St. John’s basketball not in NCAA Tournament in ESPN bracketology

ESPN does not envision St. John’s basketball in the NCAA Tournament in its latest bracketology. 

The basic goal for the St. John’s basketball program this season is to make the NCAA Tournament.

Simple.

However, ESPN does not envision the Johnnies making the Field of 68 in its latest bracketology update by Joe Lunardi.

Lunardi has the Red Storm in the ‘First Four Out’ category, specifically the second team out behind the Syracuse Orange.

Big East Conference foe Creighton is in the ‘Next Four Out’ category while Big East rival Seton Hall is in the ‘First Four In’.

Other Big East teams that made Big Dance in the latest projection by ESPN include Villanova, UConn, and Xavier.

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St. John’s has seen a major roster transformation this offseason but its best and most important player, Julian Champagnie, announced he would return to Queens for his junior season after testing the NBA Draft waters.

Head coach Mike Anderson also retains Posh Alexander and Dylan Addae-Wusu from last year’s squad that flirted with an NCAA Tournament bid before stumbling down the stretch.

The Johnnies do add a freshmen class of O’mar Stanley, Drissa Traore, and Rafael Pinzon while bringing in transfers Aaron Wheeler (Purdue), Stef Smith (Vermont), Tareq Coburn (Hofstra), Joel Soriano (Fordham), and Montez Mathis (Rutgers).

St. John’s lost Josh Roberts (Manhattan), Rasheem Dunn (Robert Morris), Greg Williams Jr. (Louisiana Lafayette), Marcellus Earlington (San Diego), John McGriff (Binghamton), Isiah Moore (Southern Mississippi), Vince Cole (Coastal Carolina), and David Caraher (High Point) to the transfer portal.

Other bracketologists envision St. John’s basketball making NCAA Tournament

Joe Lunardi is not as high on the Johnnies as his peers as several other bracketologists have St. John’s making the NCAA Tournament in their most recent summer projections.

ALSO READ: Former St. John’s star joins Mike Anderson’s coaching staff

CBS Sports’ Jerry Palm as the Red Storm as a No. 9 seed battling No. 8 see LSU in the Round of 64 in the NCAA Tournament while Lukas Harkins of HeatCheckCBB has the Johnnies as a No. 8 seed against No. 9 seed Louisville.

The season tips-off for St. John’s on November 9 against Mississippi Valley State inside Carnesecca Arena.