The DePaul Blue Demons travel on the road to take on another Big East Conference opponent on Tuesday. This time, it’s the St. John’s Red Storm. Read more for the full DePaul vs St. John’s prediction and preview.
DePaul comes off a 91-72 rebound victory over the Wichita State Shockers this past Saturday.
Jacob Meyer led the team in scoring with 23 points and 4 rebounds. He shot 6-9 (66.7%) overall and 4-6 (66.7%) from beyond the arc. Meyer was also aided by a career-high, 22-point performance from C.J. Gunn, he shot 9-12 (75%) from the field and 4-6 (66.7%) from long range.
The Red Storm host their first conference opponent after a recent 99-77 blowout win over the Bryant Bulldogs this past Wednesday. The team boasted two players with double-double performances. Zuby Ejiofor (22 points, 10 rebounds) and Aaron Scott (17 points, 10 rebounds) carried the team to victory. That game also boasted five double-digit scorers in the win. Besides Scott and Ejiofor, R.J. Luis Jr. (17 points), Simeon Wilcher (14 points), and Deivon Smith (14 points) also contributed to the blowout victory.
Both teams boast 8-2 records, with the Blue Demons currently sitting 0-1 in conference play after their recent loss to the Providence Friars.
Game Information:
Teams: DePaul (8-2, 0-1) and St. John’s (8-2)
Tip-Off: 5:30 p.m. EST (4:30 p.m. CST)
Where to Watch: Peacock
Latest on St. John’s basketball:
Like their opponents, St. John’s had a great start to their season in their non-conference schedule, going 8-2 in that span.
They boast blowout victories over the likes of Fordham (92-60), Virginia (80-55), and their most recent game against Bryant. Their only two losses came against the #13 ranked Baylor Bears (98-99), and Georgia Bulldogs (63-66).
Luis Jr. leads the team in scoring, averaging 16.9 points on the season. He also leads the team average in steals with 1.6 per game. He also is fifth in the Big East Conference in terms of scoring and 11th in steals, truly, he is one of the best players in this conference.
Ejiofor is second in scoring (14.4 points) while leading the team average in rebounds with 7.7 per game. He is second in the conference for blocks per game (2.3), behind Creighton standout Ryan Kalkbrenner (2.5 blocks per game).
Head coach Rick Pitino has helped turn this program around in two years. The team leads the conference in points (84.4 points per game) and rebounds (42.4 rebounds per game). Last season, they were third and second in those respective categories. Before he came to the school, the Red Storm boasted an 18-15 record (7-13 in conference play).
Last year, they boasted a record of 20-13 (11-9 in conference play).
Latest on DePaul basketball:
The Blue Demons started white-hot in non-conference play, going 7-0 before facing off against Texas Tech. After their loss to the Friars, they needed a win. They got that against Wichita State.
Despite the team being outscored in the paint 24-38 by the Shockers, and being down 42-47 by the end of the first half, the team bounced back in the second and crushed their opponents. The team was also boosted again by the bench, which scored 41 points in the win.
Head coach Chris Holtmann, like Pitino, has helped to turn the program around in a quick fashion compared to the year before their hirings. The Blue Demons have two of the best three-point shooters in the conference. Meyer (46.7% from long range) and Isaiah Rivera (46.6% from beyond the arc) are the third and fourth-best three-point shooters in the Big East.
Conor Enright leads the conference in assists (7.5 per game), distributing the ball in ways fans haven’t seen in years.
The Blue Demons are third in the conference in scoring (83.2 points) and are second in the conference in three-point percentage (40.4%). They also lead the conference in assists (19.9 per game), with Enright being the main factor in that shift.
This game will be tough for both sides, who boast deadly offenses and scoring across the board. This could come down to three-point shooting from either side. Both teams boast great three-point percentages, but the Blue Demons are tied with Creighton in opposing three-point percentages (29.6%) and lead the conference in that stat.
If the Red Storm outscored the Blue Demons in the paint and did what the Shockers did early on, without faltering, St. John’s could win out. It all comes down to who breaks first as a defense.