Will Rick Pitino lead St. John's into the 2024 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament?
That's one of the leading questions as the Big East tournament unfolds The Red Storm – the No. 5 seed – beat No. 4 seed Seton Hall 91-72 on Thursday.
St. John's (20-12, 11-9) is on a six-game winning streak heading into the Big East tournament semifinals, and they are among a crowd of Big East teams on the bubble that includes Seton Hall, Providence and Villanova.
The Sporting News breaks down St. John's chances of making the 2024 NCAA Tournament.
MORE: Latest bracket projections for 2024 March Madness
St. John's and the Big East Tournament
St. John's victory against Seton Hall was huge. The Red Storm and Pirates both are on the NCAA Tournament bubble, but the Pirates can fall back on a better record in conference play.
The winner faces either No. 1 UConn or Xavier in the Big East semifinals.
St. John's has not won the Big East tournament since 2000 — a team that was coached by Mike Jarvis.
The Red Storm has won at least one game in the Big East tournament in three of the last four seasons. The matchup against Seton Hall will be a separator with the teams heading into Selection Sunday.
CONFERENCE TOURNEY BRACKETS: ACC | Big East | Big Ten | Big 12 | Pac-12 | SEC
St. John's strength of victory
St. John's has a NET ranking of No. 32 and a KenPom ranking at No. 32. That – combined with a No. 15 strength-of-schedule – are contributing factors to putting this team on the bubble.
That five-game winning streak – which included an 80-66 victory against Creighton on Feb. 25 – has kept them in that First Four In territory.
How much is the Pitino factor at work? Pitino, 71, led Iona to tournament appearances in two of three seasons before coming to St. John's. The Red Storm last made the First Four in 2018-19 – which was Chris Mullin's final season with the program.
MORE: Sporting News 2024 All-America Team
St. John's weak spots
The Red Storm is lacking in RPI, and St. John's had a 1-5 record against ranked Big East teams. St. John's also did not play a ranked team in nonconference play, and a 3-9 record in Quad 1 leaves a little to be desired.
We mentioned those other bubble teams in the Big East. St. John's swept Villanova, split with Providence and lost both regular-season matchups to Seton Hall. That's why the third matchup against the Pirates is beneficial in the Big East tournament.
In terms of Net Rating, Villanova – which has a better NET rating at No. 33 – might be the threat worth watching. The Wildcats barely beat a weak DePaul team on Wednesday.
St. John's rankings
St. John's record by quadrants
- Quad 1: 3-9
- Quad 2: 6-2
- Quad 3: 3-1
- Quad 4: 7-0
Will St. John's make the NCAA Tournament?
The Red Storm are a popular Last Four In choice across major publications, and it will likely stay that way with a victory against Seton Hall.
St. John's is in that position in the NCAA Tournament in Sporting News latest projection. Mississippi State, New Mexico and Virginia also are among the teams on that line.
Joe Lunardi's bracketology has St. John's in his Last Four In in the latest version of ESPN Bracketology. CBS Sports' Jerry Palm also has St. John's in his Last Four In.
