KU vs. St. John’s: NCAA Tournament Second Round Preview, Zuby Ejiofor Storyline

SAN DIEGO — St. John’s University forward Zuby Ejiofor will face his former team, the University of Kansas, in the second round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament on Sunday at Viejas Arena, a matchup fueled by a complex history and the pursuit of a Sweet Sixteen berth.

Ejiofor, a 6-foot-9 senior and the reigning Considerable East Player and Defensive Player of the Year, transferred from Kansas to St. John’s in 2023 seeking a more prominent role. He now leads the Red Storm in scoring (16.3 ppg), rebounding (7.3 rpg), assists (121), and blocks (77). His decision followed a freshman season at Kansas where he played under Hall of Fame coach Bill Self.

“We didn’t want him to leave,” Self said Saturday, as reported by USA Today. “We’re really happy for his success. We just don’t… We just hope it doesn’t come against us.”

The transfer was prompted by a desire for increased playing time and opportunity, particularly after Kansas brought in Hunter Dickinson via the transfer portal. Self characterized the move as “the right decision” for Ejiofor, acknowledging the competitive landscape of the Jayhawks’ frontcourt.

Ejiofor’s impact at St. John’s has been transformative. Under Hall of Fame coach Rick Pitino, he has grow a dominant force, leading the Red Storm to both the Big East regular season and tournament championships. St. John’s enters the game with a 29-6 record, having defeated Northern Iowa 79-53 in the first round of the tournament on Friday.

Pitino downplayed the significance of facing his former team, stating, “I don’t think Zuby cares about playing Kansas. I think he’s concerned about This represents a chance to get to the Sweet 16.”

However, Andy Philachack, Ejiofor’s surrogate father, indicated a different sentiment to The Athletic, suggesting Ejiofor is highly motivated to perform well against his former school.

Kansas (24-10) is seeking a return to the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament for the first time since winning the national championship in 2022. St. John’s, meanwhile, hasn’t reached a Sweet Sixteen since 1999. The Red Storm’s success this season has been built on a strong defensive foundation, ranking 11th nationally in KenPom’s defensive efficiency ratings, while Kansas is eighth.

Beyond Ejiofor, St. John’s relies on the contributions of forward Dillon Mitchell, an athletic presence who averages 8.2 points and 7.0 rebounds, and wing Bryce Hopkins, who contributes 13.5 points and 6.2 boards. The Red Storm’s offense is not heavily reliant on three-point shooting, making just seven per game, with their primary shooters connecting at a rate of around 35%.

The winner of Sunday’s contest will advance to the East region semifinal in Washington, D.C., to face No. 1 seed Duke.