St. John’s (21-3) at Villanova (14-10)
- When: Feb 12 2025, 6:00 PM
- Where: The William B. Finneran Pavilion, Bryn Mawr, PA, USA
- Where to watch: Fox Sports 1
Game Preview
St. John’s (-2.5) | Total: 139.5
St. John’s Red Storm: Aiming to Extend Dominance
The St. John’s Red Storm are proving to be a legitimate national contender, climbing into the AP Top 10 for the first time since 2000. Rick Pitino’s squad has been dominant, winning 10 straight games, including an 80-68 victory over Villanova on Jan. 11.
During that previous matchup, RJ Luis Jr. led the charge with 30 points, and St. John’s overwhelmed the Wildcats on the glass with a 44-28 rebounding edge. The Red Storm’s defensive effort was also key, frustrating Villanova’s Eric Dixon into a rough shooting night (6-for-19).
St. John’s continues to roll through the Big East, recently notching back-to-back wins against ranked opponents, including a gritty 68-62 victory over UConn. Luis poured in 21 points in that game, while Kadary Richmond scored all 13 of his points in the second half, helping the Red Storm close strong.
The key for St. John’s will be maintaining its aggressive rebounding and defensive energy. Luis, who went 16-of-20 from the free-throw line in the last meeting against Villanova, will look to get back to the line at a similar rate. However, his 3-point shooting has been shaky, hitting just 1-of-10 from beyond the arc in the last two games. If he can improve from deep, St. John’s will have an even greater edge.
Villanova Wildcats: Searching for Consistency
Villanova has endured a rocky season but is coming off two straight wins, including a strong offensive showing in an 80-74 victory over Xavier. In that game, Eric Dixon found his rhythm, scoring 24 points on 50% shooting after struggling in previous outings. The Wildcats also received key contributions from Wooga Poplar (23 points) and Tyler Perkins (20 points off the bench), giving them some much-needed offensive firepower.
The Wildcats have shown they can compete with elite teams, holding a 2-1 record against ranked opponents this season. They knocked off No. 14 Cincinnati early in the season and stunned UConn 68-66 in January. However, they have struggled with consistency, losing five of their last eight games, including a 1-5 skid in late January.
For Villanova to stay competitive, Dixon will need to be more efficient from beyond the arc, where he has shot just 4-of-16 over the past three games. The Wildcats will also need to clean up their rebounding woes after being outworked by St. John’s in their first meeting.
Betting Prediction
St. John’s has been the more consistent team, and their dominance on the boards should be a major factor once again. Villanova is showing signs of life offensively, but they have yet to prove they can string together consistent performances against top-tier teams.
With St. John’s on a roll and Villanova’s inconsistencies, expect the Red Storm to complete the season sweep and cover the spread in a game that could be decided in the final minutes.
Final Score Prediction: St. John’s 73, Villanova 68
Best Bets:
St. John’s -2.5
Over 139.5
St. John’s Team Total Over 71.5
St. John’s has been one of the most reliable teams in the Big East, and with their defensive edge and rebounding advantage, they should take care of business on the road.
- NCAAB Odds source: Bovada Sportsbook
