St. John’s Gets Screwed! Patino’s Squad Snubbed

St. John’s Left Reeling After NCAA Tournament Seeding Snub

The air in the college basketball world is thick with frustration, and at the center of it all is St. John’s. After a dominant showing throughout the season, including a resounding victory over a top-tier opponent, the Red Storm have been dealt a perceived injustice in the NCAA Tournament seeding, leaving fans and analysts alike questioning the selection committee’s decisions.

A Dominant Performance Ignored

The narrative of St. John’s season has been one of consistent excellence, capped by a performance that, by all accounts, should have cemented their status as a highly-ranked tournament team. “St. John’s got absolutely royally screwed,” declared one observer, echoing the sentiments of many who witnessed their recent exploits. The core of the grievance lies in their resounding defeat of Connecticut, a team that earned a coveted No. 2 seed in the tournament. St. John’s didn’t just beat UConn; they dominated them, taking two out of three matchups and clinching both the regular season and postseason championships. Their latest conquest, a nationally televised thrashing of UConn on Saturday night, was described as anything but competitive. “THE GAME WAS NOT COMPETITIVE. THEY’RE 10 NOTHING before he even blinked. And St. John’s got the best coach in college basketball in Patino,” the observer continued, highlighting the team’s swagger and the pedigree of their coach, Rick Pitino.

A Grueling Path Ahead

The perceived slight is compounded by the brutal draw St. John’s faces in the opening rounds. Placed as a No. 5 seed, they are tasked with a cross-country journey to San Diego to face Northern Iowa. This opponent is not just any team; they are characterized as a “pain in the neck” with a “very difficult pace,” ranking 363rd nationally in tempo. This stylistic mismatch presents a significant challenge right out of the gate.

But the geographical and stylistic challenges don’t end there. If St. John’s manages to navigate the Northern Iowa hurdle, their next opponent could be none other than the storied Duke Blue Devils. This means the Red Storm are staring down the barrel of two consecutive road games, a daunting prospect for any team, let alone one feeling disrespected by the committee.

The travel itinerary is particularly egregious. “THEY ARE THE ONLY team that starts in the east, goes west, and then has to come back east,” one commentator pointed out, emphasizing the unique travel burden. While UCLA faces a westward journey, they will remain in the East to play their games. St. John’s, however, must endure the trip to San Diego and then fly all the way back east to face Duke, assuming they advance. This arduous journey, coupled with the lack of a significant St. John’s fan presence in San Diego, adds another layer to the perceived unfairness.

Seeding Discrepancies Raise Eyebrows

The seeding itself has become a major point of contention. The observer directly challenged the committee’s logic by comparing St. John’s to Virginia, who received a No. 3 seed. “IF YOU PUT ST. JOHN’S and Virginia up. They played RIGHT NOW, RIGHT THIS SECOND. YOU DEM you think that St. John’s is not going to be a favorite in that game? Go ask. THEY’D BE A FIVE SIX POINT FAVORITE.” This hypothetical matchup underscores the belief that St. John’s, with their impressive wins, should be ranked higher.

The criticism of Virginia’s resume was blunt: “VIRGINIA BEAT NOBODY. ABSOLUTELY. I DON’T CARE ABOUT BEATING SMU. THEY BEAT NOBODY. 0 AND3 against Duke and North Carolina. THEY GOT KILLED BY DUKE AND they’re a three seed.” This stark contrast – St. John’s beating a No. 2 seed UConn twice while Virginia struggled against top competition and earned a higher seed – fuels the outrage.

Looking Ahead: Motivation or Misfortune?

The question now is how St. John’s will respond to this perceived slight. Will the chip on their shoulder fuel an underdog mentality, driving them to prove the committee wrong? Or will the challenging draw and the travel fatigue prove to be too much to overcome?

Coach Pitino and his squad have a monumental task ahead. They must first overcome a tricky Northern Iowa team on the road in San Diego, then potentially face the formidable Duke Blue Devils back east. The path is arduous, the seeding questionable, but the Red Storm have already proven they can beat the best. The NCAA Tournament is known for its unpredictability, and St. John’s, fueled by a sense of injustice, could very well be the Cinderella story – or the cautionary tale – of this year’s March Madness.

Source: Mad Dog was FURIOUS! 🏀 (YouTube)