St. John's Surges Toward NCAA Tournament Bid

Red Storm win 11th straight, sit tied atop Big East standings

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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With just a month until Selection Sunday, the 17th-ranked St. John's Red Storm have won 11 straight games and are tied for first place in the Big East standings after defeating Providence 79-69 on Saturday. The Red Storm's strong season has them in prime position to earn an NCAA Tournament bid.

Why it matters

St. John's has not made the NCAA Tournament since 2019, and a return to the Big Dance would be a major accomplishment for the program. The Red Storm's current hot streak has them in contention for a high seed and a chance to make a deep run in the tournament.

The details

The Red Storm's victory over Providence on Saturday was their 11th straight win, improving their overall record to 20-5 and their Big East mark to 13-1. St. John's is now tied with No. 6 UConn (24-2, 14-1) atop the Big East standings, setting up a potential showdown between the conference's top teams in the final weeks of the regular season.

  • St. John's defeated Providence on Saturday, February 15, 2026.
  • Selection Sunday for the 2026 NCAA Tournament is just one month away.

The players

St. John's Red Storm

The men's basketball team of St. John's University, a private Catholic university in New York City.

UConn

The University of Connecticut, a public research university and one of the top-ranked college basketball programs in the country.

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What’s next

St. John's and UConn are set to face off in a crucial Big East matchup on February 29, 2026, with first place in the conference standings on the line.

The takeaway

St. John's strong play this season has them in prime position to earn their first NCAA Tournament bid in seven years, a significant accomplishment that could set the stage for a deep postseason run.