St. John’s vs. Xavier: Key Big East Clash Set for Tuesday

The St. John's Red Storm and Xavier Musketeers will face off in a pivotal Big East Conference matchup on Tuesday, January 7, 2025, at the Cintas Center in Cincinnati, Ohio. The game, set to tip off at 6:30 p.m. ET, will be broadcast on FS1. St. John’s enters the contest with a 12-3 overall record and a 3-1 mark in conference play, while Xavier stands at 9-6 overall and 1-3 in the Big East.

St. John’s is riding high after a 70-62 victory over Butler on Saturday, marking their seventh win in the last eight games. The Red Storm have been particularly strong on the defensive end, ranking 30th in two-point percentage defense according to KenPom. Junior guard RJ Luis Jr. has been a standout performer, averaging 16.5 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game. Luis Jr. is coming off a double-double performance with 20 points and 11 rebounds against Butler.

Xavier, on the other hand, is looking to rebound from a 69-63 loss to Georgetown on Friday. The Musketeers have struggled recently, losing five of their last seven games. Despite their struggles, Xavier has been dominant at home, boasting an 8-1 record at the Cintas Center this season. Senior forward Zach Freemantle, who has been sidelined with an injury, has been a key player for Xavier when healthy, averaging 16.8 points and 7.7 rebounds per game.

According to the latest odds from SportsLine, St. John’s is a 1.5-point favorite, with the over/under set at 153 points. The model, which simulates every Division 1 college basketball game 10,000 times, has been on a 183-130 roll on top-rated college basketball picks dating back to 2023. The model is leaning towards the Under on the total points and suggests that one side of the spread hits nearly 60% of the time.

St. John’s has the edge in recent form and defensive metrics, but Xavier’s home-court advantage could play a significant role. The Musketeers lead the all-time series 17-7, including a 9-2 record at the Cintas Center. This matchup will be crucial for both teams as they look to solidify their positions in the Big East standings and enhance their NCAA Tournament resumes.