St. John’s should have no trouble winning its fifth straight game when it hosts Quinnipiac at Alumni Hall today. It’s the Red Storm’s last non-conference game before Big East play begins Jan. 2 at Pittsburgh.

St. John’s (8-2) is coming off a 72-60 win over then-20th ranked Wake Forest. In the victory, Marcus Hatten did his best Bootsy Thornton imitation by pouring in 26 points. It was a huge win for the Red Storm’s psyche because they hadn’t beaten a ranked team since February of last season when they downed Georgetown.

Quinnipiac (3-6) has won four of its last five games. The Braves are coached by former St. John’s assistant coach Joe DeSantis, a Bronx native, who graduated from Fairfield in 1979.

Even if St. John’s has a letdown it should win, but that would be a dangerous course heading into league play.