Predicting each St. John’s basketball game in 2021-22 season

Predictions for St. John’s basketball in the months of February and March

February 1 vs. Providence (9:00pm, CBS Sports Network)

St. John’s begins the stretch of the season coming off of loss and returning home to face a team it has already dropped a game to this season.

The biggest key to slowing the Friars down this season will be containing Nate Watson and the Johnnies believe they have the bodies to do so.

A big win will come for the Red Storm with another daunting road challenge is looming.

Prediction: Win (18-5, 8-4 Big East) 

February 5 at. Butler (12:00pm, FS1)

Hinkle Fieldhouse is a house of horrors for St. John’s.

The Red Storm have not won against Butler on the road since the 2013-14 season.

Seven straight losses for the Johnnies inside historic Hinkle after they blew their best chance to emerge victorious from the venue last year, falling in double overtime.

It will be eight straight against one of the sleepers in the conference.

Prediction: Loss (18-6, 8-5 Big East) 

February 8 vs. Villanova (8:30pm, FS1)

The second matchup in ten days between St. John’s and Villanova as the venue shifts to Madison Square Garden for a primetime matchup on a Tuesday night.

Posh Alexander dominated in his first ever matchup against the ‘Cats last season but was bested in the second game at The Fin.

After dropping the first game against Villanova in his sophomore season, Alexander will be on a mission to harass Collin Gillespie at The Garden and the Johnnies will split the regular season series with Villanova.

Prediction: Win (19-6, 9-5 Big East) 

February 13 vs. Connecticut (12:00pm, FOX) 

Get your Super Bowl Sunday started with a Big East rivalry matchup at The Garden as the Johnnies will play back-to-back games inside Madison Square Garden this season.

Again, the Red Storm will have an opportunity to avoid being swept in a season series and come away with a hard fought split against a top-tier team in the Big East.

St. John’s will continue to defend its home floor in Manhattan like it does in Queens.

Prediction: Win (20-6, 10-5 Big East)

February 16 at. Xavier (6:30pm, CBS Sports Network) 

It is very late in the season for St. John’s and Xavier to be meeting for the first time but these programs will meet twice in the last two weeks of the season.

Xavier is projected to be another top level team in the Big East with the return of All-Conference player Zach Freemantle and Paul Scruggs.

The addition of Iowa transfer Jack Nunge will be massive for the Musketeers to pair alongside Freemantle in the front-court.

However, Xavier has dealt with their fair share of late season falters so the Johnnies could be catching them at the right time of the season.

Prediction: Loss (20-7, 10-6 Big East) 

February 23 vs. Creighton (6:30pm, FS1)

A home game against Creighton, who will have learned some valuable lessons in the Big East this season, should be a victory for the Johnnies.

St. John’s knows from last season that the end of the year is always a grind but a battle at the top of the conference should give the Red Storm plenty of motivation to finish the year strong.

Mike Anderson pulls off the sweep of the Bluejays.

Prediction: Win (21-7, 11-6 Big East) 

February 27 at. DePaul (5:00pm, FS1)

A late season matchup with DePaul, we will really tell us if St. John’s learned its lesson from a season ago.

This is a must win game for the Johnnies and the St. John’s basketball team will get another season sweep.

Prediction: Win (22-7, 12-6 Big East) 

March 2 vs. Xavier (6:30pm, FS1)

The calendar flips to March and the stakes become higher across the country.

The last chance for the St. John’s basketball team to potentially be swept in a season series this year will go by the wayside as the Johnnies will use its home court advantage to defeat Xavier in the second matchup in two weeks between the teams.

This could also be Julian Champagnie’s final game in Queens as he would head to the NBA after the completion of his junior year.

Prediction: Win (23-7, 13-6 Big East)

March 5 at. Marquette (TBD, TBD)

What could the St. John’s basketball team be playing for in this game?

A chance to solidify a seed in the upcoming Big East Tournament, another opportunity to add a win and avoid a resume hurting loss, or both?

That’s what makes college basketball great because there is always something to play for in the month of March.

The Fiserv Forum is always a difficult place to play and it should be a good atmosphere on the final day of the regular season as Marquette celebrates its senior class.

Prediction: Loss (23-8, 13-7 Big East) 

*BONUS PREDICTION: The St. John’s basketball team is the No. 3 seed in the Big East Tournament and gets a No. 6 seed in the NCAA Tournament.