A certain buzz surrounds the St. John’s Red Storm entering the 2026-27 college basketball season, and for good reason.
Rick Pitino and the nation’s No. 13-ranked Johnnies will peel back the curtains at Lou Carnesecca Arena Monday night, hosting unranked Monmouth in their season opener.
The reigning Big East champions will unveil a new-look roster, headlined by transfer portal additions Tounde Yessoufou, Keyshawn Hall, and Quinn Ellis, along with the return of Ian Jackson.
St. John’s is favored by 27.5 points in this contest, with the Over/Under settling at 152.5 on FanDuel Sportsbook.
St. John’s vs. Monmouth prediction, best bet
St. John’s was selected second, behind rival UConn, in this season’s Big East preseason poll.
Last season, the Red Storm made history as the first school in the conference to win two straight regular-season and conference tournament championships.
The Johnnies picked up where they left off, wrapping up exhibition play 3-0 with wins over Drexel, Temple and Texas.
Auburn transfer Keyshawn Hall flexed his muscle in tune-up action, pouring in 24 points to lead the Red Storm past the Scarlet Knights in a thriller that went four overtimes—showing why Pitino expects him to be critical in heavy minutes this season.
Then there’s the trio of guards in Jackson, Yessoufou, and Ellis, who give the Red Storm backcourt an edge in versatility, size, and athleticism.
Things won’t be easy on the perimeter for Monmouth, which saw its top three scoring options depart after last season and was selected for a fifth-place finish in the CAA preseason coaches poll.
Guards Jack Collins and Ashton Walker must contend with Pitino’s signature full-court press, as this will be a tall task for Monmouth, and I’m fading the Hawks.
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The Johnnies have too much of an edge in depth, talent, and overall experience.
St. John’s has also won 12 consecutive season openers, and I see that trend continuing behind a thorough team effort and Pitino’s coaching expertise.
The Play: St. John’s – 27.5 (-110, FanDuel)
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Mike Turay is a sports journalist and editor who closely follows the NBA, NFL, college sports and UFC. He has demonstrated expertise in both NBA and NFL player prop bets for nearly three years. Mike is also highly knowledgeable about the sportsbook offer landscape, frequently trying and reviewing the latest apps and sites.
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