See the word "in" up there. As in "play-in"? See the words "first round"? The play-in games happen before the first round. They determine who qualifies for the first round. Mullin didn't actually get us in to the first round.
"When selecting the teams for the NCAA tournament, the Selection Committee ranks every team from No. 1 through No. 68"
See the words "When selecting the teams for the NCAA tournament the Selection Committee"? Which one of them didn't you understand? Evidently it was "selecting" and variants thereof. Because according to the NCAA the "SELECTION committee" is in the business of "SELECTING" the teams for the "NCAA tournament." And they selected St John's.
How about these words, which one threw you: "The First Four is the official start to March Madness." I'm guessing it was the three syllable one (that'd be official btw) you being a proud SJU alum, aka not particularly bright. FO back to RDC why don't you, those idiots can't read either.