SYR @ STJOHN

A rivalry returns to the Garden

The teams meet for the first time since 2022, when St. John’s won 76-69 in overtime; Sunday’s game is at Madison Square Garden, St. John’s regular-season home venue, and Syracuse leads the series 52-43.

Ellis is setting the table

Quinn Ellis has 27 assists, 12 steals and two turnovers through three games; Ryan Moesch had 19 points and six assists against Indiana, while Garwey Dual will have a key assignment against the Red Storm’s guards.

St. John’s has several scoring options

Keyshawn Hall (18.7 points), Tounde Yessoufou (16.7) and Ian Jackson (16.3) give St. John’s several scoring options; Pitino said, "We have the best back court in the nation."

Syracuse’s perimeter availability bears watching

Aiden Tobiason is reported out, while Mark Morano’s status is uncertain after an eight-minute outing against Indiana.

A stronger early test for the Red Storm

St. John’s is unbeaten after facing Monmouth, Iona and Colgate, while Syracuse’s 80-83 loss to Indiana offered a stronger early test; Pitino said the Red Storm wanted to "play catch up offensively and defensively."

Pick Ideas

Angles drawn from the matchup analysis above and refreshed as the news changes. They are a separate read from the LineCrush pick for this matchup, so the two can land on different sides.

St. John’s spread, with a price limit

A published preview listed St. John’s at -11; consider the Red Storm only at -10.5 or better and pass if the number rises.

Conditional under

If the total is 156.5 or higher, lean under; KenPom projected 81-70, but no widely posted total was available in the latest odds checks.