St. John’s Red Storm vs Creighton Bluejays Picks and Predictions February 16th 2025

Big East Title Race Intensifies in New York

The battle for first place in the Big East reaches a pivotal moment on Sunday as No. 9 St. John’s (21-4, 12-2 Big East) hosts No. 24 Creighton (18-7, 11-3) at Madison Square Garden.

Both teams enter the highly anticipated matchup looking to rebound from rare setbacks. St. John’s saw its 10-game winning streak snapped in a 73-71 loss at Villanova on Wednesday, while Creighton’s nine-game win streak ended with a 70-66 defeat to UConn on Tuesday.

Despite the loss, the Red Storm remained atop the Big East standings heading into the weekend. However, a win by Creighton on Sunday would give the Bluejays the tiebreaker, thanks to their 57-56 victory over St. John’s on Dec. 31. With postseason seeding implications looming, the margin for error is razor-thin.

St. John’s Searching for Defensive Identity

Under head coach Rick Pitino, St. John’s has embraced an old-school defensive mindset. According to KenPom rankings, the Red Storm boast the second-best defense in the country but rank just 80th in offense.

That defensive identity faltered against Villanova, as the Wildcats shot 53.1 percent from the field and 45.8 percent from three-point range—far above what St. John’s typically allows.

“We weren’t there defensively, and that’s our identity,” guard Aaron Scott admitted after the loss. “They have some good players on their team, but we just weren’t there defensively.”

The Red Storm will also have to adjust to life without Deivon Smith, who is out indefinitely with a neck injury. Pitino acknowledged that Smith hasn’t been at full strength for a while.

“He’s just not the same player he was a month ago, and we’ve got to get him healthy,” Pitino said.

Even without Smith, St. John’s features a balanced attack:

RJ Luis Jr. (17.4 PPG) leads the team in scoring.

Zuby Ejiofor (13.7 PPG, 8.0 RPG) controls the paint.

Kadary Richmond (12.3 PPG, 5.2 APG) is the primary facilitator.

If St. John’s wants to bounce back, it must regain its defensive edge and slow down Creighton’s efficient offense.

Creighton Looks to Close the Gap

Creighton’s loss to UConn was frustrating for multiple reasons. The Bluejays dominated early, building a 37-23 lead late in the first half before a 13-0 UConn run flipped the momentum. The Huskies outscored Creighton 37-15 over the next 16 minutes, taking control of the game.

Despite a late rally, the Bluejays missed two chances to take the lead in the final minutes, allowing UConn to escape with a victory.

“When you’re playing a team as good as UConn, you’ve got to be a little bit more perfect than we were tonight,” Creighton coach Greg McDermott said.

Still, the Bluejays remain a legitimate threat for the Big East title, thanks to their well-rounded lineup:

Ryan Kalkbrenner (19.0 PPG, 8.5 RPG) is a force in the paint.

Steven Ashworth (16.7 PPG, 6.8 APG) leads the offense with elite passing and shooting.

Creighton ranks among the most efficient offensive teams in the country and has already proven it can beat St. John’s in a grind-it-out game. If the Bluejays can execute late, they could leave New York tied for first place.

Key Matchups to Watch

• St. John’s Defense vs. Creighton’s Efficiency – Can the Red Storm regain their defensive form after the Villanova setback?
• RJ Luis Jr. vs. Ryan Kalkbrenner – Luis leads St. John’s in scoring, but he’ll have to find ways to finish against Creighton’s imposing big man.
• Late-Game Execution – Both teams lost winnable games last week by failing to close out. Which squad will deliver in crunch time?

Learn How Recent Performances and Key Statistics Are Influencing the College Basketball Championship Odds

Will St. John’s Hold the Big East Lead, or Can Creighton Complete the Sweep?

With just a few weeks left in the regular season, every game matters in the race for the Big East title.

A St. John’s win would give them breathing room atop the standings, keeping them in control of their destiny.

A Creighton victory would put both teams at 12-3 in conference play, with the Bluejays owning the head-to-head tiebreaker.

Can Pitino’s Red Storm bounce back and defend their home court? Or will Creighton steal another close game and shake up the Big East standings?

Sunday’s battle at Madison Square Garden could decide who finishes the regular season on top of the conference—and who might have to fight harder for postseason seeding.