Trending Now - St. John's Advances to Sweet 16 Amid Controversial Calls

WHO:

St. John's University basketball team, also known as the Red Storm

Coach Rick Pitino

Player Dylan Darling

Player Zuby Ejiofor

Player Bryce Hopkins

Kansas Jayhawks basketball team

WHAT:

St. John's advanced to the Sweet 16 of the 2026 Men’s March Madness tournament

The game against Kansas ended with a score tied, and Dylan Darling made a game-winning shot with 3.9 seconds left

St. John's had not reached the Sweet 16 since 1999, marking a 27-year drought

St. John's has had 17 seasons with a losing conference record since 1999

Bryce Hopkins made 6 of 9 three-point shots during the game

WHERE:

San Diego, California

WHEN:

The game took place during the 2026 Men’s March Madness tournament

St. John's last reached the Sweet 16 in 1999

WHY:

The victory was seen as a significant moment for St. John's program and its fans, marking a turnaround after years of mediocrity

Coach Rick Pitino was brought in to revive the St. John's basketball program

HOW:

Dylan Darling suggested the play "Power" to Coach Pitino, leading to the game-winning shot

The game was characterized by a series of scoring droughts from both teams, including a 7:50 stretch for Kansas without a field goal and a near-six-minute drought for St. John's

(UPDATED March 23, 2026 05:40 UTC)

In a thrilling finish during the 2026 Men’s March Madness tournament, St. John's University, led by Coach Rick Pitino, advanced to the Sweet 16 after a nail-biting game against the Kansas Jayhawks, which ended in a tie until Dylan Darling made a game-winning shot with just 3.9 seconds left on the clock. This victory marks a significant turnaround for St. John's basketball program, as it had not reached the Sweet 16 since 1999, and Bryce Hopkins contributed notably by sinking six of nine three-point attempts. The game, held in San Diego, was marked by scoring droughts from both teams, including a lengthy stretch where Kansas went 7 minutes and 50 seconds without a field goal.