Butler (14-18) vs St. John’s (27-4)
- When: Mar 13 2025, 12:00 PM
- Where: Madison Square Garden, New York, NY, USA
- Where to watch: Peacock
Big East Tournament Quarterfinals: St. John’s vs. Butler Betting Preview
St. John’s (-13.5) vs. Butler | Total: 146.5
The top-seeded St. John’s Red Storm look to continue their dominant season as they take on the ninth-seeded Butler Bulldogs in the Big East tournament quarterfinals on Thursday. The Red Storm, fresh off securing their first outright regular-season title since 1985, are aiming to win their first conference tournament championship since 2000.
St. John’s Red Storm
St. John’s (27-4) has been the surprise team of the Big East, outperforming preseason expectations and proving they belong in the national conversation. Under Rick Pitino, they have excelled in close games, going 8-4 in contests decided by six points or fewer. They come into this matchup riding an 18-0 home record, including a perfect 9-0 mark at Madison Square Garden, where this tournament is being played.
The Red Storm’s success has been fueled by Big East Player of the Year RJ Luis, who leads the team with 18.1 points per game. Luis has found his rhythm late in the season, scoring 28 points in the regular-season finale and shooting an impressive 26-for-48 over the last three games. Meanwhile, Zuby Ejiofor, who won the league’s Most Improved Player award, has provided key contributions, averaging 14.1 points and 8.2 rebounds while bringing defensive intensity.
St. John’s already swept Butler in the regular season, winning 71-62 at home despite a miserable 1-for-21 showing from beyond the arc and securing a 76-70 road victory behind a 24-point effort from Luis. Given their dominance at MSG and their ability to close out tight games, the Red Storm are in a prime position to cover the spread.
Butler Bulldogs
Butler (14-18) enters this matchup with momentum after grinding out a 75-69 first-round victory over Providence. The Bulldogs led wire-to-wire, thanks to a strong performance from Pierre Brooks II, who dropped 25 points on 11-of-18 shooting. However, they struggled on the glass, getting outrebounded 53-29 and allowing Providence to grab 25 offensive rebounds—a major concern against a St. John’s team that thrives in second-chance opportunities.
Butler has struggled defensively throughout the season, but they held Providence to 37.7% shooting, a rare strong defensive performance. The Bulldogs will need to build on that effort while tightening up their rebounding issues if they want to keep this game close.
Brooks, who has been Butler’s best offensive weapon, scored 29 points combined in the two meetings against St. John’s but struggled with efficiency, shooting just 11-for-29. If he can find his shot early and Butler can contain Luis and Ejiofor, they have a chance to keep it competitive.
Betting Prediction
St. John’s is in its comfort zone at Madison Square Garden, and their ability to win close games should help them handle the pressure of the postseason. While Butler showed resilience in its win over Providence, its struggles on the boards and inconsistent defense will likely be exposed against a Red Storm squad that thrives in transition and inside scoring.
Pick: St. John’s (-13.5) to Cover
Lean: Over 146.5 – Butler will need to push the pace to keep up
- NCAAB Odds source: Bovada Sportsbook
