Obviously not. Since, you know, they are watching from home. I told you. They were not that good. In the meat of their schedule they went 2-8. Then went on a 6 game win streak which sounds more impressive in the abstract than it was in reality. Beat Creighton. Great upset win. Then they beat Georgetown (2-18 Conference record) Butler (9-11 and in the midst of its own 5 game losing streak) DePaul (0-20), Georgetown again, and Seton Hall, a good win. Add in losses to Michigan and BC and the got what they deserved. Want to call it the eye test, fine. that’s what it was. They were not that good. They certainly didn’t deserve to get in over Seton Hall who owned a winning record head to head, a better league record, comparable season win total, and a win over the #1 team in the country And a win over #5 Marquette. In a year with 5 bid stealers compared to the typical 2 the Johnnies are on the outside looking in every time. Only reason they even come up is Pitino and the media’s desire for a feel good story.
I don’t get all the St John’s sympathy honestly. Except Pitino in his usual classless way ran to the media and whined. I hate Seton Hall. Hate them. But in this case they got screwed, not the the Johnnies. Mad dog and his cronies would have had a case if they argued Seton Hall. So would you. And if Pitino wasn’t the St John’s coach, maybe they would have.