Villanova (11-5 SU, 10-6 ATS, 4-1 BEast) travels to Jamaica, N.Y., to take on St. John's (13-3, 9-6-1 ATS, 4-1 BEast) on Saturday at 7pmET. These longtime rivals met twice last season with the Red Storm winning both games by double digits. Who will win this Villanova vs. St. John's prediction on Saturday night?
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Villanova picks up huge win over UConn
Villanova is now 49 in the latest Net Rankings and 1-2 in Quad 1 wins. Villanova opened the season with some terrible losses at St. Joe's, to Columbia, and at a Virginia squad that just lost coach Tony Bennett. Head coach Kyle Neptune's seat appeared to be very warm, but after a one-point loss to Maryland on Nov. 24, the Wildcats have turned it on, having won eight of their last nine games. That includes a 68-66 win over a red-hot No. 9 UConn team that would have seemed nearly impossible two months ago. Villanova forced nine turnovers in the first half and held the Huskies to 37% shooting from the field. They were also helped when UConn star forward Alex Karaban missed two free throws with three seconds let down one.
The Wildcats have one of the premier players in the nation in Eric Dixon (6-8, 265), an agile wide body who is averaging 25.7 points and 5.1 rebounds, while shooting 51.6% from the field, 47.2% from beyond the arc (50-of-106) and 86% from the line. (You know it's a different era of basketball when a guy that big takes more threes than free throws). Miami-Fla. transfer Woogla Poplar adds 14 points and 6.8 rebounds on 47% shooting and 38.6% from long range.
Villanova is 41st on KenPom and ranks 10th in Adjusted Offensive Efficiency. They also rank third in the nation in three-point percentage (41.4%). Defensively, they allow 66.9 points, 43.2% shooting and 35.8% (308th) from long range. The 'Cats also rank 29th in total rebounding percentage.
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The Red Storm are dangerous
St. John's lost their last game of 2024 when they fell at Creighton by just one point on Dec. 31. That broke a six-game winning streak. They started another streak when they beat Butler last Saturday 70-62 and Xavier on the road on Tuesday 82-72. In their last win on Tuesday over the Musketeers, Rick Pitino's squad handled their job on the glass (50-30) and outscored them in the paint (54-30). RJ Luis and Zuby Ejiofor had 18 points apiece also double-digit rebounds to lead the Johnnies. Vince Iwuchukwu also added 15 points off the bench.
Luis (6-7, 215) leads the Red Storm with 16.6 points, while shooting 46% from the field and 22.4% from long range. Ejiofor (6-9, 240) adds 14.9 points and 8.1 rebounds, while shooting 57.9% from the field (5-21 3pt).
St. John's is ranked 20th by KenPom and seventh in Adjusted Defensive Efficiency. Their biggest weakness starts from the perimeter, where they are shooting just 30% from long range (319th). They average 81.9 points per game and shoot 46.4% from the field. On defense, they are allowing 67.5 points per game and 34% from long range (242nd). They also rank 31st in total rebounding percentage.
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Best Bets for Villanova vs. St. John's
Full-Game Side Bet
Insiders Status:
Neptune has done a great job with Villanova since that slow start. They have one of the premier big men in the country in Dixon, who shoots the ball like a guard. Speaking of shooting, Villanova will force the Red Storm to beat them from the perimeter. St. John's shoots just 30% from beyond the arc overall and at home. Villanova shoots 41.4% from three-point range and the Johnnies struggle to defend the three (34%). Take the points.
Full-Game Total Pick
Insiders Status:
Villanova runs one of the slowest tempos in the nation at 347 according to KenPom. St. John's wants to run but these games are almost always rock fights. These teams are 9-1 Under in their last 10 meetings. Nova held UConn to just 66 points in their last game and has held four of their last five opponents under 68 points.
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