St. John's University Athletics
Monday, November 4
Queens, N.Y. (Carnesecca Arena)
6:30 p.m.
St. John's University
vs
Fordham
St. John’s to Open 2024-25 Campaign Against Fordham
11/3/2024 10:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
The Red Storm men’s basketball team has won 10 straight season openers since the 2013-14 season
QUEENS, N.Y. – The St. John's men's basketball team will embark on the 118th season of its storied history on Monday when the Red Storm welcomes Fordham to Carnesecca Arena for the first of four straight home games to open the season. Tip-off is slated for 6:30 p.m.
Monday's season opener will be featured on BIG EAST Opening Night Tip-Off whiparound coverage on FS1, which highlights all of the conference's games. Live look-ins will be available on FS1, while full game coverage can be found on the FOX Sports App.
The first 2,500 fans in attendance at Carnesecca Arena on Monday will receive a free bucket hat, courtesy of Maspeth Federal Savings. Additionally, the first 3,000 fans can pick up a limited edition 2024-25 schedule poster.
The Red Storm enters its second season under the direction of Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame coach Rick Pitino. Embarking on his 37th season as a Division I head coach, Pitino is the second-winningest active coach in Division I with 854 career victories and will look to improve his 31-4 record in season openers.
St. John's has not lost a season opener since falling to Wisconsin in Sioux Falls, S.D., to kick off the 2013-14 season, a string of 10 consecutive victories. The Red Storm also has not dropped a season debut in Queens since the 1996-97 campaign when it fell to LIU, 76-73, at Alumni Hall. Since the building opened in 1961, St. John's is 526-110 (.827) inside Carnesecca Arena.
Last year, the Johnnies went a perfect 5-0 in Queens, including a 90-74 season-opening win over Stony Brook. St. John's sold out all five of its regular season games at Carnesecca Arena in 2023-24, as well as its showdown with Connecticut on Feb. 3 at Madison Square Garden. In total, the Red Storm welcomed 162,928 fans for its 16 regular season games at MSG, Carnesecca Arena and UBS Arena.
The Red Storm is fresh off a pair of exhibition victories over No. 25/RV Rutgers and Towson. Co-captain Zuby Ejiofor dominated the Scarlet Knights on the road with 19 of his 27 points coming in the second half to erase 13-point deficit and down Rutgers, 91-85, on Oct. 17. The Garland, Texas native also registered 13 boards in 33 minutes of action.
St. John's leaned on its defensive prowess in a 64-46 victory over Towson on Oct. 26 inside Carnesecca Arena. The Red Storm held the visitors to 28.8 percent shooting (17-59) from the field and forced the Tigers into 25 turnovers, including 17 in the second half. The Johnnies also capitalized off their takeaways with 24 points off turnovers while receiving 33 points from the bench.
The Red Storm welcomes eight newcomers including co-captain Kadary Richmond, who was named a Preseason All-BIG EAST First Team selection entering the 2024-25 season. The Brooklyn product also earned spots on national preseason watch lists for the Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year and the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Division I Player of the Year. A reigining NIT Champion at Seton Hall, Richmond posted career-bests with 15.9 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.2 steals per game for the Pirates last season.
Backcourt mate Deivon Smith also earned a spot on the Preseason All-BIG EAST Second Team after posting a career-high 13.3 points on 46.7 percent shooting at Utah last season. The Decatur, Ga., native also registered a personal-best 7.1 assists and 6.3 rebounds per contest. Smith finished his historic season with five triple-doubles, marking the second-most in a single season in NCAA history and the most by any player in the Pac-12.
The Johnnies were picked fifth in the BIG EAST Preseason Coaches' Poll for the second-straight season. St. John's also received 91 votes in the Associated Press (AP) Preseason Top 25 poll, logging the second-most votes by teams outside the top 25.
Monday's contest will mark the 91st all-time meeting between St. John's and Fordham. The Johnnies hold a 68-22 edge over the Rams in the series and a 30-4 record at home. Last season, St. John's won its third straight game against Fordham, 77-55, in the Madison Square Garden Holiday Festival on Dec. 16, 2023. Joel Soriano led the Johnnies with 20 points, 10 rebounds, three assists and three blocks. The two teams will square off in Queens for the third time in the last decade.
Fordham enters the 2024-25 campaign on the heels of a 13-win season in the Bronx. Under third-year Head Coach Keith Urgo, the Rams will return over 60 percent of their scoring from last year, led by Will Richardson and Japhet Medor, who each logged 9.8 points per contest.
Atlantic 10 Preseason All-Defensive Team Abdou Tsimbila will also make his return to Fordham for his final season. The graduate student was tabbed to the defensive team for the second straight year after registering 2.3 blocks per game during the 2023-24 slate, which ranked 18th in Division I.
