Conference play is officially here and Big East basketball takes center stage on Tuesday night. DePaul travels to Queens to open league action against a St. John's team eager to set the tone at home. Both sides enter off recent wins, but the gap in tested competition is significant. This matchup offers an early measuring stick, pace versus patience, depth versus hope, and a chance for one team to make a loud first statement of the season.
DePaul vs. #22 St. John’s: Big East Showdown | December 16, 2025
Written by: Colby Marchio
Last Update: Tue Dec 16, 2025, 10:30 am ET
Read Time: 5 minutes
ncaab
FINAL
DePaul Blue Demons
66
St. John's Red Storm
79
Write Up Transparency
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Last 7 Days: 9-8 (-0.36 Units)
Last 30 Days: 43-30 (+13.02 Units)
DePaul vs. #22 St. John's Odds
Can DePaul handle St. John's on the road?
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Spread
DePaul: +17.5 (-105)
St. John's: -18.5 (-115)
Total
Over: 152.5 (-115)
Under: 152.5 (-105)
Moneyline
DePaul: +1400
St. John's: -4000
DePaul vs. #22 St. John's Best Bet
Nothing beats Big East basketball, nothing.
This Tuesday night slate gives us an intriguing matchup between the DePaul Blue Demons and the St. John's Red Storm. Both teams are coming off wins in their previous outings and are looking to secure their first Big East win of the season. However, the Blue Demons enter as 18 point underdogs. Will they be able to shock the nation and make some noise on the road? Doubt it, but let us get into it.
Third Time's a Charm
Sadly, for a third straight game, I am looking to fade my alma mater. DePaul is coming off a demolition of Morgan State and a win over Wichita State in its first true road game of the season. Now, the Blue Demons head to Queens to take on the Red Storm to open Big East play. The Jonnies are coming off a dominant win over Rick Pitino's former school, Iona, on Saturday by a score of 91 to 64. After Tuesday night, they travel to Lexington to face a struggling Kentucky team. Will St. John's look ahead to that trip, or will it focus on securing its first Big East win at home? I lean toward them wanting to secure their first conference win.
Aside from the win over Wichita State, the Blue Demons do not have any marquee victories on their resume, nor have they faced many strong opponents early. Haslametrics ranks DePaul 341st in strength of schedule, while St. John's has played the 25th toughest schedule in the country. Haslametrics gives the Red Storm the edge in all play percentage, average season rank, and consistency. This will be, by far, the most talented team DePaul has faced this season. The closest comparison is LSU, a team DePaul lost to 96 to 63 on a neutral court.
Keys to Success
St. John's is going to force this slower DePaul team to run, as the Red Storm rank 39th in pace of play. They will pressure the interior and attack the glass, where they are one of the better teams in the country at scoring inside. When shots do not fall, they crash the boards relentlessly, ranking 23rd in offensive rebounding. DePaul has been a bit handsy this season, ranking 206th in free throw rate defense. The Jonnies should take full advantage, as they rank 17th in free throw rate offense. The 13th best defense in the country now faces the 165th best offense. For reference, Iona's offense ranks 161st and managed only 64 points against this Red Storm defense. I do not see DePaul scoring more than 64 points on Tuesday night.
DePaul has played some of its best basketball over the past week, but I expect a return to earth on Tuesday in Queens against its toughest test of the season. I do not believe the number is too high for the Jonnies, as this is typically where the spread lands. Last season, St. John's was a double digit favorite in both meetings. I expect Pitino to have his team pushing the tempo from start to finish, making a clear statement in its first Big East game of the season.
Best Bet: St. John's -17.5 (-115) on Lucky Rebel
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Former D1 (club) baseball player, Colby has been betting since his college days at DePaul, where he had to endure the worst collegiate basketball the Big East has ever seen. He is an advanced analytics nerd and has never seen an underdog he has not liked. Hot. Corn. Bull. It does not matter the dog he loves them all.
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