St. John’s Red Storm vs Villanova Wildcats Picks and Predictions January 11th 2025

Villanova Looks to Stay Hot, Faces St. John’s in Big East Clash

Villanova’s resurgence under Kyle Neptune has the Wildcats back in the national conversation, but they’ll face a tough test Saturday night when they visit St. John’s in a pivotal Big East matchup.

Wildcats on the Rise

Villanova (11-5, 4-1 Big East) has turned its season around, winning eight of its last nine games, including a statement 68-66 victory over No. 9 UConn on Wednesday. Eric Dixon led the way with 23 points, continuing his stellar season.

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The Wildcats’ turnaround is remarkable considering their rocky 3-4 start, which included surprising losses to Columbia and Saint Joseph’s. However, Neptune’s squad has found its groove, combining efficient offense with timely defense. Villanova has posted five double-digit victories in its last nine games, including an upset of then-No. 14 Cincinnati on Dec. 3.

Despite the recent success, Neptune is keeping the focus on the long road ahead.

“This is a long season,” Neptune said after Wednesday’s win. “We’ve got over half the season to go. We’ve just got to continue to get better. Personal stuff doesn’t really matter at this point.”

St. John’s Stands Strong

St. John’s (13-3, 4-1) has also shown significant improvement in Rick Pitino’s second year at the helm. The Red Storm boast the sixth-best defense in the nation, per KenPom.com, and have held opponents to limited scoring opportunities by dominating the offensive glass.

Their tenacity was on full display Tuesday in an 82-72 road win over Xavier. St. John’s grabbed 20 offensive rebounds, leading to 22 second-chance points and a wire-to-wire victory.

“You just want to keep ascending and we are,” Pitino said. “Obviously, we’re not (making) threes again, but they were all good threes (and) we got the rebound.”

The Red Storm’s outside shooting remains a concern, however. St. John’s has made just 3-of-37 3-point attempts over the last two games and is shooting only 14.9 percent from deep in Big East play.

Key Matchup

Villanova will need to contain St. John’s relentless effort on the boards. The Red Storm lead the Big East with 14.8 offensive rebounds per game, while the Wildcats rank among the conference leaders in defensive rebounding. Eric Dixon and Villanova’s frontcourt will play a pivotal role in limiting second-chance opportunities for St. John’s.

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On the flip side, Villanova’s balanced offense, led by Dixon, will test a St. John’s defense that has been the backbone of its success this season.

What’s at Stake

Both teams enter the game tied for second in the Big East standings at 4-1, making Saturday’s matchup crucial for positioning in the ultra-competitive conference. For Villanova, a win would further solidify its NCAA Tournament resume. For St. John’s, another victory against a strong opponent could keep its own tournament hopes alive.

Expect a battle of styles as Villanova’s disciplined approach clashes with St. John’s relentless energy.