Predicting each St. John’s basketball game in 2021-22 season
Predicting each game on the St. John’s basketball schedule
November 9 vs. Mississippi Valley State (7:45pm, FS1)
The St. John’s basketball season will begin optimistically inside the friendly confines of Carnesecca Arena against an unknown foe.
The Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils are a member of the Southwestern Athletic Conference and the school is most known for being the alma mater of NFL Hall of Famer Jerry Rice.
Under second year head coach Lindsey Hunter, the Delta Devils have not made the NCAA Tournament since 2012 and have won a total of 50 games over the last nine seasons.
Unless Jerry Rice hits the hardwood with Mississippi Valley State, St. John’s should be cruising to an opening night victory.
Prediction: Win (1-0)
November 13 vs. St. Peter’s University (4:00pm, FS2)
This will be the third straight year these two programs meet in Queens as St. John’s has emerged victorious both times but last season’s meeting was a thriller.
The Johnnies, on opening night, needed five points in the last 24 seconds from Vince Cole to down the Peacocks in an empty Carnesecca Arena.
There are many excuses you can give the Red Storm for almost dropping last season’s meeting but this year there is no reason why St. John’s should not pick up a home victory.
Mike Anderson has to have his team focused on the task at hand and not looking ahead to the next game on the road against Indiana.
Prediction: Win (2-0)
November 17 at. Indiana (TBD, TBD)
The early test for the Johnnies is a massive one.
St. John’s will go on the road to face the Indiana Hoosiers in the Gavitt Tip-Off Games as the Red Storm will get an up-close look at new head coach Mike Woodson and Big Ten Player of the Year candidate Trayce Jackson-Davis.
Jackson-Davis seemed destined for the NBA Draft but after Woodson convinced him to remain in Bloomington for one more season he will be the focus of the plethora of talent Indiana will have this season.
The Johnnies can make an early statement on how dangerous this team will be this season but winning on the road in a hostile environment will be no easy task.
Prediction: Loss (2-1)
November 20 vs. Fairleigh Dickinson (6:00pm, FS2)
Coming off its first loss of the season, St. John’s will quickly get back on track with a dominating home win over Fairleigh Dickinson.
Fairleigh Dickinson opens its season with eight straight road games and three of its first four game are against major conference teams (Seton Hall, Northwestern, St. John’s).
Not an easy task for a team looking to rebound after a disappointing 2020-21 season.
Prediction: Win (3-1)
November 23 vs. St. Francis Brooklyn (7:00pm, FS2)
Another local mid-major makes the trip to Carnesecca Arena that is looking to return to the postseason for the first time since the 2018-19 season.
St. John’s is 39-3 in the all-time series against St. Francis Brooklyn and that number will jump to an even 40-3 as the Johnnies begin to rack up the non-conference victories with December looming.
Prediction: Win (4-1)
November 27 vs. NJIT (4:00pm, FS2)
The final game of November brings the NJIT Highlanders into Queens, a team that has faced the Red Storm only five times in program history but picked up a victory the last time the two teams met in 2015.
Head coach Brian Kennedy has seen his team finish with a below .500 record in four of his five seasons in Newark, New Jersey with the lone above .500 season coming in 2018-19 when the team made an appearance in the CIT.
St. John’s should cruise to another victory but the biggest game but NJIT serves as another trap game with the biggest game of the non-conference schedule looming next for the Johnnies.
Prediction: Win (5-1)