Major matchup with Kentucky headlines St. John's basketball non-conference schedule

The St. John’s basketball team finalized its regular season non-conference schedule, and it will be the most difficult slate of games for the Johnnies since Rick Pitino took over the program.

Many of the contests were already made public, including the biggest headliner on the schedule – a December 20 matchup against the Kentucky Wildcats in Atlanta during the CBS Sports Classic.

The Red Storm also knew of its opponents in the Players Era Challenge (November 24-26) in Las Vegas when they will face Iowa State in the opening game of the event before taking on Baylor, a rematch from last year’s Baha Mar Hoops Championship, in its second game.

A third opponent will be solidified based on the results of the first two days of the tournament.

However, St. John’s will begin its season on November 3 inside Carnesecca Arena against Quinnipiac which will be the second meeting in as many years between the programs. The game will serve as an early test for the Johnnies before its Madison Square Garden debut against Alabama on November 8.

The Red Storm will host William & Mary on November 15 and Bucknell on November 20 before traveling to Las Vegas and upon returning from the west coast the Ole Miss Rebels will be waiting for a December 6 date inside The Garden.

St. John’s remains inside The World’s Most Famous Arena for a meeting with Iona, Rick Pitino’s former school, on December 12 before facing the Wildcats in Georgia. The Johnnies and Gaels have not played since 2017.

The final game on St. John’s non-conference regular season schedule comes on December 23 in Queens against Harvard, who the Red Storm also played last season.

Although nothing has been finalized, St. John’s will be playing Michigan at Madison Square Garden in an exhibition game as well as hosting a mid-major opponent for an exhibition meeting in Queens.