Expert prediction
NCAA Second Round: St. John’s vs Kansas Preview, Odds, Predictions (March 22)
Pick rationale
Analysis & key factors
- The Red Storm blew out Northern Iowa in the Round of 64.
- The Jayhawks took down California Baptist in the first round.
- This marks the 15th all-time matchup between the two squads.
There are plenty of unique matchups in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament as the Kansas Jayhawks take on the St. John’s Red Storm on March 22. The former comes out as the slight favorite, paving the way for plenty of factors to come into play in this game.
How to Watch
- When: Sunday, March 22, 5:15 pm ET
- Where: Viejas Arena, San Diego, California
- How to Watch: CBS
NCAA Matchup Odds & Lines
| Team | Odds | Spread | Totals |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. John’s | -110 | -3.5 | O145 |
| Kansas | -110 | +3.5 | U145 |
Game Preview
Rick Pitino and the Red Storm (29-6) seek to reach the Sweet 16 after losing to Arkansas in the second round last year. They torched Northern Iowa to make their way back to the Round of 32 for the second straight year. Zuby Ejiofor posted a 14-point, 11-rebound double-double and added four blocks on Friday. Bryce Hopkins delivered a solid effort to open the NCAA Tournament adding 13 points on 5-for-9 shooting and six rebounds, while Oziyah Sellers buried three first half 3-pointers to finish the game with 11 points.
The Jayhawks (24-10) make their way to the second round after dispatching California Baptist in the first round. They hope to return to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2022, when they last won the national championship. Darryn Peterson made four 3-pointers and scored 28 points, overwhelming the Lancers’ defense throughout the course of the game. Meanwhile, Tre White followed with 12 points and seven rebounds as Bryson Tiller led the squad in rebounds with 10 to go with six points.
St. John’s vs Kansas Head-to-Head
The two programs have had 14 meetings in their history, and the result is 9-5 for the Jayhawks. The last matchup was in December 2021 when Kansas won 95-75.
St. John’s vs Kansas Predictions
The winner of this matchup will take on Duke in the Sweet 16. The Red Storm are serious with their chances as the top squad from the Big East, having remarkable talents in Zuby Ejiofor and Bryce Hopkins. However, Kansas won’t go down without a fight as Darryn Peterson seeks to keep their tournament run going. Our betting pick here is the Red Storm to defend a 3.5-point spread.
- Free NCAAB pick: St. John’s Red Storm -3.5
NCAAB
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