Published Mar 20, 4:06am ET by
Demilade Adelekun - Betting Preview Analyst and Sports Writer
Last updated Mar 20, 4:06am ET
Updated Mar 20, 4:43am ET
After running the table in Arch Madness, the Panthers will look to continue their run in San Diego. Can they upset St. John's?
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| St. John's Red Storm | -535 |
| Northern Iowa Panthers | +400 |
Northern Iowa is 23-12 overall and the 12th seed in the East Region, making their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2016, when Jesperson's buzzer-beater sent the basketball world into a frenzy.
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This team wins with defense. They allow the fewest points per game in the country, rank 24th in adjusted defensive efficiency, and hold opponents to just 28.5% from three, third-best nationally. Can their defensive chops translate against the Big East champs?
St. John's is 28-6 overall and the 5th seed in the East Region. This is their second straight NCAA Tournament appearance under Rick Pitino, who has resurrected the program.
Zuby Ejiofor is the key to this team. Ejiofor is the first player in Big East history to win Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, Scholar Athlete of the Year, and the Dave Gavitt Trophy in the same season. He averages 16.3 ppg, 7.1 rpg, and 3.5 apg and is a skilled big who can get it down on both sides of the court. Will the Panthers have an answer for him?
The Cinderella teams that make deep runs in March are almost always offensive ones. Hot shooting nights carry teams through brackets. Northern Iowa averages under 70 points a game and hasn't beaten a top-100 team all season. Defense alone rarely gets you through the first weekend. Our pick is St. John's (-535).
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Pick
St. John's (-535)
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