DePaul vs St. John’s Big East opener creates the exact problem Rick Pitino warned about

DePaul faces St. John’s in Tuesday’s Big East opener as both teams look to strengthen their defensive identity in a Queens clash at Carnesecca Arena. The Red Storm (6-3, ranked No. 22) welcome the Blue Demons (8-3) at 7:00 PM EST on Peacock, marking the start of conference play for both squads.

Defensive Awakening Sets Stage for Conference Opener

St. John’s and DePaul arrive at Carnesecca Arena seeking to capitalize on recent defensive momentum just as Big East conference play begins. The Red Storm closed non-conference play with consecutive defensive masterclasses, limiting Iona to 64 points on Saturday and holding Ole Miss to 58 points on December 6th.

DePaul’s defensive transformation proved equally impressive, holding Wichita State to just 33.3% shooting (14-of-42) in the second half Saturday after the Shockers raced out to a 16-2 lead. Coach Chris Holtmann emphasized the shift to his team: “We’re growing, particularly in the last week. If we’re going to win games, we’re going to have to lead with our defense.”

Red Storm Seek Conference Title Defense Against Defensive Pressure

St. John’s enters the opener with championship pedigree, having captured both the regular-season and tournament Big East titles last season before winning their first NCAA Tournament game since 2000. The defending champions struggled early in non-conference play, allowing at least 80 points in four of their first seven games during the Players Era tournament in Las Vegas.

Rick Pitino’s Red Storm feature six players scoring in double figures, with Bryce Hopkins averaging 14.9 points per game and Oziyah Sellers providing additional scoring punch. The home court advantage proves significant—St. John’s maintains a 5-1 record at Carnesecca Arena this season.

Pitino addressed the defensive concerns directly: “We realized we weren’t a very good defensive team. But last year’s team around Christmastime wasn’t very good defensively either, and they became one of the great defensive teams in the nation. I think we can get to that point.”

DePaul Youth Core Growing Behind Balanced Scoring Attack

Matchup Factor	DePaul	St. John’s
Overall Record	8-3 (3-game win streak)	6-3 (Championship defending team)
Leading Scorer	CJ Gunn – 14.2 PPG	Bryce Hopkins – 14.9 PPG
Rebounding Leader	NJ Benson – 6.5 RPG	Zuby Ejiofor – 7.2 RPG
Home Record	6-2 (1 road win)	5-1 (0 road games)

DePaul shot efficiently in Saturday’s victory against Wichita State, connecting on 51.1% from the floor and 41.2% from 3-point range. CJ Gunn led the bench scoring with 18 points on a 4-for-7 3-point performance, while NJ Benson collected 12 points and RJ Smith added 10 for the Blue Demons.

Layden Blocker paces the Blue Demons with 3.5 assists per game, directing the offense as DePaul looks to maintain its recent defensive trends entering Big East play.

Red Storm Defensive Evolution Continues Against Young Blue Demons

Zuby Ejiofor has been at the forefront of St. John’s defensive turnaround, recording 8 blocked shots in each of the past two contests while averaging 9.5 rebounds in those victories. The tri-captain’s rim protection provides St. John’s with the elite defensive identity necessary to compete in conference play.

St. John’s defensive struggles against top-tier offenses remain a concern—the Red Storm fell to No. 4 Iowa State, No. 16 Alabama, and No. 21 Auburn, all ranked in the top 13 in offensive efficiency. However, Rick Pitino expressed confidence the team can trend like last year’s squad: “By the end of the year, I would hope we’re at UConn’s level. We’re certainly going to fight for it.”

What’s on the Line When Conference Play Begins Tuesday Night?

St. John’s face what Pitino termed “the most dangerous proposition”—a high-risk, low-reward game. The Red Storm are substantial favorites but defeating a bottom-10 Big East team by NET rating creates only a Quad 3 win, while a loss carries significant tournament implications. DePaul, meanwhile, sees Tuesday’s contest as an opportunity to prove their defensive growth translates against Big East competition and build on their current winning streak heading into conference play.

Both teams arrive at Carnesecca Arena Tuesday night emphasizing defensive principles and continued development toward the latter-season form required to compete for respective goals. St. John’s hunt for another conference title defense while DePaul looks to establish immediate Big East credibility on the road.

Sources

• Field Level Media – DePaul vs St. John’s defensive comparison and team statistics
• Newsday – Rick Pitino preview and St. John’s championship context
• Covers.com – Head-to-head matchup statistics and team records