Game thread: St. John’s men’s basketball at Xavier

Rick Pitino aims for his 900th career win in the first of two coaching battles this season with his son, Richard

Summarized by AI ⓘ

What is the story about?

When Richard Pitino was hired as the new men’s basketball head coach at Xavier, the two games that he and his father, Rick, would coach against each other in Big East play became must-watch television. The first of those two dates has come, but it has also come with higher stakes. The elder Pitino can clinch his 900th official career win on Saturday afternoon, which could be all the more sweet if he can accomplish that while taking bragging rights over his son.

If St. John’s doesn’t prevail on Saturday,

well…

Welcome to the thread for Saturday afternoon’s St. John’s men’s basketball matchup against Xavier. Please be respectful in the comment section and do not share any illegal streams of today’s game.

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Game information

Who: St. John’s Red Storm (14-5, 7-1 Big East) at Xavier Musketeers (11-8, 3-5 Big East)

When: Saturday, January 24, 2026, 1:30 p.m. (Tip-off time was moved up due to winter storm)

Where: Cintas Center, Cincinnati, Ohio

TV: truTV (Game will switch over to TNT at the conclusion of Georgetown vs. Providence)

Radio: ESPN New York 880 / 1050

Series History: Xavier leads all-time series, 17-9. The Red Storm have won three of the last four meetings, including each of last season’s meetings.

KenPom Predicted Score: St. John’s to win, 84-76 (75% chance of St. John’s win)

Injury news

There are no injury news to report for St. John’s heading into Saturday’s game.

What to watch for in the Storm

Life’s A Mitch – We may look back on the decision to re-insert Dillon Mitchell into the starting lineup as one that changed the entire outlook of this St. John’s men’s basketball season. After being named a starter alongside forwards Bryce Hopkins and Zuby Ejiofor, Mitchell is averaging 9.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 3.0 assists on 54.3% shooting, and St. John’s is 5-0 since the trio started games together.

According to CBB Analytics, the trio has a plus-minus of +37 together since the lineup change was made, and they played 50:10 of game-action together in their last two games. For reference, Hopkins, Mitchell, and Ejiofor played a total of 187 minutes this season.

Big East Tough – His raw stat totals might not show it, but Dylan Darling is adapting well to the challenges of playing in the Big East. Since the calendar flipped to 2026, Darling is shooting 52.9% from the field and 4-of-10 from three, bringing his season shooting percentages to 44.3% from the field and 35.1% from deep. According to BartTorvik, Darling has the fifth-best defensive box-plus-minus among St. John’s players since New Year’s, in front of players like Dillon Mitchell and Bryce Hopkins. If that isn’t enough for you, take Rick Pitino’s word, who said that Darling’s defense iced the game in the Red Storm’s comeback win over Seton Hall on Tuesday night.

Lost at Sea – While Darling is finding his way in the Big East, the opposite is happening for Ian Jackson. One game after recording his second-highest scoring total in a game this season, Jackson ended up playing his fewest minutes in a game this season and put up a goose egg in points against Seton Hall. The New York native is only shooting 35.6% from the field and 21.1% from three in his last six games, and hasn’t played more than 23 minutes in a game during this stretch.

Rick Pitino’s main obligation is to win games and put the players who give St. John’s the best chance to win on the court, and right now Jackson is not one of those players, but you have to wonder if Jackson is being put in the best position to succeed when he is being hooked early in the first half regardless if he is playing well or not.