If St. John’s hopes to beat Arizona State and advance into the NCAA Tournament field of 64, the Red Storm will have to focus on three things:

Rebound, rebound and rebound
Arizona State is 38th in the nation in rebounding margin at plus-4.8, while St. John’s is 337th at minus-5.8. The Johnnies have to at least be competitive on the defensive glass to fuel the transition game. Everyone has to help out.

Shot selection
The Sun Devils don’t defend the 3 very well — they allow the opposition to make 8.6 3-pointers per game — which the perimeter-heavy Red Storm will need to take advantage of. That means not taking the first look Arizona State gives them, but working for the best shot, utilizing their quickness edge and hitting a high percentage from deep.

Shamorie must step up
All-Big East first-team selection Shamorie Ponds has the potential to be the best player on the floor Wednesday night. He has to be for St. John’s to advance. If Ponds can control the game, push the pace and be the playmaker he was in wins over VCU, Marquette, Villanova and Creighton, the Red Storm will likely win their first NCAA Tournament game in 19 years.