Marquette (18-4) at St. John’s (19-3)
- When: Feb 4 2025, 6:30 PM
- Where: Madison Square Garden, New York, NY, USA
- Where to watch: Fox Sports 1
Game Preview
St. John’s (-3) vs. Marquette | Total: 145.5
The battle for Big East supremacy continues Tuesday night as No. 12 St. John’s hosts No. 11 Marquette in a pivotal showdown at Madison Square Garden. The Red Storm have been rolling, while the Golden Eagles look to bounce back from a recent setback.
St. John’s Red Storm: Can They Keep Their Streak Alive?
The Red Storm (19-3, 10-1 Big East) have been dominant at home, boasting an undefeated 14-0 record on their own floor, including seven straight wins at MSG. They enter this matchup riding an eight-game winning streak overall, their best conference run since the early ‘90s.
On Saturday, St. John’s took sole possession of first place in the Big East with a narrow 68-66 victory over Providence, thanks to a clutch game-winning shot from Kadary Richmond. Richmond has been playing lights out, shooting 30-for-45 over the past four games.
RJ Luis also continues to be a force, averaging 17.5 points per game while Zuby Ejiofor leads the team on the glass with 8.1 rebounds per contest. Richmond is the team’s primary facilitator, dishing out 4.8 assists while also leading in steals (2.0 per game).
With their balanced attack and defensive efficiency, the Red Storm have been one of the most well-rounded teams in the nation. Playing at home and with momentum on their side, they are in a strong position to extend their dominance.
Marquette Golden Eagles: Looking to Regain Their Form
Marquette (18-4, 9-2) comes into this game in a tie for second place in the Big East after a 77-69 loss to UConn on Saturday. The Golden Eagles fell behind early, trailing by as many as 22 points in the first half, and never fully recovered.
Despite the loss, Kam Jones (22 points) and Chase Ross (19 points) put up solid individual performances. However, outside of their production, Marquette struggled as the rest of the team combined to shoot just 9-of-30 from the floor.
Head coach Shaka Smart emphasized the need for a stronger defensive effort and consistency throughout the game. The Golden Eagles have faced a high level of urgency from their opponents and must respond accordingly to avoid another slow start.
Jones continues to lead the team with 19.0 points and 6.2 assists per game, while David Joplin adds 14.5 points and a team-high 5.2 rebounds. If Marquette wants to pull off the upset, they’ll need to find offensive consistency beyond their top two scorers.
Betting Prediction & Props to Watch
Spread Pick: St. John’s -3 → The Red Storm have been nearly unbeatable at home, and their momentum should carry them past a Marquette team still searching for consistency.
Total Pick: Over 145.5 → Both teams have explosive offensive weapons, and Marquette will be eager to push the pace.
Player Prop: Kadary Richmond Over 15.5 Points → Richmond has been on fire recently and will have plenty of opportunities to score.
Player Prop: Kam Jones Over 2.5 Made Threes → Jones is Marquette’s go-to shooter and will need to deliver from deep.
Expect a hard-fought battle, but St. John’s home dominance should continue as they take another step toward cementing themselves as the team to beat in the Big East.
Final Score Prediction: St. John’s 78, Marquette 72.
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- NCAAB Odds source: Bovada Sportsbook
