The best in the Big East is in action Wednesday night as No. 3 Villanova visits St. John’s. The Wildcats are off to another strong start, and they responded to a 20-day layoff with three conference wins. After defeating Providence at home, they defeated Seton Hall on the road on Saturday. They stand alone atop the Big East standings, and they’re headed towards a top seed in March.
St. John’s has caught a little fire themselves. After a rough start to Big East play, the Red Storm have picked up four straight victories, including three conference road wins over UConn, DePaul, and Marquette. They know this is a big game, and they’re looking to boost their resume, as they could be a team on the bubble. Without a signature non-conference win, this would be a marquee victory. Coach Mike Anderson has labeled it as “the biggest game on the schedule.”
St. John’s Seeking Marquee Win
The stakes are high for St. John’s. Defeating Villanova would be no small task. The Red Storm would need a big game from the Big East’s leading scorer, Julian Champagnie. The sophomore forward averages 19.8 points per game. Aside from struggling against UConn, he’s scored 15 or more in each of the past ten games while knocking down three or more three-pointers in seven of them. If he keeps his play up, St. John’s will have a chance at home.
Guards Posh Alexander and Vince Cole should help Champagnie fill up the scoreboard. Alexander leads the team in assists and steals, and he’s stepped up in fellow guard Greg Williams Jr.’s absence, including a big game against UConn. Senior guard Rasheem Dunn and transfer forward Isaih Moore round out a solid starting lineup that could give the Wildcats a game.
Villanova Perfect in Conference Play
This game may mean a lot for St. John’s, but the Wildcats have their eyes on another national title. They have one of the best combinations of side and scoring in the country, while also having the best coach. Jay Wright’s team hasn’t lost since Thanksgiving weekend to, at the time, an unranked Virginia Tech team, who just went on to pummel Virginia last weekend. Villanova has passed every test since, winning nine straight.
Senior guard Collin Gillespie leads an experienced team into Carnesecca Arena, and he’ll bring a smooth shooting touch and one of the best assist-to-turnover ratios in the nation. Gillespie averages 15.5 points and 4.7 assists per game.
The Wildcats protect both the ball and the paint very well. Jeremiah Robinson-Earl and Jermaine Samuels may be a bit undersized, but they make up for it with versatility. Coach Wright praised Robinson-Earl, calling him “the centerpiece of our defense.” The sophomore forward had 23 points last weekend against Seton Hall and a career-high 25 points against St. Joe’s. He’ll look to keep it up against St. Joseph’s.
His frontcourt mate Samuels has noticeably upped his play since returning from the layoff. Guard Justin Moore reminds us of Josh Hart; he does a little bit of everything well, while Tulane transfer Caleb Daniels leads the team in three-point percentage.
Villanova at St. John’s Prediction & Pick
Both Big East schools enter this contest hot, but Villanova is firing on all cylinders right now. A big game from Champagnie could give St. John’s significant momentum, but the Wildcats are built to combat his scoring abilities. Look for Villanova to pick up the win tonight at St. John’s.
Be sure to check out the rest of today’s NCAA Basketball Picks.