The St. John's Red Storm, ranked No. 13 in the nation, are set to open their 2026-27 college basketball season Monday night against unranked Monmouth at Lou Carnesecca Arena. St. John's, the reigning Big East champions, are heavily favored in the matchup, with odds indicating a 27.5-point spread.
The Red Storm have undergone significant roster changes, incorporating transfers Tounde Yessoufou, Keyshawn Hall, and Quinn Ellis, alongside the return of Ian Jackson. St. John's finished exhibition play with a 3-0 record, including a four-overtime victory against Drexel where transfer Keyshawn Hall scored 24 points.
Last season, St. John's became the first team in the Big East to secure consecutive regular-season and conference tournament championships. The team was projected to finish second in the Big East preseason poll, behind UConn.
Monmouth, on the other hand, lost its top three scorers from the previous season and was predicted to finish fifth in the CAA preseason coaches poll. The team's guards, Jack Collins and Ashton Walker, face the challenge of defending St. John's signature full-court press.
St. John's enters the game with a 12-game winning streak in season openers. The New York Post betting preview suggests St. John's has the edge in depth, talent, and experience, predicting a win behind a strong team effort and coaching.