St. John’s is staying focused as it prepares for its first challenge in March Madness.

SAN DIEGO — Reflections on St. John’s NCAA Tournament Seeding

There’s been quite a buzz about St. John’s NCAA Tournament seeding, especially considering that the Big East champions, both regular season and postseason, seem to have been overlooked.

Some folks are optimistic about Rick Pitino’s Red Storm as potential underdogs for the Final Four. But Pitino and his team aren’t caught up in either of those narratives. For the last little while, St. John’s has focused solely on the task ahead after a rough start to the season.

Now, with the East Division opener looming—a matchup against Northern Iowa, the No. 12 seed—there’s a sense of urgency. The Panthers have their full attention.

“We’ve treated every game this year like a tournament game,” Dillon Mitchell mentioned on Thursday. “It’s a different deal now. You lose, and it’s over. But that has been our mindset all season: treat every game like a tournament game and aim to win.”

Since January 3, the team has been on fire, winning 19 of their last 20 games, the only blemish being a painful 32-point loss to Connecticut.

The Red Storm (28-6) dominated the Big East Tournament without ever trailing, including a notable 20-point win over Connecticut.

Despite expectations of being seeded No. 4—or maybe even grabbing the No. 3 spot—they ended up with a No. 5 seed, which feels a bit harsh. Pitino chuckled at the idea of embarrassment or added motivation from this.

“We know we need to play hard to beat Northern Iowa,” he said. “And here we are, a No. 5 seed in San Diego with a lovely ocean view, so I don’t think we’ll play any harder than we have all season.”

Regarding the seeding, the Hall of Fame coach added, “We’re a No. 5 seed because the Big East isn’t seen the same way anymore, not like when I was at Louisville. That’s the issue.”

Northern Iowa (23-12) could be a tricky challenge. They lead the nation in fewest points allowed (61.3) and finished sixth in the Missouri Valley Conference before winning the postseason tournament.

They’re known for their slow pace, employing a defense designed to keep opponents out of the paint. Their coach, Ben Jacobson, has been with the team since 2006, having orchestrated significant upsets in the past.

Pitino recalled, “I’ve coached against this guy twice, and both times it was vital to beat his teams.”

What St. John’s has been missing the last couple of years is a deep run in March Madness. Last year, they tied a school record with 31 wins but were ousted in the second round by No. 10 seed Arkansas. This season, they’ve matched their previous success by winning both the Big East regular season and postseason titles.

With one No. 5 seed already eliminated—Wisconsin lost to No. 12 High Point on Thursday—St. John’s intends to avoid a similar fate. Seniors like Mitchell, Zubie Ejiofor, Bryce Hopkins, and Ojia Sellers are determined not to let this promising journey come to an early end.

“This is my last chance, and honestly, it’s not just for me, but for half the team,” Ejiofor shared. “We want to make this year special. We’ve already accomplished exciting things, but now it’s time to put that behind us and focus on winning.”