St. John’s University released its basketball schedule for the upcoming season, which includes a record-breaking fourteen home games at Madison Square Garden. This follows a strong performance from last year where they won both regular and postseason Big East titles. Notably, this season features high-profile matches such as an exhibition against Texas and a game with powerhouse Arizona on December 5th. The schedule reflects coach Rick Pitino’s ambition to maximize St. John’s visibility at the Garden; previously, the team played just nine total games there in the two years before his arrival.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-14,
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Story summary
St. John’s University basketball team released its schedule for the upcoming season, featuring high expectations following back-to-back Big East titles. Rick Pitino's program includes top transfers Tounde Yessoufou from Baylor and Keyshawn Hall from Auburn, along with returning players Ruben Prey and Ian Jackson. Notably, St. John’s has a heavy schedule at Madison Square Garden, with 14 Garden dates, including exhibitions against Texas and Rutgers. This year marks the first time all 10 Big East league games will be played in MSG, fulfilling Pitino's hope from his introductory press conference last March. The schedule also includes a game against powerhouse Arizona on December 5.
Written for “St Johns Garden Schedule” on 2026-09-14,
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On Monday morning, St. John’s released its complete schedule for the coming season.
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John → release → season
The Johnnies added top transfers Tounde Yessoufou of Baylor and Keyshawn Hall of Auburn, returned key contributors Ruben Prey and Ian Jackson and brought in international prospects Quinn Ellis and Babacar Sane.
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Johnnies → add → Ellis
The Post’s Zach Braziller offers four takeaways on the slate:
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SIGN UP NOWHeavy Garden schedule
Including exhibitions against Texas and Rutgers, St. John’s has a whopping 14 Garden dates.
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John → offer → dates
That includes powerhouse Arizona — a national semifinalist last year — coming to the Garden on Dec. 5.
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That → include → Dec.
All 10 league games are scheduled for MSG, which was something Pitino said he hoped to do at some point during his introductory press conference back in March of 2023.
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he → schedule → 2023
Last year, St. John’s played 13 games at MSG, which was its most in a season in the building’s current location, which dates back to 1968.
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which → play → 1968
It will surpass that number this winter.
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It → surpass → number
In the two years before Pitino’s arrival, St. John’s played just nine total games at the Garden.
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John → play → Garden
The non-conference game against Iona could make it 15, but the site of that game has yet to be determined.
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site → make → game
