Rick Pitino adopted by means of on his promise to St. John’s followers.
At his introductory press convention in March, Pitino mentioned the Johnnies would play extra video games in his first season at Madison Sq. Backyard than in earlier years, and that has come to fruition, because the Massive East introduced the convention schedule on Friday.
St. John’s will play six league video games at MSG and eight in all, essentially the most it has performed at its second dwelling for the reason that 2014-15 season when it had 10 video games there.
Final season, St. John’s had solely 4 Backyard video games and 5 the earlier 12 months.
This can even be the primary time for the reason that 2015-16 season when St. John’s could have a number of non-conference contests at “The World’s Most Well-known Enviornment.”
It hosts Michigan within the annual Gavitt Tipoff Video games on Nov. 13, and meets Fordham on Dec. 16 at MSG.
The six league video games can be in opposition to Windfall, Georgetown, Villanova, Creighton, Marquette and Connecticut.
Different takeaways on the schedule:
Tough Begin
Whereas St. John’s performs its league opener at dwelling in opposition to Xavier on Dec. 20, its first 9 video games are extraordinarily difficult general.
It consists of journeys to face three of one of the best groups within the convention: defending nationwide champion Connecticut on Dec. 23, Villanova on Jan. 6 and Creighton on Jan. 13.
Windfall (Jan. 10), defending league champion Marquette (Jan. 20) and Villanova (Jan. 24) come to the Backyard to wrap up the troublesome stretch.
If the Johnnies are near .500 by means of this stretch, or perhaps a sport or two above it, they are going to be in nice form.
A 3rd dwelling
UBS Enviornment, dwelling to the Islanders, will host three St. John’s video games this 12 months, beginning with Hofstra on Dec. 30.
St. John’s can even play convention foes DePaul (Feb. 6) and Seton Corridor (Feb. 18) there.
Seton Corridor not taking part in on the Backyard is considerably of a shock.
However the Johnnies are attempting to create a relationship with UBS, so taking part in a neighborhood rival within the new enviornment seems like a goodwill gesture.
St. John’s has performed one sport at UBS earlier than, the Massive East/Massive 12 battle conflict in opposition to Kansas in 2021.
Tender end
As troublesome as St. John’s begin could also be in league play, it’s end is even simpler.
The ultimate three video games are in opposition to projected doormats Butler (Feb. 28) and DePaul (Mar. 5) on the highway and rebuilding Georgetown at MSG (Mar. 9).
In reality, of the ultimate six video games, solely one in all them is in opposition to a projected NCAA Match staff, Creighton on the Backyard on Feb. 25.