The St. John’s Red Storm face off against the DePaul Blue Demons tonight, February 3, at 8:00 PM EST at Wintrust Arena in a Big East matchup featuring two teams headed in opposite directions. Rick Pitino’s squad enters riding a seven-game winning streak, the fifth-longest active stretch among Power Five programs, while DePaul has dropped three of its last four games. The Red Storm’s 9-1 conference record sits just 1.5 games behind undefeated UConn, whereas the Blue Demons remain stuck in the middle of the pack at 4-7 in league play. St. John’s has dominated this series recently, winning the last eight meetings and six of the last seven contests in Chicago.
| Metric | St. John’s | DePaul |
|---|---|---|
| Record (Conf) | 16-5 (9-1) | 12-10 (4-7) |
| Points Per Game | 85.4 (29th) | 72.4 (272nd) |
| Points Allowed | 72.5 (154th) | 69.4 (72nd) |
| Offensive Rating | 118.2 (45th) | 106.1 (257th) |
| Rebounds Per Game | 38.6 | 33.5 |
| Field Goal % | 47% | 45% |
Market Analysis
The market has settled at St. John’s -10.5 after opening at -9.5 across most sportsbooks, with the full point of movement suggesting money flowing toward the favorite. The moneyline reflects the lopsided nature of this matchup, with St. John’s available at -550 to -650 depending on the operator. The implied win probability of 81.76% for the Red Storm aligns with the substantial talent gap between these programs. The total sits at 146.5, a number that reflects St. John’s high-scoring attack balanced against DePaul’s slower pace. Chris Holtmann’s defensive approach has kept scoring down, with the Blue Demons allowing just 69.4 points per game, ranking 72nd nationally.
Red Storm’s offensive firepower poses problems
The 212-spot gap in offensive rating between these teams tells the story of this matchup. St. John’s ranks 45th nationally with a 118.2 offensive rating, while DePaul languishes at 257th with a 106.1 mark. Zuby Ejiofor leads the Red Storm attack at 15.7 points and 7.4 rebounds per game, commanding the paint on both ends. Dillon Mitchell has been exceptional during the win streak, averaging 11.4 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 3.6 assists over the seven-game stretch while recording three double-doubles in the last four contests. St. John’s ranks among the nation’s leaders in free throw attempts (26.3 per game) and offensive rebounds (13.9 per game), metrics that demonstrate the Red Storm’s ability to generate extra possessions and trips to the line. DePaul’s defense will struggle to contain this attack, particularly on the glass, where St. John’s holds a 5.1 rebound per game advantage.
Wintrust Arena creates a wrinkle
DePaul’s home court advantage cannot be dismissed entirely. The Blue Demons have won four straight games at Wintrust Arena and seven of their last eight contests on their home floor. The jersey retirement ceremony for Rod Strickland at halftime should energize the crowd and create a charged atmosphere. CJ Gunn leads DePaul at 14.5 points per game and can catch fire from three-point range, as he demonstrated with five triples against Xavier last Saturday. The Blue Demons also possess a better defensive profile than St. John’s, ranking 72nd in points allowed compared to the Red Storm’s 154th mark. In the first meeting between these teams, DePaul placed four players in double figures despite the 79-66 loss. The historical series in Chicago has been closer than the head-to-head record suggests, with DePaul trailing just 12-11 all-time at home against the Red Storm.