St. John's Basketball Faces Nightmare March Madness Scenarios

Red Storm could draw tough mid-major opponents and potential No. 1 seeds in 2026 NCAA Tournament

Mar. 14, 2026 at 8:39pm

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St. John's basketball is returning to the NCAA Tournament for the second straight year under coach Rick Pitino, but the Red Storm could face some daunting potential matchups in the 2026 March Madness bracket. Analysts project St. John's could land as low as a No. 5 seed, potentially drawing upset-minded mid-major teams like McNeese State or Akron in the opening round. And if the Red Storm advance, they may have to face a No. 1 seed like Kansas and potential top NBA draft pick Darryn Peterson, followed by a potential Sweet 16 showdown with powerhouse Duke.

Why it matters

St. John's is looking to build on its recent tournament success under Pitino, but the Red Storm will need to navigate a treacherous path to make a deep NCAA Tournament run. Avoiding early upsets and potential matchups with elite teams like Kansas and Duke will be crucial for St. John's to achieve its Final Four aspirations.

The details

Analysts project St. John's could fall to a No. 5 seed, which would pit them against mid-major teams like McNeese State or Akron in the opening round. McNeese State boasts one of the nation's stingiest defenses, forcing 17 turnovers per game, while Akron is an up-tempo, high-scoring squad that could pose problems for St. John's. If the Red Storm advance, they may have to face a No. 1 seed like Kansas, led by potential top NBA draft pick Darryn Peterson, followed by a potential Sweet 16 matchup with powerhouse Duke.

  • St. John's will appear in consecutive March Madness tournaments for the first time since 1997-2000.
  • Rick Pitino is the first St. John's coach since Mike Jarvis to lead the Red Storm to consecutive NCAA Tournament berths.
  • St. John's will play in the Big East Tournament championship game on Sunday, March 16, 2026.

The players

Rick Pitino

The head coach of the St. John's basketball team, who is leading the Red Storm to consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances for the first time in over 25 years.

Darryn Peterson

A potential top NBA draft pick who plays for the Kansas Jayhawks, a potential No. 1 seed that St. John's could face in the NCAA Tournament.

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What’s next

St. John's will play in the Big East Tournament championship game on Sunday, March 16, 2026, with the winner earning an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

The takeaway

St. John's has a chance to build on its recent NCAA Tournament success, but the Red Storm will need to navigate a treacherous path to make a deep run, potentially facing tough mid-major opponents and elite teams like Kansas and Duke along the way.