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Big East Basketball: Ranking best homecourt advantages for 2020-21 season

By Max Marmitt

NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 16: The Big East logo before the Championship game of the Big East Tournament at Madison Square Garden on March 16, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Porter Binks/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 16: The Big East logo before the Championship game of the Big East Tournament at Madison Square Garden on March 16, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Porter Binks/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MARCH 01: A general view during the game between the St. John’s Red Storm (Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MARCH 01: A general view during the game between the St. John’s Red Storm (Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images) /

7. St. John’s Red Storm Home Court(s): Carnesecca Arena/Madison Square Garden

First things first, let’s address right off the bat that Madison Square Garden is one of, if not, THE Mecca of basketball worldwide. Most basketball fans will tell you MSG is the best stadium in the NBA and definitely has the best atmosphere. Not quite to the same extent as the New York Knicks, but that atmosphere translates when St. John’s plays their home games there. The MSG atmosphere also certainly translates to the annual Big East Conference Tournament.

However, in a list of Big East home-court advantages and considering St. John’s plays most of their games at Carnesecca Arena, it’s not fair to rank St. John’s based on the atmosphere that the New York Knicks provide. Having said that, St. John’s fans create a great environment at Carnesecca Arena in a consistently sold-out crowd in a small gym. St. John’s has gone 82-38 at home the past seven years, including a 29-7 record in the two years they’ve made the NCAA tournament.

Similar to Georgetown, this is a program with great history and a great fanbase but has not been one of the better teams in the New Big East. After going above .500 in conference play the first two years after realignment, St. John’s has not gone above .500 in conference play since (they did make the tournament in 2019 however). Despite that, St. John’s fans have never made either of their home courts an easy place to play, fazing even some of the best teams in the nation what seems like every year.

Shamorie Ponds led St. John’s to an upset home win against a 2018 Duke team with 5 NBA players and ranked #4 at the country at the time (not to mention they won at #1/2018 national champions Villanova that same year). In 2018, St. John’s had an entire season record below .500.

Two years earlier when St. John’s had their worst year in the new Big East, they still took control over a 2016 Final Four participant Syracuse Orange squad, winning 84-72 at home (Syracuse had 3 NBA draft picks on that team, including 2 in the first round). Those examples are very specific, but Big East fans can confirm how St. John’s win a lot of games they’re not supposed to at home (including big upsets in their last 2 home games).

On the all-time AP poll, St. Johns is ranked 27th. They have had a very rocky road in the new Big East, spiraling between three head coaches and still have not picked up any NCAA tournament wins. Chris Mullin was an all-time NBA/college great, but when he left St. John’s after 2019, the team was left in shambles. Current coach Mike Anderson has had a successful 18 years of head coaching and is the right man to turn things around, but it certainly won’t be easy.

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