Gonzaga (24-9) is playing its best basketball of the season, having won nine in a row on the way to the WCC Tournament title. It’s the 13th straight NCAA Tournament for the Zags. That ties them for fourth with Wisconsin and Texas for ongoing streaks, behind Kansas (22), Duke (16) and Michigan State (14). Three Zags average in double-figures, led by 6-foot-5 senior guard Steven Gray (13.8 points per game). Seven-foot center Robert Sacre figures to cause havoc around the rim. Defensively, Gonzaga holds opponents to 39.9 percent shooting from the field, which was 22nd in the nation.

St. John’s (21-11) has been a giant killer this year, winning six games against Top 25 teams, with four of those coming against Top 10 clubs. The Red Storm are back in the Big Dance for the first time since 2002. However, St. John's suffered a crushing loss in the Big East Tournament to Syracuse, losing arguably its second most important player (after point guard Dwight Hardy) in senior D.J. Kennedy, the team's leading rebounder, for the season after the swingman suffered a torn ACL. The Johnnies have nine seniors, but none have obviously played in an NCAA Tournament. Hardy will have to carry a bigger load with Kennedy out. The first-team All-Big East performer averaged a team-best 18.0 points per game and was named Big East Player of the Week a league-leading three times.

The two teams have met just three times in an all-time series that dates back to a 97-69 St. John's win on Dec. 22, 1960. They haven’t played since 2001. The winner will face the BYU-Wofford winner in the third round on Saturday.

Madness would be not betting on the NCAA Tournament at Bodog!