On First Take, Stephen A. Smith expresses frustration over St. John’s NCAA Tournament bracket, arguing that the Red Storm’s path is tougher than expected despite their strong performance. He criticizes the selection committee for placing them in a challenging region and questions why they aren’t getting more recognition. Smith emphasizes that while Duke’s draw is tough, St. John’s should be more disappointed given their recent victory over UConn and their overall season effort.
Seth Greenberg and Chris “Mad Dog” Russo join the discussion, with Mad Dog offering a contrasting view on the perceived fairness of the bracket. Smith pushes back, urging fans and analysts to stop focusing solely on Duke’s situation and acknowledge the hurdles St. John’s face. The debate highlights differing perspectives on tournament seeding, regional difficulty, and how teams are evaluated after a competitive regular season.