St. John's vs Northern Iowa: Size vs Defense

0:00On March 16, St. John's takes on Northern Iowa in a 5-12 match-up Friday night in the East region of March Madness. The fifth-seated Red Storm opened as 11 and a half-point favorites on DraftKings, with the game tipping off at 7-10 PM Eastern on CBS, from B.A. Hass Arena in San Diego, California. St. John's earned the biggest title and a 28-and-six record, marking their second straight NCAA appearance under Coach Rick Patino. Earlier this season, St. John struggled without a true point guard and inconsistent shooting, but they rallied late to dominate the conference. They ranked top 30 in offensive rebounds and top 40 in assist turnover ratio, making them tough inside. Key seniors like Zubi Egeo 4, averaging 16.3 points and 7.5 rebounds, plus Bryce Hopkins and Dylan Mitchell, give them. Size and depth on defense, ranked 12th nationally. Meanwhile, Northern Iowa enters hot off a Missouri Valley conference tournament championship, going 4-0 in four days, despite A. 23 and 12 regular season.

1:05The Panthers boast the nation's best defense, allowing just 61.3 points per game, and holding foes to dismal three-point shooting. Coach Ben Jacobson has tournament experience, and they battle quality non-conference foes closely. Analysts see St. John's size advantage controlling the boards and paint, with Egeo 4 likely dominating. Northern Iowa's slow pace could frustrate the Red Storm's offense during droughts, but their own scoring might not keep up. Historically, 12 seeds win about 36% against 5s, fueling upset talk in the region. This clash could shake up bracket dreams early, testing if Patino's momentum carries past a gritty defensive test from the Panthers.