1. Young St. John’s storms into the NCAA Tournament

St. John’s is the hottest team entering the NCAA Division I Men’s Tournament.

The Red Storm have won six games in a row — all by shutouts — going into Friday’s first-round game against visiting Monmouth.

After being decimated by defections during the offseason — New Zealand international Steven Old turned pro and signed with Australia’s Newcastle Jets, and four other starters with remaining college eligibility transferred — the Red Storm regrouped around a core of freshmen — seven in all — who have been starting or coming off the bench.

The best known player is Ryan Soroka, the former U.S. U-17 winger who has been the Red Storm’s main threat. He scored the game-winning goal in the first three Big East Tournament games and set up fellow freshman Adam Himeno for the golden goal in the final. Besides Soroka and Himeno, the freshman starters include David Reed, Swede Joel Gustafsson and Brazilian Tadeu Terra.

If St. John’s gets past Monmouth — no sure thing — it will face defending champion Maryland for the fourth straight year in the NCAA Tournament.