#17 St. John’s (20-5, 13-1) has been one of, if not the hottest team in college basketball. The Red Storm have reeled off 11 straight wins, bouncing back from a shaky start to their season. Tonight’s matchup against Marquette (9-17, 4-11) doesn’t look intimidating on paper. However, no one is ever safe in the Big East. Can the Golden Eagles earn a major upset at home?
St. John’s enters Wednesday as 9.5-point favorites (-108) over Marquette. The total is set at 157.5 points on DraftKings Sportsbook. Here’s a college basketball pick, preview and prediction for this evening’s game between the Red Storm and the Golden Eagles.
St. John’s vs. Marquette prediction, preview
What a run it’s been for the Johnnies. There were some early questions about this group, especially in the backcourt. However, the previously mentioned 11-game winning streak has put those concerns to rest. If there was one knock on the Red Storm, it was their lack of a signature win. However, an 81-72 victory over #5 UConn on February 6th silenced most of the doubters.
This group wields one of college basketball’s deepest starting fives. Down low, Zuby Ejiofor remains an elite, do-it-all center. Through 25 games, the big man is putting up 16.2 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 3.5 assists. On the other end of the floor, he’s posted 1.2 steals and 1.9 blocks. Ejiofor is joined in the frontcourt by Bryce Hopkins (13.6 PPG, 5.8 REB) and Dillon Mitchell (9.2 PPG, 7.1 REB). At guard, Oziyah Sellers (10.9 PPG) and Ian Jackson (10.5 PPG) have handled most of the workload. Still, this group lacks a consistent distributor.
Unlike in years past, SJU has an offense that should strike fear into its opponents. The Johnnies rank 41st on KenPom in adjusted offensive efficiency (120.7). That pairs nicely with one of the nation’s best defensive units. If there’s a flaw here, it’s their lack of reliable long distance shooting. St. John’s is making just 7.3 three-pointers per game, third-lowest among all Big East schools.
Spotty three-point shooting is just one of many issues for Marquette this season. A typically competitive program under head coach Shaka Smart, the Golden Eagles are in a tailspin. Granted, the team has looked more competitive over the past few weeks. Single-digit losses to Villanova and Seton Hall show that they haven’t quit on Smart. Regardless, a fifth-straight NCAA Tournament appearance looks unlikely, to say the least.
What’s gone wrong in Milwaukee? Just about everything. Marquette owns college basketball’s 250th-ranked offensive rating (106.3) and 241st-ranked defensive rating (108.8). A major area of concern is on the glass. The Golden Eagles own a 47.5% total rebounding rate, 293rd in the nation. In comparison, St. John’s sits at 52.6%, 57th-best in that category. The guard duo of Nigel James (15.8 PPG) and Chase Ross (14.7 PPG) will need to produce if Marquette has any shot at an upset tonight. When these teams last met on January 13th, the Red Storm dominated en route to a 92-68 victory.
St. John’s vs. Marquette pick, best bet
With respect to their improved play as of late, the Golden Eagles can’t be trusted. That’s especially true when going up against one of college basketball’s most dangerous squads. St. John’s, having won 11 straight, has shown no signs of slowing down. Expect another win for Rick Pitino’s crew against a below-average opponent.
