St. John's basketball to host Kansas State in final Big East vs. Big 12 Battle
The Red Storm have another non-conference game on its schedule for next season
It's the final year of the Big East vs. Big 12 Battle and the St. John's basketball program will be playing its game in New York.
CBS Sports reports that the Johnnies will host Kansas State in the event, which comes the season after the Gavitt Games, which was between the Big East and the Big Ten, ended.
It's unclear at this time whether the game will be played at Carnesecca Arena or inside Madison Square Garden, but it's likely to be held at The Garden. The game will be played on Saturday, December 7.
Kansas State turned in a disappointing season, finishing 19-15 (8-10 Big 12), and losing in the opening round of the NIT. The Wildcats advanced to the Elite 8 the previous year, falling to FAU inside The Mecca.
Head coach Jerome Tang landed a commitment from Michigan guard Dug McDaniel this offseason, who scored 26 points against St. John's last season when the Wolverines defeated the Red Storm at The Garden.
The Johnnies and the Wildcats have only met twice in the program's history and none have been since 1965, which came in Allen Fieldhouse, the home of the Kansas Jayhawks.
Kansas State has never played St. John's in New York since its other matchup, held in 1961, was in Manhattan, Kansas.
St. John's victory against West Virginia in Morgantown this season snapped a two game losing streak in the battle for the Johnnies, dropping games against Kansas and Iowa State.
The Red Storm are looking to advance to its first NCAA Tournament since 2019 and are in the process of reshaping its roster with the addition of USC center Vince Iwuchukwu in the transfer portal.
Rick Pitino still has four scholarships available to use this offseason.