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BIG EAST Conference preview: Marquette the team to beat

By Erica Ayala

MILWAUKEE, WI - MARCH 07: Marquette Golden Eagles guard Allazia Blockton (11) looks inside during the Big East Women's Championship Game between the DePaul Blue Demons and the Marquette Golden Eagles on March 7, 2017 at the Al McGuire Center in Milwaukee, WI. (Photo by Larry Radloff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WI - MARCH 07: Marquette Golden Eagles guard Allazia Blockton (11) looks inside during the Big East Women's Championship Game between the DePaul Blue Demons and the Marquette Golden Eagles on March 7, 2017 at the Al McGuire Center in Milwaukee, WI. (Photo by Larry Radloff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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MILWAUKEE, WI – MARCH 06: The St. John’s bench looks on during a basketball game between the DePaul Blue Demons and the St. John’s Red Storm on March 6, 2017 at the Al McGuire Center in Milwaukee, WI. (Photo by Larry Radloff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WI – MARCH 06: The St. John’s bench looks on during a basketball game between the DePaul Blue Demons and the St. John’s Red Storm on March 6, 2017 at the Al McGuire Center in Milwaukee, WI. (Photo by Larry Radloff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

St. John’s

Preseason predicted ranking: 7th, down two spots from 2016-17 finish

2016-17 Record: 11-7

2016-17 Overall Record: 22-12

Biggest Losses:

BIG EAST co-defensive player of the year Aaliyah Lewis and Jade Walker graduated in May, leaving the Red Storm less two of their top three scorers. Lewis contributed 11.6 points and 7.1 assists per game. Walker averaged 15.7 points per game.

Key returners:

Three starters and eight letterwinners are expected to drive this St. John’s team. Junior Akina Wellere was recognized by the coach as a Preseason All-BIG EAST player. Reigning BIG EAST All-Freshman selection Alisha Kebbe also returns for the Red Storm.

Newcomers:

Qadashah Hoppie is a Top 50 ranked player by Prospect Nation. The Staten Island product averaged 15.9 points and 2.9 assists for The Patrick School.

Tiana England from Stamford will join the Queens-based squad, hoping to translate her 19 points and 5.7 steals to the college game.

Head coach:

Joe Tartamella enters his sixth season with the Red Storm with a career record of 109-57 (.657). In 2016, he led St. John’s to the first BIG EAST title in program history since 1984 (third overall).

Key non-conference games:

Tartamella will coach against his alma mater James Madison on December third. The Red Storm will battle it out with Miami (24) and Kansas before opening at Marquette on December 28.

Outlook:

Tartamella felt that his team was ready to get the season underway, eager to show their competitiveness against opponents and not just each other in practice. The team is definitely eager, but they are also relatively young (only four upperclassmen). Marquette used youth to its advantage last season, the Red Storm hope to do the same.

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