St. John’s is able to check its luck in Las Vegas.
Rick Pitino’s Pink Storm are set for his or her second main check of the season as they head to the Gamers Period Championship in Sin Metropolis, the place at the least two robust matchups await them.
No. 14 St. John’s is scheduled to play No. 16 Iowa State on Monday and undefeated Baylor on Tuesday at Michelob ULTRA Enviornment.
Ought to the Johnnies advance past the match’s first two days, they might face one other NCAA heavyweight resembling No. 2 Houston, No. 7 Michigan or No. 11 Alabama.
“Iowa State and Houston are as difficult to play against as any teams in basketball,” Pitino mentioned Thursday night time after defeating Bucknell, 97-49, at Carnesecca Enviornment. “Their defense and rebounding are relentless. It’s great for us to go against that competition.”
St. John’s, which started the season ranked No. 5 within the AP Ballot, is 3-1, with the three victories coming in blowout style over Quinnipiac, William & Mary and Bucknell.
Nevertheless, the Pink Storm’s lone loss got here in opposition to Alabama at Madison Sq. Backyard of their solely ranked matchup of the common season to date. The Johnnies’ backcourt struggled defensively in opposition to Alabama’s high-powered offense in that 103-96 defeat.
St. John’s additionally misplaced a preseason exhibition to Michigan on the Backyard, 96-94 in additional time, in a recreation that it performed to win.
“We’re a deep team with a great attitude,” mentioned Pitino, who added a touted switch class to a roster that introduced again ahead/middle Zuby Ejiofor, the Huge East’s preseason participant of the yr.
“Whether we go 3-0 or 2-1 [in Las Vegas], we’re not going to get too high or disappointed. We’re just going to keep playing and improving.”
The Gamers Period Championship is an 18-team match, however solely 4 faculties advance after the primary two days. Level differential, factors scored and factors allowed determine the tiebreakers.
The championship recreation and the third-place recreation are each scheduled to happen on Wednesday.
Up first for St. John’s is an Iowa State staff with the fifth-best defensive effectivity within the nation, in line with KenPom.
The Cyclones boast enviable continuity, as guard Tamin Lipsey and forwards Joshua Jefferson and Milan Momcilovic — the staff’s three main scorers — all returned from final season’s staff.
Lipsey, a preseason All-Huge 12 choice, is averaging 19.0 factors, 5.8 assists and three.8 steals per recreation, whereas the 6-9 Jefferson is averaging 18.8 factors and a team-high 7.8 rebounds.
The Cyclones are 4-0, however Monday’s recreation in opposition to the Johnnies shall be their first in opposition to a ranked opponent.
Baylor, in the meantime, is 3-0 however can be but to face a ranked foe. Sophomore guard Cameron Carr, a projected second-round draft decide, is averaging 23.7 factors per recreation to rank third within the Huge 12.
The Huge 12 coaches picked Iowa State to complete fifth and Baylor to complete seventh within the loaded convention.
“I’ve played in the Big 12 for three years. I can’t get away from it,” mentioned St. John’s ahead Dillon Mitchell, who beforehand performed for Texas and Cincinnati.
“I know what it’s like to play Iowa State and Baylor. They’re physical and big, and I’ll be able to tell the guys what to expect.”
St. John’s went 31-5 final season, however it faces a way more tough non-conference schedule this yr as Pitino makes an attempt to determine his staff’s weaknesses early on.
St. John’s can be scheduled to play No. 12 Kentucky at State Farm Enviornment in Atlanta on Dec. 20.
“We have four new starters, so it takes time,” Pitino mentioned. “We’re going to get better and better and better.”
