Anticipation has been growing throughout the summer about the St. John’s basketball season and the improvements the team has made entering Rick Pitino’s second season in Queens, but now that becomes more tangible after the Big East announced its league schedule.

St. John’s already finalized its non-conference schedule which will open with a matchup against Fordham in Carnesecca Arena on November 4 and highlighted by a trip to the Bahamas for three games against Baylor, Virginia/Tennessee, and Georgia.

The Red Storm are likely to play only one non-Big East game inside Madison Square Garden this season against New Mexico on November 17 and conference play will start a month after that matchup for the Johnnies.

Its matchup against Kansas State in the Big East vs. Big 12 Battle has yet to confirm a location but indications are pointing to that game being played at Carnesecca Arena rather than MSG.

Venues and start times have not been finalized but here is the St. John’s Big East schedule this season:

Tuesday, December 17: DePaul at. St. John’s
Friday, Dec. 20: St. John’s at. Providence
Tuesday, Dec. 31: St. John’s at. Creighton
Saturday, January 4: Butler at. St. John’s
Wednesday, Jan. 8: St. John’s at. Xavier
Saturday, Jan. 11: Villanova at. St. John’s
Tuesday, Jan. 14: Georgetown at. St. John’s
Saturday, Jan. 18: St. John’s at. Seton Hall
Wednesday, Jan. 22: Xavier at. St. John’s
Tuesday, Jan. 28: St. John’s at. Georgetown
Saturday, February 1: Providence at. St. John’s
Tuesday, Feb. 4: Marquette at. St. John’s
Friday, Feb. 7: St. John’s at. UConn
Wednesday, Feb. 12: St. John’s at. Villanova
Sunday, Feb. 16: Creighton at. St. John’s
Wednesday, Feb. 19: St. John’s at. DePaul
Sunday, Feb. 23: UConn at. St. John’s
Wednesday, Feb. 26: St. John’s at. Butler
Saturday. March 1: Seton Hall at. St. John’s
Saturday, Mar. 8: St. John’s at. Marquette

St. John’s only non-conference matchup after Big East play begins will be against Delaware (December 28) in Queens.

Transfers Kadary Richmond (Seton Hall), Deivon Smith (Utah), Aaron Scott (North Texas), and Vince Iwuchukwu (USC) are hoping to improve upon the Red Storm’s 20-13 (11-9 Big East) record last season that saw the program advance to the Big East Tournament Semifinals for the first time since 2000.

St. John’s was ultimately snubbed from the NCAA Tournament and declined an opportunity to play in the NIT.