career.

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What they’re saying

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

What’s next

The Red Storm will look to make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament as a No. 5 seed in the East Region.

The takeaway

St. John's has emerged as a force to be reckoned with in the Big East, winning back-to-back conference titles and earning a spot in the NCAA Tournament as a top-5 seed. Led by star forward Zuby Ejiofor and a talented supporting cast, the Red Storm have the potential to make a deep run in March Madness and cement their status as an up-and-coming power in college basketball.