Selection Sunday Analysis: Should St. John's Be a Higher Seed?

Segment Spotlight: Quick Hits From The Craig Carton Show

Reflections on Selection Sunday: St. John's Seeding and the Tough Western Bracket

Craig Carton shared his thoughts on the Selection Sunday outcomes, notably expressing surprise that his usual favorite, Syracuse, was not participating this season, prompting him to root for Miami of Ohio instead. He acknowledged the selection committee's decisions, which seemed to have avoided major controversies this time around, despite some disagreements over team seedings such as Seton Hall's, which suffered due to the Big East's weaker performance excluding strong teams like St. John's and Connecticut.

Discussing St. John's recent success, Carton highlighted their commendable performance, winning the regular season and the Big East Tournament championship at Madison Square Garden. Despite these victories, he relayed the frustration of St. John's fans who argued that their team deserved a 4 seed instead of a 5. This, according to Carton, ties into the broader sentiment among fans who desire an easier path to the championship for their teams—a sentiment not satisfied for St. John's or UConn this year.

Carton also critiqued the historical leniency afforded to powerhouse teams like Duke in past tournaments, suggesting similar favors were not extended this year. He discussed the challenging Western bracket, deeming it the "bracket of death," containing top teams like Michigan State, Duke, Kansas, Louisville, and UCLA—an arduous path for any team, including St. John's, which, despite the tougher seed, is a strong contender according to Carton.

Reflecting on Connecticut's placement, Carton argued they had an even greater grievance than St. John's, considering their overall performance. He concluded with a reminder of the unpredictability and excitement of the tournament, encouraging teams to prove their worth on the court regardless of their seeding challenges.