College basketball fans are in for a treat this Friday night as the St. John’s Red Storm travel to face the Providence Friars in a highly anticipated Big East Conference matchup. Set to tip off at 8 p.m. ET at the Amica Mutual Pavilion, this game will be nationally televised on FOX, offering a primetime showcase for both programs.
Game Details and How to Watch
The Providence vs. St. John’s game is scheduled for Friday, December 20th, at 8:00 PM Eastern Time. Basketball enthusiasts can tune in to FOX to catch all the action live, with commentary from experienced broadcasters Tim Brando and Donny Marshall. For those preferring to listen, the LEARFIELD Red Storm Sports Network will provide audio coverage. Fans can access the broadcast via the Varsity Network App, TuneIn Radio, RedStormSports.com, and the St. John’s Red Storm mobile app. Additionally, the game will be available on SiriusXM radio channel 380 and through the SiriusXM App, ensuring comprehensive coverage for fans nationwide. Live stats will also be available online for real-time updates during the game.
St. John’s Red Storm: Riding a Four-Game Win Streak
St. John’s (9-2, 1-0 Big East) enters this Providence matchup brimming with confidence, having secured four consecutive victories. Their most recent triumph was a dominant 89-61 win against DePaul, highlighting their strong form. The Red Storm have been particularly impressive at home, boasting a 12-game winning streak at Carnesecca Arena dating back to the start of the 2023-24 season. In their victory over DePaul, junior wing RJ Luis Jr. delivered a standout performance off the bench, leading the team with 19 points. Notably, St. John’s defense effectively neutralized DePaul’s typically potent three-point offense, holding them to just six made threes after they averaged nearly 13 per game coming in. Offensively, St. John’s demonstrated a focus on inside scoring, racking up 80 of their 89 points from within the arc. This marked a rare offensive balance, reminiscent of their victory over Duke in 2011 where they also scored heavily inside. During their four-game win streak, St. John’s has showcased impressive scoring power, averaging 88.3 points per game and outscoring opponents by an average of 20 points. Four players have been consistently scoring in double figures during this stretch, including Luis Jr. (17.8 ppg), Zuby Ejiofor (17.5 ppg), Kadary Richmond (14.5 ppg), and Simeon Wilcher (13.3 ppg), indicating a well-rounded and potent offensive attack.
Providence Friars: Seeking Consistency in Big East Play
Providence (7-5, 1-0 Big East) comes into this game with a more mixed recent record, having split their last four contests. Their most recent game resulted in a 74-70 loss to St. Bonaventure at the Hall of Fame Showcase. In that game, Wesley Cardet Jr. and Jayden Pierre led the Friars in scoring with 13 and 12 points, respectively. Jayden Pierre has been a consistent performer for Providence, leading the team in scoring this season with 12.7 points per game and also contributing defensively with over one steal per game. Bensley Joseph is another key player for the Friars, averaging 11.5 points along with 3.3 assists and 3.2 rebounds per game. Providence’s defense is a key aspect of their game, as they currently lead the Big East in field goal percentage defense, holding opponents to just 39.3% shooting from the field. They are also among the nation’s best in scoring defense, allowing only 64.6 points per game, ranking 36th nationally.
Series History: A Storied Big East Rivalry
The rivalry between St. John’s and Providence boasts a long history, dating back to 1927. St. John’s holds a 66-58 advantage in the all-time series, but recent matchups have been closely contested. Last season, the two teams split their regular-season series, with each team winning on their home court. St. John’s secured a 75-73 victory at Madison Square Garden, highlighted by 16 points each from Joel Soriano and Daniss Jenkins. Providence returned the favor at the Amica Mutual Pavilion, narrowly defeating St. John’s 75-72 in a tightly fought contest. This history suggests that Friday’s game is likely to be another hard-fought battle between these two Big East rivals.
Primetime Showdown Set to Deliver
This Providence vs. St. John’s matchup promises to be an exciting primetime contest. With St. John’s seeking to continue their winning streak and Providence aiming to defend their home court and build momentum in Big East play, fans can expect a high-energy and competitive game. Tune in to FOX this Friday night to witness this compelling Big East basketball showdown. Following this game, St. John’s will return home to Carnesecca Arena to face Delaware on December 28th in their final non-conference game of the season.
