Iona vs St. John's prediction: St. John's rides a court-order window into Iona at the Garden
Babacar Sane's eligibility runs through this game and his next hearing lands the day after, so the No. 13 Red Storm's rebuilt roster gets one more full-strength test before the courts weigh in again.
- St. John's should control the glass and the turnover battle. Iona's hope is a hot night from three against a Red Storm defense that denies them.
- Iona's transfer-heavy perimeter, with holdover shooter Luke Jungers, faces a St. John's defense that allowed among the fewest three-point attempts nationally last season.
- No spread or total is posted yet. The clearest reference is last December's 91-64 St. John's win over Iona.
A window that closes Monday
The most interesting thing about this game may happen in a Queens courtroom the next day. As of Oct. 14, Babacar Sane, a co-captain alongside Ian Jackson, was playing under a temporary restraining order that covers the exhibitions and the first two regular-season games: the Nov. 2 opener against Monmouth at Carnesecca Arena and this one. His next hearing is set for Monday, Nov. 9. That makes Iona the last game St. John's knows Sane can play.
Keyshawn Hall, one of the two top transfers anchoring the class along with Tounde Yessoufou, was also eligible under a restraining order as of Oct. 14, one that holds until a ruling on a preliminary injunction. An earlier Ohio ruling had gone the other way, so his status could still change. Forward Reed Bailey had no hearing scheduled as of Oct. 6. Syracuse transfer Donnie Freeman is out for the season after Achilles surgery.
Two rosters built from scratch
Last season's numbers describe teams that no longer exist. St. John's went 30-7, but players on this roster account for only 39.2% of last season's minutes. Gone are Zuby Ejiofor, who averaged 16.3 points and 2.1 blocks, plus Bryce Hopkins and Oziyah Sellers. The program still opened at No. 13 in the AP preseason poll, built on transfers and a returning backcourt of Jackson, Joson Sanon and Dylan Darling.
Iona's overhaul is deeper. Dan Geriot, in his second season, returns just 27.4% of the minutes from an 18-14 team and loses CJ Anthony, Lamin Sabally and Toby Harris. The Gaels lean on Kosy Akametu, transfers from Drexel, Idaho State and Holy Cross, and a long list of freshmen. Treat both teams' 2025-26 ratings as a rough sketch.
Iona's threes against a wall
Iona's identity last season was volume shooting: its 3-point attempt rate of 45.8% ranked 54th nationally. The holdover who makes that work is Luke Jungers, who hit 43.9% on 98 attempts off the bench. Idaho State transfer Martin Kheil adds 67 made threes from last season.
That runs straight into what St. John's took away. The Red Storm ranked 346th of 365 in opponent 3-point attempt rate, meaning almost nobody got fewer threes off against them. Their adjusted defense ranked 12th, measured in points allowed per 100 possessions and adjusted for opponents. If Iona can't get clean looks, it has little else: the Gaels ranked 320th in free throw rate (free throw attempts per shot) last season. Iona's own defense held opponents to 30.6% from three, 32nd in the country, which could matter against a St. John's group that was not a shooting team.
Where St. John's wins possessions
The Red Storm's edge last season came from extra possessions rather than shot-making. They forced turnovers on 19.3% of opponent possessions, 61st nationally, and grabbed 35.2% of their own misses, 52nd. Iona ranked 292nd in offensive rebound rate, so second chances should flow one way.
The early evidence fits. In the Oct. 25 exhibition finale against No. 7 Texas at the Garden, St. John's forced ten first-half turnovers. A new Iona backcourt, with no game together yet, faces that pressure in its first road test.
Key players
- Ian Jackson (St. John's): Led returners with a 26.8% usage rate last season and shot 90% at the line while scoring 9.4 points a game.
- Dylan Darling (St. John's): Averaged 1.4 steals in 21.2 minutes last season, fitting a defense that lives on turnovers.
- Joson Sanon (St. John's): Scored 7.9 points a game last season but shot 33.6% from three.
- Luke Jungers (Iona): Made 43.9% of his threes last season with a 125.5 offensive rating.
- Kosy Akametu (Iona): Carried a 25.4% usage rate and 11.0 points a game last season, though at 30.1% from three.
- Kevon Vanderhorst (Iona): Started all 33 games at Drexel last season, averaging 9.3 points and 2.9 assists.
- Aiden Disu (Iona): Averaged 10.8 points and 5.1 rebounds at Holy Cross last season.
Numbers that matter
| St. John's opponent 3PA rate rank, last season | 346th | Among the fewest three-point attempts allowed nationally, a problem for Iona's shooting-first offense. |
|---|---|---|
| Iona 3-point attempt rate, last season | 45.8% | Ranked 54th nationally, so Iona needs threes to keep pace. |
| Iona returning minutes | 27.4% | Nearly three-quarters of last season's minutes are gone, making its old ratings a weak guide. |
| St. John's forced turnover rate, last season | 19.3% | Ranked 61st, and the Red Storm forced ten first-half turnovers against Texas in the exhibition finale. |
| Last meeting | St. John's 91, Iona 64 | The Dec. 13, 2025 rout came with rosters that have since been mostly replaced. |
Iona vs St. John's: quick answers
When is Iona vs St. John's?
Sunday, November 8, 2026 at 12:00 PM ET.