The Big 12 men’s basketball season is just a few weeks old but we’ve already had some huge games on the non-conference slate, and Thursday’s showdown between No. 13 Baylor and No. 22 St. John’s will be no different.
The Bears (3-1) and the Red Storm (4-0) will play in Nassau, the Bahamas, as part of a neutral site event and will pit two of the best teams from two of the best conferences in the country — the Big 12 and the Big EAST, respectively.
This will be the third time this season that the Bears have faced a high-major team and they are 1-1 in those games. With a mix of veteran transfers like guard Jeremy Roach, along with talented young stars like V.J. Edgecombe, coach Scott Drew is hoping to get Baylor back to the Final Four.
St. John’s is led by Rick Pitino, and it’s a job that at this stage of his illustrious career fits him like a glove. The Red Storm hasn’t played the schedule the Bears have to this point, so this represents their first significant test of the season.
Here’s how you can catch the game and how it is expected to play out.
How To Watch Baylor vs. St. John’s
The No. 13 Baylor Bears (3-1) will face the No. 22 St. John’s Red Storm (4-0) in a men’s college basketball showdown on Thursday, November 21, 2024, at the Baha Mar Convention Center in Nassau, the Bahamas.
Date: Thursday, November 21, 2024
Time: 6 p.m. CT
TV Channel: CBSSN
Streaming: Fubo (regional restrictions may apply)
City: Nassau, the Bahamas
Venue: Baha Mar Convention Center
Baylor vs. St. John’s Basketball Betting Info
Line: BAY (-2.5) (Opened at BAY -2.5 on Nov. 21, 2024)
Over/Under: 152.5 (Opened at 152.5 on Nov. 21, 2024)
Baylor vs. St. John’s: Prediction and Projections
Baylor spent the first week of its season getting walloped by Gonzaga and beating Arkansas in Dallas. Since then, the Bears have won two straight and scored 104 points in each game. This blend of veteran transfers and holdover young talent is starting to blend together.
ESPN’s Bracketology sees the Bears as a No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament if it started today. Forward Norchad Omier (13.2 ppg, 10.0 rpg) has been a powerful addition.
St. John’s is undefeated but this will absolutely be the red storm’s biggest test. Rick Pitino’s squad is coming off a win over New Mexico in which he coached against his son, Richard. That represents St. John’s biggest game to this point. Guard R.J. Luis (17.5 ppg, 7.8 rpg) is worth watching.
The Red Storm would be a No. 5 seed in the NCAA Tournament if it started today.
Baylor 83, St. John’s 79
ESPN Matchup Predictor: Baylor (67.6% Chance of Winning)
Odds Shark Predicted Score: St. John’s 78.2, Baylor 74.9
You can find Matthew Postins on Twitter @PostinsPostcard.
