Dylan Darling may have become March Madness’ newest darling in an instant, but his defining moment began with a daring request to St. John’s coach Rick Pitino.
With the St. John’s Red Storm tied against the Kansas Jayhawks and just seconds remaining, Darling made it clear he wanted the ball in the biggest moment of the game.
“Bells comes up to me, and says run (a play for me),” Pitino revealed after the dramatic win. “So I walk away like, wait a second, he hasn’t scored a bucket and he wants to run a play for himself. And I’m thinking, but he’s Bells!”
Moments later, Pitino’s trust paid off.
Darling Delivers When It Matters Most
Darling, who had not made a field goal all game, took the inbound pass with 3.9 seconds left and drove straight to the rim, finishing a right-handed layup at the buzzer to lift St. John’s to a 67-65 victory.
It was his only basket of the night and the most important one.
The play capped one of the most dramatic finishes of the NCAA Tournament’s second round and sent the Red Storm to their first Sweet 16 appearance since 1999.
As the ball banked in, Darling was immediately swarmed by teammates, who tackled him in celebration in front of the St. John’s band.
St. John’s Guard Turns From Zero to Hero
GettyDylan Darling of the St. John’s Red Storm celebrates a 67-65 victory against the Kansas Jayhawks after the game in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Viejas Arena at San Diego State University on March 22, 2026 in San Diego, California.
Darling’s game-winner came after a difficult offensive night.
The Idaho State transfer had missed his first four shots and had yet to score from the field entering the final possession.
Despite that, he never lost confidence — even asking for the ball in the biggest moment.
After the game, Darling was candid about his performance.
“I probably don’t deserve this. I was pretty bad all night long, but my teammates held it down tonight,” Darling said.
His humility contrasted with the confidence he showed in the final seconds, a combination that defined the moment.
Kansas Rally Falls Short
The game featured a dramatic swing in momentum.
St. John’s led by as many as 14 points in the second half before Kansas mounted a comeback.
The Jayhawks erased a 58-45 deficit with a 20-7 run, tying the game at 65 on free throws by Darryn Peterson, the projected No. 1 pick in June’s NBA Draft, with 13.1 seconds remaining.
Kansas used all four of its available fouls to slow the clock, leaving St. John’s with just 3.9 seconds to execute its final play.
That proved to be enough time for Darling.
St. John’s Storms to Sweet 16 With Balanced Effort
While Darling delivered the decisive play, St. John’s relied on a balanced scoring effort throughout the game.
Zuby Ejiofor and Bryce Hopkins each scored 18 points to lead the Red Storm.
The win marked St. John’s 21st victory in its last 22 games, continuing a dominant stretch that included Big East regular-season and tournament titles.
Pitino’s Impact Continues
In just his third season, Pitino has guided St. John’s back to national prominence.
The Hall of Fame coach now has the Red Storm in the Sweet 16 for the first time in more than two decades, a significant milestone for the program.
The matchup also marked just the second NCAA Tournament meeting between Pitino and Kansas coach Bill Self, two of the sport’s most accomplished active coaches.
Sweet 16 Showdown vs No. 1 Seed Duke Awaits
With the win, St. John’s advances to face the top-seeded Duke Blue Devils in the East Region semifinals in Washington, D.C.
The Red Storm will carry momentum — and confidence — into that matchup after one of the most memorable finishes of the tournament.
Darling’s game-winner will be remembered for its timing, but the moment was shaped by belief — a player asking for the ball when it mattered most.
Pitino trusted him and Darling delivered.
For St. John’s, it was more than just a win. It was the arrival of a new March Madness hero.
St. John’s Rick Pitino Makes Shocking Dylan Darling Revelation After Game-Winner vs Kansas