New Year's Eve - St John's at Xavier 12pm ET FS1

[NJRedman]

Typically I would favor X due to their home court advantage. But the game is at such a weird time, Tuesday at noon during Christmas Break, that the home court advantage might not be what it usually is. Not too mention the OBE members might want to welcome the newbies with a beat down. So, its a toss up.

Well St. John's also knows it has to go to GTown then take on Nova. So they are well aware that they need to steal a win here. Someone in the scheduling dept really doesn't like the Johnnies. hahaha

[xu1990]

The Johnnies have played at the Carrier Dome, Cameroon, and in Lexington over the last three seasons. They have played in tough environments. Should be a good game and a great one to open the new era of Big East basketball. Go Johnnies!

I swear I am not trying to be a wise ass. Did they win any of those games?

I am actually a big St John's fan and think a strong NYC team going forward will be great for the league. I kind of like Lavin as well. I hope to see them do well in all games not involving X.

[BEX]

The Johnnies have played at the Carrier Dome, Cameroon, and in Lexington over the last three seasons. They have played in tough environments. Should be a good game and a great one to open the new era of Big East basketball. Go Johnnies!

I swear I am not trying to be a wise ass. Did they win any of those games?

Haha. Good one! I think X will be pumped up and ready to go. See UC game.

[redmen9194]

At Cameroon they were six freshmen and lost by six. It doesn't matter if they have won or not, but the crowd at Cintas won't be anything they have not played in front of before. It's a road game just like most others that are played in the Big East and have been played in the Big East. I'm sure Cintas is a tough place to play, but these teams have played in tough places. I expect a good game with a close Johnnies win.

[Chalmers0]

Very close to a sellout with apparently <100 tickets left. Interested to see what the crowd is like given the noon start time though...

[anXUfan]

To me the most intimidating thing about Cintas, if it really is intimidating at all, is the way the crowd calmly accepts victory as if there had never been any doubt.

[anXUfan]

Imagine how disconcerting it must be to have 10,000 people quietly staring at you.

[Westbrook36]

Interesting dynamic in play early for the BE, new guys with something to prove vs. old guys who've been there done that.

But, like redmen said, I'm sure Cintas is a tough place to play, but so were the Carrier Dome, Yum Center, Gampel Pavilion, Pete Center, etc. There are no easy road games, no gimmes at all on the road in the BE, this is a lesson learned a long, long time ago for the old BE schools.

BTW, I think X gets the win here, it's tough to win on the road and X is playing better as of late.

[machine7]

Gus Johnson and Bill Rafterty have the call on FOX 1.

[billyjack]

Imagine how disconcerting it must be to have 10,000 people quietly staring at you.

Lol. Yeah that's around 20,000 eyes, give or take a few...