St. John's NCAA Tournament Schedule and First-Round Matchup The 2026 NCAA Tournament kicks off on Thursday, March 19, with 16 first-round games spread across the country. St. John's, seeded No. 5 in the East Region, will face No. 12 Northern Iowa in their opening matchup. The game is scheduled for Friday, March 20, and will be streamed via the NCAA March Madness Live app or Fubo. St. John's enters the tournament as a strong contender after securing a second consecutive Big East title. The Red Storm dominated the conference championship, defeating UConn 72-52 at Madison Square Garden last Saturday. However, their 2025 tournament run ended early with a second-round upset loss to Arkansas. This year, the team aims to build on their recent success and advance further in the postseason. The first-round schedule features a mix of high-profile matchups and underdog battles. Notable games include No. 1 Duke vs. No. 16 Siena, No. 1 Michigan vs. No. 16 Howard, and No. 3 Gonzaga vs. No. 14 Kennesaw State. Odds for St. John's game against Northern Iowa, as of March 19, show them as slight favorites with a spread of -9.5 points. The over/under total is set at 131.5 points, while the moneyline odds favor St. John's at -550, with Northern Iowa listed at +400. Other first-round games include No. 8 Ohio State vs. No. 9 TCU, No. 4 Nebraska vs. No. 13 Troy, and No. 6 Louisville vs. No. 11 South Florida. Streaming options for these matchups vary, with platforms like Sling TV and Fubo offering live coverage. The tournament’s opening day will set the stage for a thrilling March Madness season, with teams from all regions vying for a spot in the Sweet 16.#madison_square_garden #big_east #ncaa_tournament #st_johns #northern_uniowa
