Xavier at St. John's Expert NCAA Basketball Picks 2/28/2019

Thursday, February 28, 2019

Madison Square Garden

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Xavier Musketeers head to Madison Square Garden to take on the St. John's Red Storm on Thursday, February 28, 2019. The opening line for this game has St. John's as 6 point favorites.

Xavier heads into this matchup with a mark of 15-13. They currently have a point differential of 0.9 as they are averaging 71.8 points per contest while giving up 70.9 per game. St. John's has an overall record of 20-8. They are averaging 78.5 points per game and surrendering 73.3, good for a point differential of 5.3.

Valuable Xavier Musketeers Betting Trends

The Xavier Musketeers are 10-16-1 against the spread this season

The Xavier Musketeers are 11-16-0 against the over/under this year

Important St. John's Red Storm Betting Trends

The St. John's Red Storm are 11-14-2 against the spread this season

The St. John's Red Storm are 13-13-1 against the over/under this year

Key Xavier Musketeers Injuries

No key injuries to report

Key St. John's Red Storm Injuries

02/27/19 G Mustapha Heron Knee missed last game, is questionable Thursday vs Xavier
01/03/19 G Mikey Dixon Transferred has left team

Player Spotlight

Naji Marshall comes into this game averaging 14.4 points per contest while playing 35.6 minutes per night this year. He grabs 6.7 rebounds per contest and distributes 3.5 assists per game. His FG percentage is 46% while his free throw percentage is 71%. Paul Scruggs averages 12.0 points per contest in 32.1 minutes per game. He averages 3.4 assists per game and 4.9 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 48% for the season while his free throw percentage is 77%.

Player Spotlight

Shamorie Ponds scores 19.7 points per contest while playing 35.0 minutes per game. He hauls in 4.6 rebounds per contest and has 5.1 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 46% and his free throw percentage is at 84%. Mustapha Heron averages 15.4 points per game this year and he sees the court an average of 32.0 minutes per game. He also brings in 4.9 rebounds per game and has 1.4 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 46% and his free throw percentage is 77%.

Useful Team Statistics

Xavier averages 71.8 points per contest, which is 207th in D-1. Their average scoring margin is 0.9 and their shooting percentage is 47% as a unit, which has them ranked 63rd. From 3-point territory they shoot 34%, which is good for 219th in the nation. They average 36.0 boards per contest and 14.7 assists per game, which ranks them 147th and 77th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 120th with 13.6 per game. The Musketeers allow 70.9 points per contest, which is 167th in the NCAA. They also surrender a 43% shooting percentage and a 36% average from 3-point range, ranking them 153rd and 246th in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 32.4 rebounds a game which ranks 55th, and they allow 14.6 assists per game which puts them in 282nd place in the country. They force 11.4 turnovers per game which ranks them 42nd in Division 1.

Useful Team Statistics

St. John's is 51st in the nation with 78.5 points per contest this season. They are 111th in the country in shooting at 46%, while their average scoring margin is 5.3. They shoot 37% from beyond the arc, which is good for 79th in the NCAA. They are 270th in D-1 in rebounding with 33.8 boards per contest and 97th in assists per game with 14.4. The Red Storm are 329th in turnovers per contest with 10.8. The Red Storm give up 73.3 points per game, which ranks them 228th in Division 1. Their defense surrenders a 42% shooting percentage and a 33% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 93rd and 127th in those defensive statistics. They rank 207th with 13.4 dimes allowed per game and 322nd with 38.6 boards surrendered per contest. The Red Storm are 321st in the nation in forcing turnovers with 15.7 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Musketeers are 129th in the nation in offensive rating with 106. In terms of pace they are 287th in the country with 67.1 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 53% is 85th. As a team they are 105th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 37% of their shots, ranking 213th in Division 1. Xavier is 77th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 17.4 times per 100 possessions.

Advanced Statistics

St. John's is 338th in the country in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.3 times per 100 possessions. The Red Storm have an offensive rating of 106.3, which is ranked 121st. They are 41st in D-1 in pace with 72.9 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 53% is 105th. As a unit they are 106th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 39% of their shot attempts, ranking 167th in the country.

Who will win tonight's Xavier/St. John's college basketball game against the spread?

Guy's Pick: Take Xavier +6

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