Xavier Musketeers vs St. John’s Red Storm January 7th 2025

Planning on watching today’s Red Storm and Musketeers game? Catch the action at Cintas Center in Cincinnati, OH, as the Musketeers hosts this showdown at 6:30 ET on FS1. In this Big East matchup, St. John’s is favored bt -1.5 vs. Xavier. The over/under for the game is 151.5 points.

Red Storm vs. Musketeers Key Information

• Sport: CBB
• Teams: St. John’s Red Storm at Xavier Musketeers
• Where: Cincinnati at Cintas Center
• Date: Tuesday, January 7th
• Betting Odds STJOHN -1.5, STJOHN -128 | XAV +104 O/U 151.5

The Red Storm Can Win If…

St. John’s Red Storm Recent Game/Games

St. John’s improved to 12-3 on the season with a 70-62 home win over Butler on Saturday. Despite being -11.5 favorites, the Red Storm didn’t cover the spread. The game’s total points of 132 fell short of the 148.5 O/U line.

St. John’s trailed 29-25 at halftime but turned things around by scoring 45 points in the 2nd half while holding Butler to 33.

St. John’s struggled from the field in their last game, shooting just 36.6% overall and an abysmal 4.8% from three-point range, hitting only 1 of 21 attempts. Their effective field goal percentage matched their overall shooting percentage at 36.6%, but they managed to connect on 50% of their two-point shots, going 25 for 50 inside the arc.

RJ Luis Jr. led the way with 20 points and 11 rebounds, despite missing all 5 of his three-point attempts. Pierre Brooks II contributed 17 points, hitting 3 of 6 from deep, while Patrick McCaffery also knocked down 3 threes, finishing with 13 points and 11 boards. Kadary Richmond added 6 assists to go along with his 11 points.

St. John’s put on a defensive clinic, holding their opponent to just 62 points on 36% shooting from the field. They were particularly effective at defending the three-point line, where they limited the opposition to a dismal 1/21 shooting, just 4%.

Inside the arc, St. John’s allowed 25 two-point baskets on 50 attempts, a 50% conversion rate. They also sent their opponent to the free-throw line 23 times, where they made 17 shots, good for 73%. St. John’s gave up 13 offensive rebounds in the game.

• Although St. John’s has a straight up record of 1-2 in their last three road games, they have not held up as well vs the spread going 0-2-1. The team averaged 63 points per game in these games.
• Through their last five matchups as the betting favorite, the Red Storm have a good straight up record, but their ATS mark is just 2-3.
• Over their last three games, the Red Storm have an over/under record of 1-2 and are 0-2-1 vs. the spread.

The Musketeers Can Win If…

Xavier Musketeers Recent Game/Games

Xavier fell to 9-6 on the season after a 69-63 road loss to Georgetown on Friday. The Musketeers entered the game as +1.5 point underdogs and failed to cover the spread. The total points for the game were 132, falling short of the 146.5 O/U line.

After trailing 30-24 at halftime, Xavier matched Georgetown’s 39 points in the 2nd half, but it wasn’t enough to secure the win.

Xavier struggled offensively in their last game, shooting just 35.1% from the field and 26.3% from three-point range. Their effective field goal percentage was 38.6%, and they managed only 8 assists as a team.

Malik Mack led the way with 26 points, hitting 3 of 9 from beyond the arc. Zach Freemantle added 16 points and 7 rebounds, connecting on 2 of 3 three-point attempts.

Despite giving up 69 points, Xavier’s defense held their opponent to just 4 made threes on 18 attempts, a 22% shooting performance from beyond the arc. However, they struggled to contain two-point shots, allowing their opponent to shoot 55% on 21/38 from inside the arc.

At the free-throw line, Xavier sent their opponent to the stripe 25 times, where they converted 15 free throws for 60%. The Musketeers also gave up 11 offensive rebounds in the game.

• In their last five home games, Xavier has averaged 72 points per game while allowing 74. The team’s record in this stretch was 1-4 while going 3-2.
• Going back to their previous three games as the underdog, Xavier has an ATS mark of 2-1 while going 0-3 straight up.
• In their last five games, the Musketeers have an over/under record of 2-3 and are 3-2 vs. the spread.

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The Lean

As the underdogs with a spread of +1.5, we recommend going with the Musketeers on the point spread. We not only see them covering the spread but also have a strong likelihood of winning this one outright, especially if you’re seeking a higher payout on the moneyline.

Regarding the over/under, the current line is set at 151.5, and our model predicts the Red Storm and Musketeers to score a combined 145 points. We recommend betting on the under.

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St. John’s Looks to Stay Hot as They Face Xavier

St. John’s is rolling, but their next test comes Tuesday night when they hit the road to face Xavier in Cincinnati. The Red Storm are off to a strong start in Big East play, while the Musketeers are trying to snap out of a rough stretch. Both teams have something to prove in this pivotal matchup.

St. John’s: Winning Ugly but Getting It Done

The Red Storm (12-3, 3-1 Big East) pulled off a gritty 70-62 win over Butler on Saturday during “Lou Carnesecca Day.” They rallied from a seven-point deficit in the second half, proving they can win even when things aren’t going smoothly.

• Key Players:
  • RJ Luis Jr. was a beast, racking up 20 points, 11 rebounds, and four steals for his fourth double-double of the season.
  • Kadary Richmond came alive late, scoring five points, grabbing two steals, and dishing out a clutch assist in the final five minutes. He finished the game with 11 points, six assists, six rebounds, and three steals.
• Big Problem?: St. John’s is still struggling from beyond the arc. They shot an abysmal 1-for-21 (4.8%) from 3-point range against Butler and are hitting just 30.9% on the season.
• Pitino’s Take: Head coach Rick Pitino was pleased with the team’s fight but knows there’s work to do:”When you go 1-for-21 and still win, that says a lot about your character. But we’ve got to keep working on those shots.”

Xavier: Searching for Answers

The Musketeers (9-6, 1-3 Big East) are in a tough spot after a 69-63 loss to Georgetown on Friday, their third Big East loss in four games.

• Welcome Back, Zach:
  • Zach Freemantle, Xavier’s top scorer and rebounder, returned from a three-game absence due to a lower-body injury. He led the team with 16 points and seven boards, but Xavier couldn’t close out the win.
  • Head coach Sean Miller was happy with Freemantle’s effort but admitted there’s room for improvement:”He looked a little rusty at times, but he played really well overall.”
• Recent Struggles: After an 8-2 start, Xavier has dropped four of its last five games. The good news? All four losses have been by six points or fewer, so they’ve been in every game.

What to Watch For

• Why St. John’s Could Win:
  • The Red Storm have shown they can grind out wins even when their offense isn’t clicking. Players like Richmond can step up in the clutch.
  • Their defense could cause problems for Xavier, especially if Freemantle isn’t back to 100% yet.
• Why Xavier Could Win:
  • With Freemantle back in the lineup, the Musketeers have the firepower to compete.
  • Playing at home gives them an edge, especially after their recent struggles on the road.

The Bottom Line

St. John’s has been finding ways to win despite their shooting woes, and they’ll need more of that grit to take down Xavier on the road. Meanwhile, Xavier is desperate for a bounce-back win and will rely on Freemantle to help steady the ship.

Can St. John’s stay hot, or will Xavier use their home-court advantage to get back on track? Either way, it’s shaping up to be a competitive showdown in Cincinnati.