The NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Tournament continues with a second-round game in the East Region. St. John’s Red Storm will play against the Kansas Jayhawks. The game is set for Sunday, March 22, 2026, at 12:00 PM ET. Viejas Arena in San Diego, CA, will host the event.
St. John’s Red Storm comes into this game with a strong season record. They finished the regular season with 28 wins and 6 losses. In the Big East Conference, they had a record of 21-2. Last year, they won their first-round game but lost in the second round to Arkansas.
Kansas Jayhawks had a solid season as well. They ended with a 23-10 overall record and a 13-7 record in the Big 12 Conference. In the 2025 postseason, they lost in the first round to Arkansas. Both teams are looking to advance further this year.
Kansas Preview
The Kansas Jayhawks are ranked #17 in the AP poll. They play in the Big 12 Conference. In the 2025 postseason, they lost to Arkansas in the first round of the West Region, with a score of 79-72.
In the 2026 regular season, the Jayhawks had an overall record of 23-10. Their conference record was 13-7. They scored an average of 75.6 points per game, ranking them 209th in points per game.
The Jayhawks attempted 59 field goals per game and made 45.3% of them. Their three-point percentage was 35.0%, and they made 7.4 three-pointers per game. They were strong at free throws, making 76.7% of their attempts.
On defense, the Jayhawks averaged 5.5 steals per game. They had 5.7 blocks per game. The team committed 14.4 fouls per game. Their betting trends showed a straight-up record of 21-12 for all games.
St. John’s Preview
St. John’s Red Storm is ranked #10 in the AP rankings. They play in the Big East Conference. During the 2026 regular season, they had a strong record of 28-6 overall and 21-2 in their conference games. This shows their ability to perform well in their conference.
In the 2025 postseason, St. John’s won their first-round game against Omaha with a score of 83-53. However, they lost in the second round to Arkansas, 75-66. These results highlight their ability to compete but also show areas for improvement in future tournaments.
The team’s offensive stats for the 2026 regular season include scoring 81.6 points per game. They attempted 61.6 field goals per game with a field goal percentage of 45.4. Their free throw percentage was 72.7, and they made 18.8 free throws per game. These numbers indicate a solid offensive performance.
Defensively, St. John’s averaged 7.9 steals and 4.9 blocks per game in the regular season. They had 10.3 turnovers per game. In the postseason, they improved their defensive stats with 3.0 steals and 6.0 blocks per game. These stats show their defensive capabilities and room for growth.
Statistical Breakdown for Kansas vs St. John’s
The game between Kansas Jayhawks and St. John’s Red Storm will be shaped by several key stats. Kansas has a strong free throw percentage, which could be important in close games. St. John’s scores more points per game and has a higher number of steals, which might give them an edge in creating scoring opportunities. Both teams have solid rebounding numbers, so controlling the boards will be crucial.
- Kansas Points Per Game: 75.6
- St. John’s Points Per Game: 81.6
- Kansas Free Throw Percentage: 76.7%
- St. John’s Free Throw Percentage: 72.7%
- Kansas Rebounds Per Game: 38.8
- St. John’s Rebounds Per Game: 38.6
- Kansas Steals Per Game: 5.5
- St. John’s Steals Per Game: 7.9
Betting Insights
The upcoming game between St. John’s Red Storm and Kansas Jayhawks presents intriguing betting opportunities. St. John’s has shown strong performance both straight up and against the spread, while Kansas has struggled in recent games. Below are the top betting trends to consider for this matchup.
- St. John’s is 3-0 ATS in their last 3 games.
- St. John’s is 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games.
- Kansas is 3-0 on the Over in their last 3 games.
- St. John’s is 6-3-1 ATS in their last 10 games.
- Kansas is 4-1 on the Over in their last 5 games.
Free Betting Prediction for Kansas vs St. John’s
In this game, Kansas Jayhawks will rely on their strong free throw shooting. This could be a key factor in tight situations. Their ability to make free throws might help them in close moments. However, St. John’s Red Storm has a higher points per game average. This suggests they might generate more scoring chances.
St. John’s also has a higher steals average. This could lead to more turnovers and fast-break opportunities. Kansas will need to protect the ball to avoid giving St. John’s easy points. Both teams are close in rebounding, so winning the battle on the boards will be important.
Considering the stats, St. John’s has shown strong performance against the spread. Kansas has been successful on the Over recently. With St. John’s ability to score and Kansas’s free throw shooting, the game might be high-scoring. This makes the Over an appealing option.
- Our Free Prediction: Over 143.5
