St. John’s basketball reportedly to host MTE to begin 2020-21 season
St. John’s basketball looks to host a midseason tournament event to begin the 2020-21 season.
As the 2020-21 college basketball season draws closer, 54 days for your countdown clocks, more details are coming out about St. John’s scheduling.
In what has been a strange offseason for scheduling due to the uncertainty surrounding the coronavirus pandemic many options have been talked about from the number of games, to bubble scenarios, etc.
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One scenario that’s picking up traction for the Red Storm is hosting an midseason tournament event.
As first reported by Sammy Albano, former editor of CBS News and executive producer of Inside the Big East, and later confirmed my multiple sources, St. John’s is in talks to host a multi-team event as part of their non-conference schedule.
The field will consist of La Salle, Manhattan, and Bryant.
Reports say the event will be set to take place from November 25-27, which will open up the season for the Johnnies.
St. John’s already scheduled La Salle as part of their non-conference schedule this season back in early June, a matchup that hasn’t been seen since 1964.
The Red Storm has a long history of matchups against Manhattan, but the two haven’t faced off since 2002 when the Jaspers shocked the Red Storm at Madison Square Garden, 72-65.
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Overall, the Johnnies have a 62-25 record against Manhattan dating back to 1907.
St. John’s has only played against Bryant once, an 80-44 win at Carnesecca Arena on December 23, 2009.
This multi-team event currently gives the Red Storm four non-conference games as they will also face the Texas Tech Red Raiders in Lubbock, Texas on December 3 as part of the Big East vs. Big 12 Challenge.
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St. John’s was also set to play the Red Raiders in the Preseason NIT that was moved to Orlando, Florida but the Red Storm pulled out of the contest due to COVID-19 concerns and quarantine restriction rules and regulations.
As games continue to fill the St. John’s non-conference schedule, it leaves head coach Mike Anderson with three more games to schedule as NCAA guidelines allow for a maximum of seven non-conference games before moving to conference play in 2020-21.