'Anything can happen': The Red Storm are headed to the Big Dance
HILLCREST, Queens (PIX11) — St. John’s University’s Red Storm men’s basketball team is officially heading to the Big Dance!
Fans erupted with excitement at a campus watch party Sunday as the NCAA tournament bracket was revealed.
The Red Storm are heading to the NCAA Tournament as the No. 2 seed in the West Region and will face No. 15 seed, Omaha, in the first round.
“I’m very excited,” said James Reed, a student at the university. “We get to play in Rhode Island. Hopefully, get a good crowd for Omaha, I think we’ll beat them and then we’ll get a good matchup.”
This marks the team’s first NCAA tournament appearance since 2019, and fans are fired up for what they hope will be a deep March Madness run.
“I’m very hopeful to make it past the first two rounds at the very least and I think that we have a good shot at making it all the way,” student Breanna Vaughan said.
She added, “It doesn’t matter what happens at the beginning of the game it matters what happens at the end and they finish strong.”
As the excitement on campus builds, St. John’s held a rally ahead of the bracket reveal. Cheerleaders, the school’s band, and their beloved mascot Johnny Thunderbird pumped up the crowd, igniting school spirit.
“The energy’s been great,” said Yudraj Tiwari, a student at the university. “Everybody’s been involved from freshman and seniors. It’s really great. It’s been a long time coming for the school. We just had a great win the other day. Big East Tournament win. First one since 2000 so, feeling good.”
With their opponent and destination set, eager fans have faith that the Red Storm will take it all the way.
“It’s March Madness,” Tiwari said. “Anything can happen. We don’t call it that for nothing, but I have confidence in Rick Pitino and the Johnnies so we’re going all the way.”
With Selection Sunday behind them, the focus now shifts to Thursday’s first-round matchup as the NCAA tournament gets underway.