Northern Iowa is back in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since their devastating loss in 2016.
St. John's enters the tournament as a No. 5 seed after winning the Big East title.
The game is scheduled for Friday, March 20, at 7:10 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on CBS.
St. John's is favored to win by 9.5 points, with an over/under of 131.5 points according to BetMGM.
Why this matters: This game offers Northern Iowa a chance to move past their previous tournament trauma, while St. John's aims to make a deep run after an early exit last year.
Northern Iowa's return to March Madness is a story of resilience. The team is coached by Ben Jacobson, who has led the program for 20 years. Their first decade included four NCAA Tournament appearances and wins, a notable achievement for a Missouri Valley program. However, the shadow of the 2016 collapse still lingers, where a 12-point lead evaporated in the final 40 seconds against Texas A&M.
St. John's, led by coach Rick Pitino, aims to make a splash in the tournament. Pitino has instilled a championship mentality, encouraging his team to dream big. After a dominant 72-52 victory over UConn in the Big East championship game, the Red Storm are confident but wary of another early upset like the one they suffered against Arkansas in the 2025 tournament.
The game between No. 5 St. John's and No. 12 Northern Iowa is one of the most anticipated first-round matchups. According to BetMGM, St. John's is favored by 9.5 points, with a moneyline of St. John's (-550) and Northern Iowa (+400). The over/under is set at 131.5 points.
The game will be broadcast on CBS and can be streamed on the NCAA March Madness Live app and Fubo.
Q: When and where is the St. John's vs. Northern Iowa game?
The game is on Friday, March 20, at 7:10 p.m. ET.
Q: What channel is the game on?
CBS.
Q: What are the betting odds?
St. John's is favored by 9.5 points, with an over/under of 131.5 points.
Northern Iowa seeks redemption after a painful tournament history.
St. John's looks to capitalize on their Big East title momentum.
The game promises to be a compelling contest between two teams with contrasting narratives.
Do you think Northern Iowa can overcome their past tournament struggles? Will St. John's live up to their favorite status? Share this article with others who need to stay ahead of this trend!
Illinois guard Andrej Stojakovic faces a crucial decision regarding the 2026 NBA Draft, with the deadline for early entrants looming. His ch...
Kam Mercer, a highly-rated sophomore basketball player from Princeton High School, has verbally committed to the University of Cincinnati (U...
LSU basketball legend Shaquille O'Neal added another achievement to his long list of accomplishments, receiving a Master of Liberal Arts deg...
Hall of Famer Tracy McGrady is set to become a strategic advisor for Wagner College’s men’s basketball team, joining his son Laymen, who rec...
⚠ Disclaimer: Yanuki provides article summaries and links for reference only. Yanuki does not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy of third-party sources. Please review original sources and verify information independently. Managed by the Yanuki Data Engine. Full Disclaimer