After its season opener against the Rams, St. John's will host Quinnipiac on Saturday, Nov. 9, inside Carnesecca Arena. Tip-off from Queens is slated for 2 p.m., on FS2.
Monday's season opener will be featured on BIG EAST Opening Night Tip-Off whiparound coverage on FS1, which highlights all of the conference's games. Live look-ins will be available on FS1, while full game coverage can be found on the FOX Sports App.
The first 2,500 fans in attendance at Carnesecca Arena on Monday will receive a free bucket hat, courtesy of Maspeth Federal Savings. Additionally, the first 3,000 fans can pick up a limited edition 2024-25 schedule poster.
The Red Storm enters its second season under the direction of Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame coach Rick Pitino. Embarking on his 37th season as a Division I head coach, Pitino is the second-winningest active coach in Division I with 854 career victories and will look to improve his 31-4 record in season openers.
St. John's has not lost a season opener since falling to Wisconsin in Sioux Falls, S.D., to kick off the 2013-14 season, a string of 10 consecutive victories. The Red Storm also has not dropped a season debut in Queens since the 1996-97 campaign when it fell to LIU, 76-73, at Alumni Hall. Since the building opened in 1961, St. John's is 526-110 (.827) inside Carnesecca Arena.
Last year, the Johnnies went a perfect 5-0 in Queens, including a 90-74 season-opening win over Stony Brook. St. John's sold out all five of its regular season games at Carnesecca Arena in 2023-24, as well as its showdown with Connecticut on Feb. 3 at Madison Square Garden. In total, the Red Storm welcomed 162,928 fans for its 16 regular season games at MSG, Carnesecca Arena and UBS Arena.
The Red Storm is fresh off a pair of exhibition victories over No. 25/RV Rutgers and Towson. Co-captain Zuby Ejiofor dominated the Scarlet Knights on the road with 19 of his 27 points coming in the second half to erase 13-point deficit and down Rutgers, 91-85, on Oct. 17. The Garland, Texas native also registered 13 boards in 33 minutes of action.
St. John's leaned on its defensive prowess in a 64-46 victory over Towson on Oct. 26 inside Carnesecca Arena. The Red Storm held the visitors to 28.8 percent shooting (17-59) from the field and forced the Tigers into 25 turnovers, including 17 in the second half. The Johnnies also capitalized off their takeaways with 24 points off turnovers while receiving 33 points from the bench.
The Red Storm welcomes eight newcomers including co-captain Kadary Richmond, who was named a Preseason All-BIG EAST First Team selection entering the 2024-25 season. The Brooklyn product also earned spots on national preseason watch lists for the Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year and the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Division I Player of the Year. A reigining NIT Champion at Seton Hall, Richmond posted career-bests with 15.9 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.2 steals per game for the Pirates last season.
Backcourt mate Deivon Smith also earned a spot on the Preseason All-BIG EAST Second Team after posting a career-high 13.3 points on 46.7 percent shooting at Utah last season. The Decatur, Ga., native also registered a personal-best 7.1 assists and 6.3 rebounds per contest. Smith finished his historic season with five triple-doubles, marking the second-most in a single season in NCAA history and the most by any player in the Pac-12.
The Johnnies were picked fifth in the BIG EAST Preseason Coaches' Poll for the second-straight season. St. John's also received 91 votes in the Associated Press (AP) Preseason Top 25 poll, logging the second-most votes by teams outside the top 25.
Monday's contest will mark the 91st all-time meeting between St. John's and Fordham. The Johnnies hold a 68-22 edge over the Rams in the series and a 30-4 record at home. Last season, St. John's won its third straight game against Fordham, 77-55, in the Madison Square Garden Holiday Festival on Dec. 16, 2023. Joel Soriano led the Johnnies with 20 points, 10 rebounds, three assists and three blocks. The two teams will square off in Queens for the third time in the last decade.
Fordham enters the 2024-25 campaign on the heels of a 13-win season in the Bronx. Under third-year Head Coach Keith Urgo, the Rams will return over 60 percent of their scoring from last year, led by Will Richardson and Japhet Medor, who each logged 9.8 points per contest.
Atlantic 10 Preseason All-Defensive Team Abdou Tsimbila will also make his return to Fordham for his final season. The graduate student was tabbed to the defensive team for the second straight year after registering 2.3 blocks per game during the 2023-24 slate, which ranked 18th in Division I.
After its season opener against the Rams, St. John's will host Quinnipiac on Saturday, Nov. 9, inside Carnesecca Arena. Tip-off from Queens is slated for 2 p.m., on FS2.
Players Mentioned
Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Center
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