SAN DIEGO — One Year Later

St. John’s University finds itself in a familiar situation a year later. Their goal? To secure both the Big East regular season and postseason titles and reach the Sweet 16 for the first time since 1999 after a dominant win in their NCAA Tournament opener.

However, significant hurdles lie ahead, notably facing Darrin Peterson, the top pick in June’s NBA Draft, along with the formidable Kansas team.

Last season ended painfully for St. John’s, marked by a significant loss to the University of Arkansas. They were the only top eight seed that didn’t make it to the Sweet 16.

“We’re focused on doing whatever it takes to win,” said Zubby Ejiofor, as the fifth-seeded Johnnies gear up to take on the fourth-seeded Jayhawks this Sunday at Viejas Arena.

Interestingly, Kansas is where Ejiofor started, though he didn’t see much playtime before transferring to St. John’s. Now a 6-foot-9 forward, he earned recognition as the Big East Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year. His contribution has been crucial in St. John’s impressive two-year run of 60 wins against just 11 losses. Now, they only need to get to the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament.

“We’re going to bring a lot of energy and passion into this game,” Bryce Hopkins expressed confidently.

This year’s team appears to be in a stronger position than last year, boasting a more imposing front line and improved three-point shooting. They’ve won 20 out of their last 21 games and remain undefeated in their last four. Recent matches saw them starting strong, notably with a commanding 13-0 lead over No. 12 Northern Iowa. There’s definitely a growing sense of confidence.

“We’re not scared of anyone,” Ojia Sellers added.

But the Jayhawks, with a record of 24-10, are quite the challenge. At 6-foot-6, Peterson is not just talented; Kansas brings size and athleticism that proved tough for St. John’s during the non-conference phase. Sophomore big man Florrie Vidunga adds to their defensive presence, ranking among the best shot blockers in the game, while the Jayhawks hold a national blocked shot percentage of 15.7.

Kansas has triumphed over several Final Four contenders, including Arizona and Houston, although they faced difficulties recently, narrowly defeating No. 13 Cal Baptist in their opener. Still, oddsmakers view St. John’s as a slight favorite.

“We haven’t faced anyone of their caliber since probably Kentucky,” coach Rick Pitino remarked, recalling a nonconference loss where they were overwhelmed in the second half.

Things have transformed for St. John’s since that encounter. Pitino has shifted the lineup, replacing guard Joeson Sanon with Dillon Mitchell, opting for a more versatile three-forward formation. The Johnnies made history by clinching consecutive outright Big East regular season titles and won all three of their Big East tournament games by sizable margins, including a surprising 20-point win against Connecticut in the championship.

“Coach stressed not to start slow, as only 40 minutes are guaranteed in March Madness. We know this could be our last game, so starting fast is crucial,” a player reflected.

A fun celebration followed their tournament success, but then St. John’s received a lackluster No. 5 seed, which had them heading to the West region.

This disappointment didn’t seem to dampen their spirits, as they decisively defeated Northern Iowa—a match some experts predicted might be tough. The team insists that they aren’t letting that slight motivate them further. The aim is clear: to continue this remarkable season and finally break the Sweet 16 drought.

“For some of us, this is our last chance,” Ejiofor noted. “We aim to make this year memorable. We’ve done some special things, but there’s still a bigger goal ahead.”