The Saint John’s University basketball team is headed for the Windy City to begin NCAA Division III tournament play.
The Johnnies (24-3) – who earned the MIAC’s automatic bid to the 64-team field with a 74-59 victory over Carleton in the conference championship game Saturday night at Sexton Arena – found out Monday they will take on host University of Chicago (18-7) in the first round Friday.
The Maroons – who earned an at-large tournament berth – are hosting a four-team regional at the Gerald Ratner Athletics Center. In the other game, Illinois Wesleyan (22-5) takes on Upper Midwest Athletic Conference tournament champion Bethany Lutheran (14-13).
Game times have not yet been released. The winners meet Saturday to determine a spot in the tournament’s round of 16 the following weekend.
The Johnnies – ranked No. 10 nationally in Division III – are making their first trip to the NCAA tournament since the 2021-22 season.
Meanwhile, two members of the SJU swimming and diving team have also qualified for the Division III national meet, which is scheduled for March 19-22 at the Greensboro Aquatic Center in Greensboro, North Carolina.
Junior Brayden Slavik will compete in the 400-yard individual medley and 500 and 1,650 freestyle. He will be joined by senior diver Eli Grabinski, who qualified for the national meet in the 1-meter dive with a fifth-place finish at the NCAA Central Regional meet in Granville, Ohio.
Find more coverage of all Johnnie athletics at gojohnnies.com.