SAN DIEGO — One year later, St. John’s is back in the exact same position.
They are coming off Big East regular-season and postseason titles, following a lopsided NCAA Tournament opening-round victory, and hoping to reach the Sweet 16 for the first time since 1999.
There is a considerable obstacle in the way: Darryn Peterson, the potential No. 1 NBA draft pick in June, and powerhouse Kansas.
Last year’s memorable season ended at this stage, in a depressing loss to Arkansas. St. John’s was the only one of the top eight seeds to fail to reach the Sweet 16.
“I’m just looking forward to doing whatever it takes to come out with a victory,” Zuby Ejiofor said, as the fifth-seeded Johnnies prepared to meet the No. 4 Jayhawks in an East Region second-round game Sunday at Viejas Arena.
It seems fitting that Sunday’s opponent is Kansas, Ejiofor’s previous school. He didn’t play much there as a freshman and transferred to St. John’s. The 6-foot-9 forward, the Big East Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year, has been so critical to this remarkable two-year run that has seen St. John’s (29-6) win 60 games and lose only 11. All that is missing is a trip to the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament.
“We’re going to come with a lot of fire and passion,” Bryce Hopkins promised.
CHECK OUT THE LATEST BIG EAST STANDINGS AND ST. JOHN’S STATS
This group seems to be in a better spot than it was a year ago because it is bigger up front and more capable from the 3-point line. These Johnnies have also won 20 of 21 games and haven’t trailed in their past four contests. In that stretch, they have gotten off to fast starts in each game, highlighted by the 13-0 burst to start Friday’s blowout of No. 12 Northern Iowa. There is a confidence among them that seems to be growing.
“We don’t fear anybody,” Oziyah Sellers said.
Kansas (24-10), though, is a different animal. Not only is the 6-foot-6 Peterson a uniquely gifted talent, but the Jayhawks have the size and athleticism that gave St. John’s trouble during the nonconference season.
Sophomore big man Flory Bidunga is one of the sport’s premier shot-blockers, and Kansas is seventh in the country in blocked-shots percentage at 15.7.
The Jayhawks own wins over the likes of Final Four contenders Arizona, Houston, Tennessee and Iowa State. They did struggle down the stretch, going 4-5 before topping No. 13 Cal Baptist in the opening round, and St. John’s is a small betting favorite.
“We probably haven’t faced anything like them since Kentucky as far as the length, size and size of the backcourt,” coach Rick Pitino said, referring to a December nonconference loss in which the Johnnies were overwhelmed in the second half.
So much has changed for St. John’s since that game.
Pitino went to a three-forward starting lineup, replacing guard Joson Sanon with do-it-all forward Dillon Mitchell. The Johnnies repeated as Big East regular-season outright champions for the first time in school history, then won all three Big East Tournament games by double figures. That included a stunning 20-point rout of Connecticut in the title game.
“Coach told us to take [the Big East Tournament] as preparation for the March Madness tournaments in not starting slow. Because in [the NCAA Tournament], you’re only guaranteed 40 minutes. That’s the biggest thing, starting fast, knowing this could be our last game.”
A joyous celebration followed. The next night, though, St. John’s was slighted by the selection committee, given a No. 5 seed and sent out West.
It didn’t seem to bother the team, which crushed Northern Iowa in a game experts felt could be tricky. The Johnnies have been adamant they haven’t used it as extra motivation. They have a chance to continue this memorable season Sunday and end the program’s Sweet 16 drought. That’s their inspiration.
“It’s one final opportunity for me and a few of my teammates,” Ejiofor said. “So we’re trying to make the best of this year. And we’ve already [done] some special things. But we have one more goal in mind.”
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
