St. John's Red Storm vs Kansas Jayhawks Prediction: NCAA Tournament Second Round
Updated 09 Jul, 2026
St. John's and Kansas will meet in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Sunday. The Red Storm are looking to get back to the second weekend of the tournament after falling short in the second round in 2025, while Kansas aims to get to another Sweet 16 under Bill Self. Here, I break down this matchup and give you my St. John's vs Kansas prediction in the betting markets.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RAyKNcuR_zs
St. John’s enters this contest riding a wave of momentum after a 79-53 win in the opening round over Northern Iowa. The Red Storm controlled that game from the opening tip, showcasing efficient offense and strong interior defense. They have now won seven straight games and appear to be peaking at the right time.
Kansas, meanwhile, advanced with a 68-60 victory that was more competitive than expected against Cal Baptist. The Jayhawks built a large lead before allowing their opponent back into the game late, raising some concerns about consistency.
The key deciding factor here is tempo and efficiency. St. John’s thrives when it controls the pace and plays through its frontcourt, while Kansas relies heavily on perimeter scoring and dynamic guard play. Whichever team dictates the rhythm is likely to control the outcome.
Kansas Key Players
St. John’s Key Players
Category | St. John’s | Kansas |
|---|---|---|
Points per game | 81.5 | 75.4 |
Points allowed per game | 69.5 | 69.1 |
Team Field Goal % | 45% | 45% |
Rebounds per game | 38.8 | 38.9 |
Assists per game | 16.2 | 14.1 |
This game shapes up as one of the more competitive second-round contests. St. John’s enters with stronger recent form and a clear identity built on defense and rebounding. Their ability to control the paint and limit second-chance opportunities gives them a stable foundation, especially in tournament settings where that facet of the game is magnified.
Kansas has the best individual scorer on the floor in Peterson, and that alone keeps them dangerous. However, the Jayhawks showed vulnerability late in their opener, particularly when protecting a lead. Against a disciplined and physical team like St. John’s, those lapses can be costly. I expect an incredibly tight game here, so I'll take the points with Kansas.
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