St John’s Basketball 2020: What to Expect

The St John’s basketball team is gearing up for another season and we’re here to give you a preview of what you can expect. The team has a lot of potential and we’re excited to see how they perform. Stay tuned for our coverage of the St John’s Basketball team this season!

Introduction

It’s a new era for St. John’s basketball. Chris Mullin stepped down as Head Coach last season after four years at the helm, and the Red Storm have brought in Mike Anderson to take over the program. Anderson is no stranger to basketball in New York, having served as head coach at Manhattan for two seasons before taking the job at St. John’s.

The Red Storm are coming off a disappointing 2019-20 campaign that saw them finish with a 13-19 record, including a 6-12 mark in Big East play. The team failed to make the NCAA tournament for the fourth straight year, but they did earn a bid to the NIT, where they were defeated by Penn State in the first round.

With Anderson now at the helm, there is reason to believe that St. John’s can turn things around and become a force to be reckoned with in the Big East The team is returning four starters from last year’s squad, including leading scorer Rasheem Dunn (15.1 ppg) and Big East All-Freshman Team member Julian Champagnie (11.2 ppg). In addition, the Red Storm have added some talented newcomers to the mix, including five-star recruit Josh Roberts ( ranked No. 17 nationally by ESPN).

With all of that being said, here is a look at what you can expect from St. John’s basketball in 2020:

1) An improved overall record: The Red Storm have enough talent to improve upon their 13-19 record from last season. They should be able to win more games in non-conference play and will be more competitive in Big East games under Anderson’s guidance. A .500 record or better is definitely within reach for this team.

2) A return to the NCAA Tournament It has been four long years since St. John’s last made an appearance in the NCAA tournament but that drought should come to an end this season. With four starters returning and some talented newcomers joining the fold, this team has what it takes to make a run at an NCAA tournament bid. They will likely need to win around 20 games and finish near .500 in conference play to have a shot at dancing, but it is definitely achievable for this group of players.

3) More nt play from Rasheem Dunn: Dunn is one of the most talented scorers in the Big East but he was often inconsistent last season as he tried to do too much offensively for the Red Storm. If he can learn to trust his teammates more and not force shots, he could take his game to another level and become one of the best players in conference play this season

The Team

This year’s St. John’s team is looking to improve upon their disappointing 2019-2020 campaign. They have a lot of work to do, but they have the talent to turn things around.

The Red Storm will be led by their star guard, Shamorie Ponds. Ponds is one of the best guards in the country and he will be looking to take his game to the next level this season. He will be supported by a solid group of returning players, including Justin Simon, Marvin Clark II, and LJ Figueroa.

The team also has a few new faces that will be looking to make an impact. Freshmen German Perez and Julian Champagnie will be counted on to contribute right away. The team also added Transfer Khalid Moore from Hofstra. Moore is expected to make an immediate impact as well.

With a mix of experienced veterans and talented newcomers, the St. John’s basketball team has the potential to surprise some people this season.

The Schedule

The Johnnies will once again play a challenging non-Conference Schedule that will prepare them for their quest for an NCAA tournament berth.

Their first official game will be against Hofstra on November 25th, but they will have a few preseason tune-ups before that.

On November 8th they will play host to Division II St. Thomas Aquinas in an exhibition game, and on November 15th they will travel to Madison Square Garden to take on UMass in the 2K Empire Classic beneficiall game.

The Johnnies opens it season proper against Hofstra on November 25th at Carnesecca Arena, and then return to MSG the following day to take on either Rutgers or watch from the sidelines as those two teams do battle.

The Competition

This season, the St. John’s men’s Basketball team will be looking to improve on their solid 2019-2020 campaign. The team will have their work cut out for them, as they will be facing some tough competition in their conference and non-conference schedules. Below is a look at some of the teams that the Red Storm will be squaring off against this season.

In conference play, the Red Storm will have to contend with the likes of Georgetown, Marquette, Villanova, and Xavier. These teams are all perennially strong programs that will provide a tough test for St. John’s. Outside of conference play, the team will also face off against some tough opponents such as Duke, Ohio State and Louisville. These are all programs that are typically near the top of the rankings, so it will be a good opportunity for the Red Storm to see where they stack up against some of the best teams in the country.

With a challenging schedule ahead of them, it is going to be an exciting season for St. John’s basketball. Be sure to catch them in action and see if they can make some noise this year!

The Fans

St. John’s fans are some of the most passionate in college basketball They’re known for their creative chants and for being relentless in their support of the team, regardless of the score. If you’re planning on attending a game, be prepared to make some noise.

The Coaches

Bobby Hurley
Head Coach Bobby Hurley enters his sixth season at the helm of the St. John’s Basketball Program in 2020-21. In his five years with the Red Storm, Hurley has led the team to four postseason appearances, including a trip to the 2019 NCAA Tournament Under his leadership, St. John’s has also won two Big East regular season titles and one Big East Tournament Championship. With Hurley at the helm, the Red Storm are poised for another successful season in 2020-21.

The Media

This season, the Red Storm will be getting a lot of coverage from the media.

The team has been ranked in the top 25 in both the AP and Coaches polls, and they are expected to make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament

ESPN will be televising several of their games, and they will also be featured on CBS Sports Network and FOX Sports 1.

The Red Storm will have one of the most talented rosters in the country, led by senior guard Shamorie Ponds. He is a preseason All-American and is a leading candidate for National Player of the Year.

Ponds will be joined by junior forward Marvin Clark II and sophomore forward Justin Simon. Both players were key contributors last season and are expected to take on even bigger roles this year.

The team also has a talented group of newcomers, led by five-star recruit Julian Champagnie. He is one of the top prospects in the country and should make an immediate impact on the court.

The Red Storm have high expectations this season, and they will be getting plenty of coverage from the media.

The Legacy

St. John’s basketball is one of the most decorated programs in NCAA history. They have won 8 NCAA Championships and 27 conference titles. The Red Storm have produced many Great players over the years, including Chris Mullin, Walter Berry, and Marcus Hinton. The current team is led by coach Mike Anderson and stars players such as Mustapha Heron, LJ Figueroa, and Posh Alexander.

The 2020 season is shaping up to be an exciting one for St. John’s basketball. The team is off to a hot start with a 7-2 record and is ranked No. 20 in the AP Poll. They have already beaten some tough opponents, including then-No. 16 Louisville and then-No. 4 Michigan State The Red Storm have their sights set on a conference title and a deep run in the NCAA tournament

With a talented roster and a promising start to the season, St. John’s basketball is poised for another great year. Be sure to catch them in action this season!

The Future

It is always difficult to predict the future, but based on the team’s performance in the past few years, it seems likely that the St John’s basketball team will continue to improve and be competitive in 2020. The team has a lot of young talent, and if they can develop and gel together, they could be a force to be reckoned with.

Conclusion

As we move into the 2020 season, it is important to remember that while this St John’s team may not be as talented as some of their recent squads, they are still a force to be reckoned with. With a strong core of experienced players and a few key newcomers, the Red Storm should be able to compete with anyone in the country. Keep an eye out for this team as they look to make some noise in the NCAA Tournament