St. John’s “Screwed” by NCAA Tournament Seeding!

St. John’s “Screwed” by NCAA Tournament Seeding!

The NCAA Tournament selection committee has come under fire, with many, including outspoken analyst “Mad Dog” Russo, believing that the St. John’s Red Storm were unjustly treated in the seeding process. Despite a dominant regular season and a resounding victory over a top-tier opponent, St. John’s was handed a No. 5 seed, a decision that has left many scratching their heads and questioning the committee’s logic.

A Dominant Resume Ignored?

The crux of the argument against St. John’s seeding lies in their impressive season performance. The Red Storm not only secured the regular season championship but also triumphed in their postseason tournament. Crucially, they managed to defeat the UConn Huskies, a team that earned a No. 2 seed in the tournament, not once, but twice out of three matchups.

The most recent drubbing of UConn, which occurred on national television on Saturday night, was particularly eye-opening. According to reports, St. John’s absolutely dismantled the Huskies, leading 10-0 before the game could even be considered competitive. This level of dominance against a fellow tournament favorite should have, by all accounts, propelled them into a much higher seed.

“If anybody watched that game on Saturday night, how in the world is St. John’s not a top 12, top 15 team? Right now, they’re a five seed one game.”

A Grueling Path to the Sweet Sixteen

Adding insult to injury, the selection committee seemingly handed St. John’s one of the toughest opening-round matchups and travel itineraries. The Red Storm were sent to San Diego to face Northern Iowa, a team known for its deliberately slow and disruptive pace, ranking 363rd nationally in tempo. This type of opponent presents unique challenges that can derail even the most talented teams.

But the challenges don’t stop there. Should St. John’s advance past Northern Iowa, they are slated to play Kansas, another formidable opponent, in what would effectively be a road game. The geographic disadvantage is significant; St. John’s fans are unlikely to make the cross-country trek to San Diego in large numbers, amplifying the home-court advantage for their opponents.

The travel schedule is also being highlighted as an additional hurdle. St. John’s is the only team in the tournament that starts on the East Coast, travels west for their opening games, and then must return east to potentially face another opponent. This arduous journey, demanding significant travel and time zone adjustments, is seen as an unfair burden.

Comparing Seeds: A Question of Merit

The disparity in seeding between St. John’s and other teams has also drawn considerable criticism. The transcript specifically points to Virginia, who received a No. 3 seed, as an example of questionable committee judgment.

“Virginia beat nobody. Absolutely. I don’t care about beating SMU. They beat nobody. 0 and 3 against Duke and North Carolina. They got killed by Duke and they’re a three seed and St. John’s beat UConn a two seed twice and they’re a five seed,” the transcript states.

The argument is that St. John’s, with their victories over a No. 2 seed UConn and a regular season and tournament championship, should be ranked higher than a Virginia team that struggled against top competition and boasts a less impressive resume. The hypothetical scenario of St. John’s playing Virginia right now would likely see the Red Storm as favorites, potentially by 5-6 points, underscoring the perceived injustice of their No. 5 seed.

Patino’s Proven Prowess

The presence of legendary coach Rick Pitino at the helm of St. John’s is another factor fueling the debate. Pitino is widely regarded as one of the best coaches in college basketball, and his track record of success further amplifies the belief that his team’s seeding is a slight against their proven capabilities.

Looking Ahead

The upcoming tournament games will serve as the ultimate test for St. John’s. If they can overcome the perceived slights and navigate their challenging draw, their doubters will be silenced. However, if they falter, the narrative will inevitably shift to the difficult path the committee may have inadvertently set for them. The Red Storm will need to channel any frustration into fuel as they aim to prove their worth on college basketball’s biggest stage.

Source: Mad Dog thinks St. John's got 'absolutely, royally screwed' 👀 (YouTube)