St. John’s Red Storm vs Xavier Musketeers Picks and Predictions January 22nd 2025

St. John’s Red Storm vs Xavier Musketeers January 22nd 2025

Making on a bet on this NCAA game featuring the Musketeers versus the Red Storm? Tip off is at at 7:00 ET, and you can watch it all unfold on FS1. The game will be played at Madison Square Garden in New York, NY. The over/under for this game is set at 149.5 points, and St. John’s is favored by -7.5 vs. Xavier in a Big East conference matchup.

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Musketeers vs. Red Storm Key Information

The Musketeers Can Win If…

Xavier improved to 12-7 on the season with a 59-57 win over Marquette on Saturday. The Musketeers were +9.5 point underdogs going into the game and not only pulled off the upset but also covered the spread.

Xavier led 35-24 at halftime but allowed Marquette to score 33 points in the 2nd half while only putting up 24 points themselves. The total points for the game were 116, well under the O/U line of 148.5.

Xavier struggled offensively in their last game, shooting just 40.4% from the field and 11.8% from beyond the arc, hitting only 2 of 17 three-point attempts. Their effective field goal percentage was 42.1%, and they managed 59 points, with 12 assists as a team.

David Joplin led the way with 18 points, shooting 44.4% overall and 12.5% from three. Zach Freemantle added 14 points and 10 rebounds, while Kam Jones contributed 11 points and 6 assists, despite hitting just 1 of 6 from deep.

Defensively, Xavier held their opponent to just 57 points on 37% shooting from the field. They limited two-point opportunities, with the opposition shooting 45% (15/33) inside the arc.

The Musketeers were particularly effective against the three, allowing just 8 made threes on 29 attempts (27%). They also sent their opponent to the line only 7 times, where they hit 3 free throws (42%).

The Red Storm Can Win If…

St. John’s improved to 16-3 on the season with a dominant 79-51 win over Seton Hall on Saturday. The Red Storm, who were -9 favorites, covered the spread in this one.

They jumped out to a big 39-16 lead in the first half and added 40 more points in the second half while allowing 35. The total points for the game were 130, falling short of the 138.5 O/U line.

St. John’s put up 79 points in their latest outing, shooting 46.7% from the field with an effective field goal percentage of 53.3%. They connected on 38.9% of their three-point attempts, going 7-for-18 from deep, and hit 80% of their free throws, making 16 of 20.

RJ Luis Jr. led the way with 24 points and 8 rebounds, shooting 9-for-13 overall and 4-for-5 from beyond the arc. Kadary Richmond added 12 points and 6 assists, while Isaiah Coleman struggled, hitting just 1 of 13 shots, missing all 5 of his three-point attempts.

St. John’s defense was dominant, giving up just 51 points on 26% shooting from the field. They held their opponent to 11/41 (26%) on two-point attempts.

From beyond the arc, St. John’s limited their opponent to 4/16 shooting (25%). They also sent them to the line 29 times, where they made 17 free throws (58%).

For a point-spread wager in this Red Storm vs. Red Storm game, we suggest taking the Red Storm at -7.5. Even though our predictions have the Red Storm winning 76-70, we see the Musketeers as the better choice on the point-spread.

Regarding the over/under, the current line is set at 149.5, and our model predicts the Musketeers and Red Storm to score a combined 146 points. We recommend betting on the under.

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Defensive Battle Looms as No. 20 St. John’s Hosts Xavier in Big East Showdown

The No. 20 St. John’s Red Storm are back in the national spotlight and will look to stay atop the Big East standings as they host the surging Xavier Musketeers in a high-stakes conference matchup on Wednesday night in New York. Both teams bring elite defenses into the contest, setting the stage for a gritty, physical battle.

St. John’s Rides Momentum Into First Top-25 Ranking Since November

For the first time in nearly five years, St. John’s appears to be firmly on track for an NCAA Tournament bid. The Red Storm (16-3, 7-1 Big East) have won five straight games, including a dominant 79-51 road win over Seton Hall on Saturday.

That victory vaulted St. John’s into sole possession of first place in the Big East for the first time this late in the season since 1985-86, a year in which the program finished 31-5.

Head coach Rick Pitino, a two-time national champion, is no stranger to deep tournament runs and believes his team is only getting started.

“I’d rather take first place than last place, but I really don’t think about that,” Pitino said. “I’m proud for the St. John’s fans. I know it means something to them.”

St. John’s Defensive Dominance

• Ranked 5th nationally in defensive efficiency (KenPom.com)
• Allowing just 66.1 PPG (lowest since 2006-07 season)
• Held Seton Hall to 51 points in last game

St. John’s has thrived on Pitino’s signature defensive intensity, smothering opponents and forcing tough, low-percentage shots.

Key Players for St. John’s

• Daniss Jenkins (Team leader, playmaker on both ends)
• Joel Soriano (Dominant inside presence, averaging double figures in scoring & rebounding)
• Chris Ledlum (Key defensive stopper, tough matchup for Xavier’s forwards)

Xavier Seeks Fourth Straight Win After Stunning Marquette

While St. John’s has been rolling, Xavier (12-7, 4-4 Big East) is also on the rise, having won three straight games, including a 59-57 road upset over then-No. 7 Marquette.

The Musketeers’ defense was the difference-maker, holding Marquette to a season-low point total despite a late rally from the Golden Eagles.

Head coach Sean Miller was pleased with his team’s effort, especially their grit and togetherness on the defensive end.

“We played with a lot of togetherness and a lot of toughness on the defensive end,” Miller said. “It was a hard-playing game. Our guys were fatigued at the end.”

Xavier’s Defensive Strength

• Held Marquette to just 26 points in the first 25 minutes of their last game
• First road win over a top-10 team since 2020
• Looking for their first four-game Big East winning streak since 2022-23

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Key Players for Xavier

• Desmond Claude (Key scorer, playmaker in crunch time)
• Quincy Olivari (Reliable shooter, needs to be efficient against St. John’s pressure defense)
• Lazar Djokovic (Interior presence, crucial for rebounding battle)

Can St. John’s Stay in First Place?

This matchup is a clash of defensive titans, and both teams know possessions will be valuable.

• Will St. John’s defense continue to dominate against Xavier’s improving offense?
• Can Xavier pull off back-to-back wins over ranked opponents?
• Will St. John’s take another step toward securing a top Big East seed?

With both teams surging, expect a defensive slugfest as St. John’s looks to defend its home court and Xavier aims to keep its winning streak alive.