The debate over St. John’s getting ‘screwed’ with a No. 5 seed is just getting started, and one NBA champion has already turned the controversy into a bold prediction for 2026.

Despite a dominant 28-6 season and an 18-2 conference record that culminated in a Big East title, the St. John’s Red Storm were handed a surprisingly low No. 5 seed, a move many, including Adam Schein, felt was a major snub. As Schein put it, “St. John’s got screwed.” Former NBA champion Metta Sandiford-Artest also thinks it is unfair.

But despite the “unfair” placement, Metta believes nothing really changes about what this St. John’s team is capable of. The St. John’s alumnus believes the seeding is nothing more than a minor inconvenience on the way to a national title. In his own words: “St. John’s gonna win the national title. It’s just going to be a little harder and a little easier on the other side.” 

For Metta, St. John’s has got a weapon in Zuby Ejiofor. As he puts it, when pressed on why he is so confident about St. John’s winning, “You see our Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, academic scholar, you see our senior?”  Zuby Ejiofor, the star senior forward, made history this season by winning all of those honors himself. 

But here is another thing about St. John’s. They have not lost a game since their 32-point demolition by UConn in late February. They have had six straight wins since then. That kind of momentum is not likely to evaporate because of a seeding number. 

Perhaps Metta is right after all. St. John’s has the player they need to win a championship. They even have a coach in Rick Pitino, who is one of the most decorated and experienced minds in the history of college basketball. 

Who Will St. John’s Face on Their Road to the Title

As a No. 5 seed, the St. John’s Red Storm has one of the most punishing paths in the entire bracket. Their journey begins in San Diego, where they open against No. 12-ranked Northern Iowa on Friday. Although winnable on paper, this team should not be taken lightly. The Panthers won four games in four days as a No. 6 seed to steal an automatic bid out of the Missouri Valley Conference.

A likely second-round clash with Kansas awaits. And should they survive Kansas, they would then have a potential matchup with No. 1-ranked Duke, the ACC champions who present a monumental challenge as one of only two teams in the country ranked in the top five for both offensive and defensive efficiency.

Even beyond Duke, the path does not get easier. Either No. 3-ranked Michigan State, Tom Izzo’s team, or No. 2-ranked UConn, a team St. John’s has already beaten twice this season, would stand between them and the Final Four. This is, by any measure, a minefield for them.