Premature End to March Madness for St John's

March Madness ended early in Queens, as the St. John’s men’s and women’s basketball teams lost their respective postseason games this past weekend.

Photo courtesy of Diana Colapietro

The men lost their second round NIT game at Virginia, while the women lost a thrilling, double OT first round NCAA Tournament game to Dayton. The game was played in Queens, at Carnesecca Arena, in front of the Red Storm player’s friends and family.

While each of the defeats left sour tastes in both team’s mouths, Steve Lavin’s men used their NIT run as a learning experience – a sort of launching pad into next season, where their talented yet young group of players are expected to make a serious splash at next year’s NCAA Tournament.

On the other hand, first year head coach Joe Tartamella witnessed the end of an era once the clock struck zero at Carnesecca Arena on Sunday. His team will lose two of the most decorated players in St. John’s history in point guard Nadirah McKenith and shooting guard Shenneika Smith.

Photo courtesy of Diana Colapietro

With Smith and McKenith set to test the waters of the professional ranks, Tartamella will be left with a young team that will only sport two seniors next season.

With that being said, it shouldn’t come as a surprise if the men’s program experience the same type of success next season that their female counterparts have seen the past four years, while the women’s program begin a period of rebuilding.