St. John's basketball non-conference schedule slowly coming together

After the St. John's basketball team went 8-3 in its non-Big East games a season ago with a lackluster slate, Rick Pitino is not holding back entering his second season in Queens.

The Hall of Famer will be testing the Red Storm early, behind a revamped backcourt of Seton Hall transfer Kadary Richmond and Utah transfer Devion Smith.

St. John's is still looking for an opponent to open the season on November 4, but the Johnnies will quickly jump into the deep end of the waters that will give an early determination if this squad can return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2019.

Last season, the Red Storm were kept out of the NCAA Tournament despite its metrics suggesting it should be included in the field. The program declined an invitation to the NIT.

St. John's lost its first marquee game of the non-conference schedule last season against Michigan, falling by 16 points. The Wolverines would only win eight games throughout the season.

The biggest win of the non-conference was a neutral site game against Utah, which also missed the NCAA Tournament.

Here are the current games that have been reported for St. John's non-conference schedule next season:

November 13 vs. Wagner (Carnesecca Arena)
Nov. 17 vs. New Mexico (Madison Square Garden)
Nov. 21 — Baha Mar Hoops Championship (Tennessee, Baylor, or Virginia)
Nov. 22 — Baha Mar Hoops Championship (Tennessee, Baylor, or Virginia)
Nov. 24 -- vs. Georgia (Atlantis, Bahamas)
December 7 vs. Kansas State (Venue: TBD)
Dec. 11 vs. Bryant (Carnesecca Arena)

There are still four games left to be booked for the Johnnies and at least three will be 'buy games' against mid-majors opponents.

Early indications seem that its December 7 game against Kansas State will be at Carnesecca Arena rather than Madison Square Garden.

St. John's is expected to be a Top-25 team in the preseason rankings and a Top-4 squad in the Big East preseason poll.