By ADAM ZAGORIA
Star forward Julian Champagnie and St. John’s are set to return from a COVID-19 pause Wednesday against DePaul at Carnesecca Arena.
St. John’s (8-3, 0-0 Big East) has not played since a Dec. 18 loss to Pitt at Madison Square Garden that they played without Champagnie, who was out on COVID protocols. Champagnie’s last game was Dec. 12 when he had 19 points and six rebounds in an 82-64 win over Colgate. He’s averaging 20.3 points and 6.7 rebounds.
St. John’s has had four Big East games postponed — against Seton Hall, Butler, Marquette and Georgetown — and this will be their first league game of the season.
Champagnie has been cleared from protocols “for a long time,” a source said. He was originally cleared to return for the Dec. 29 game with Marquette, but that game was postponed.
“We found out a few days ago that [he tested positive],” St. John’s coach Mike Anderson said ahead of the Pitt game. “Then, of course, the protocols began. That’s the adjustment for a team. That’s one of your leading scorers [that can’t play], but I told our guys someone else has to step up. At the same time, we’re hopeful that Julian is going to be okay.”
St. John’s is expected to have the seven eligible players to compete, but won’t have an exact number until testing is complete Wednesday.
After the DePaul game, the Red Storm will visit No. 16 Providence (13-1, 3-0) Saturday.
The Johnnies have eight league games scheduled in January, including a back-to-back with No. 24 Seton Hall Jan. 22 (at MSG) and Jan. 24 (at Walsh Gym.)
Nearly a dozen Big East games have been postponed already due to COVID issues.
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