Bryce Hopkins creates history for St. John’s in March Madness

SAN DIEGO — Bryce Hopkins, a 3-point shooter?

Suddenly, a senior forward found his rhythm from beyond the arc.

This past Sunday, St. John’s established an NCAA Tournament record by sinking six of nine 3-point attempts, leading the fifth-seeded Johnnies to a 67-65 victory over fourth-seeded Kansas at Viejas Arena, propelling them into the Sweet 16.

“I really wanted to play meaningful basketball and have a shot at making a significant leap this March,” Hopkins shared. “And we’re definitely doing that.”

His newfound success from long range is quite recent. Up until this point, he hadn’t made a 3-pointer in back-to-back games all season. Yet, now he has hit multiple long-range shots in three straight games. His previous best for a single game was three makes.

“He passed up three wide-open shots. So, I told him, ‘Everyone dreams of being as hot as you. You need to embrace it,'” coach Rick Pitino mentioned. “Eventually, he relented. Right by the bench, I said, ‘Hop, stop.’ And he did. That was a crucial moment for us.”

Hopkins added a 3-pointer with 1:29 remaining, extending the lead to four points.

Lately, he has been impressive, averaging 14.5 points and 7.5 rebounds over the last six outings.

He also posted a striking 57.8 percent from beyond the arc.

Now, for the first time, he’s headed to the Sweet 16.

“I consider myself a good shooter. I practice daily. Confidence is key,” Hopkins reflected. “My teammates have really bolstered my confidence. It was a rough night weather-wise. I’m thrilled to be going to the Sweet 16.”

In their two NCAA Tournament games, Hopkins and St. John’s combined for 21 three-pointers, marking the first time the Red Storm have reached the second weekend since 1999.

This season has seen their highest point totals in consecutive games from the 3-point line.

“We’re focusing on shooting a lot of threes. We practice. It’s about our guys believing in our shots,” Hopkins commented. “They fell tonight just when we needed them most.”

Coming up, the Red Storm will play their next game at Capital One Arena, where they hit a season-best 15 3-pointers in a win against Georgetown on December 31st.