A schedule change has become official for the St. John’s basketball program.
What was expected has become official as the St. John’s basketball program (4-1) announced it will open its 2020-21 Big East Conference schedule against the Seton Hall Pirates (2-3).
The Johnnies were slated to travel to Connecticut to face UConn on Friday night while Seton Hall was scheduled to host DePaul on Friday afternoon.
UConn announced on Sunday that it would be going into another pause due to COVID-19 and DePaul, who has not played yet this season because of complications with the pandemic, had a setback on Sunday prior to its scheduled game against Iowa State.
As both games were postponed, it left the two locals in the Big East free on Friday and now the Red Storm will make the trip across the Hudson River to New Jersey and face Seton Hall at 4:30pm EST on Friday afternoon at the Prudential Center.
Johnnies' @BIGEASTMBB opener changed to Seton Hall on Friday at 4:30 p.m. on @CBSSportsNet
— St. John's Men’s Basketball (@StJohnsBBall) December 8, 2020
INFO ➡️ https://t.co/kFqXHOxfow#SJUBB | #WeAreNewYorksTeam pic.twitter.com/iPStNhyFvp
Prior to its showdown on Friday, both teams will be in action on Tuesday as St. John’s will close out non-conference play against Rider and Seton Hall will host Wagner.
Seton Hall has won eight of the last ten matchups between the two programs with the last Red Storm victory coming on February 23, 2019 at Madison Square Garden.
ALSO READ: St. John’s set to host Rider with uncertain future looming
The Johnnies were close to knocking off the then No. 18 Pirates at The Garden last season, but a second half collapse allowed Seton Hall to escape with the victory.
Perhaps the most memorable game between the two rivals in recent memory was the last time the two programs opened Big East play with each other as an inadvertent whistle, which would have won the game for St. John’s, allowed Seton Hall to get a second chance at a buzzer beater, which Shavar Reynolds hit and won the game for the Pirates.
St. John’s basketball could see more scheduling issues because of pandemic
David Woods of the IndyStarSports reported that Butler is slowly returning back to basketball activities as the Bulldogs had to enter a COVID pause following its first game of the season.
#Butler basketball getting back to up and running, albeit on different timelines with contact tracing. Some players are doing group workouts. Others will join during the week. No full team practice yet. Butler is to host St. John's on Monday.
— David Woods (@DavidWoods007) December 8, 2020
Woods reported that Butler is still planning to host St. John’s on Monday night at Hinkle Fieldhouse.
Monday would be the first game the Bulldogs play since November 25.
ALSO READ: St. John’s sees more scheduling issues entering Big East play
St. John’s and Rider will tipoff at 7:00pm EST (CBS Sports Network) on Tuesday and 4:30pm EST (CBS Sports Network) on Friday.
Monday’s tipoff time against Butler is currently scheduled for 7:00pm EST (Fox Sports 1).