St. John's ready to try my luck in Las Vegas.
Rick PitinoTeam Red Storm prepares for their second big test of the season as they head to Players' Era Championship in Sin City, where they will face at least two tough matches.
No. 14 St. John's will play No. 16 Iowa State on Monday and undefeated Baylor on Tuesday at Michelob ULTRA Arena.
If the Johnnies advance beyond the first two days of the tournament, they could face another NCAA heavyweight such as No. 2 Houston, No. 7 Michigan or No. 11 Alabama.
“Iowa State and Houston are as difficult to play against as any team in basketball,” Pitino said Thursday night after a 97-49 win over Bucknell at Carnesecca Arena. “Their defense and rebounding are relentless. It's great for us to go against someone like that.”
St. John's, which began the season No. 5 in the AP poll, is 3-1 with three wins coming in blowout wins over Quinnipiac, William & Mary and Bucknell.
However, Red Storm's only loss faced Alabama at Madison Square Garden in their only ranked match of the regular season. The Johnnies' backcourt struggled defensively against Alabama's potent offense in that 103-96 loss.
St. John's also lost its preseason exhibition to Michigan at the Garden, 96-94, in overtime in a game it won.
“We're a strong team with a great attitude,” said Pitino, who added a highly touted transfer class to a roster that brought back forward/center Zubi Ejiofor, the preseason Big East Player of the Year.
“Whether we go 3-0 or 2-1 [in Las Vegas]we are not going to get excited or disappointed. We'll just keep playing and getting better.”
The Players Era Championship is an 18-team tournament, but after the first two days only four schools compete. The difference in points, points scored and points missed determine the tiebreakers.
The championship game and third-place game are scheduled for Wednesday.
Topping St. John's is an Iowa State team that has the fifth-ranked defensive efficiency in the country. according to KenPom.
The Cyclones boast an enviable consistency, with defenseman Taemin Lipsey and forwards Joshua Jefferson and Milan Momcilovic – the team's three leading scorers – all returning from last season's team.
Lipsey, a preseason All-Big 12 selection, is averaging 19.0 points, 5.8 assists and 3.8 steals per game, while the 6-9 Jefferson is averaging 18.8 points and a team-high 7.8 rebounds.
The Cyclones are 4-0, but Monday's game against the Johnnies will be their first game against a ranked opponent.
Meanwhile, Baylor is 3-0 but has yet to face a ranked opponent. Sophomore guard Cameron Carr, a projected second-round draft pick, averages 23.7 points per game, third in the Big 12.
Big 12 coaches picked Iowa State, which finished fifth, and Baylor seventh in a tight conference.
“I've been playing in the Big 12 for three years now. I can't walk away from it,” said St. John's forward Dillon Mitchell, who previously played for Texas and Cincinnati.
“I know what it's like to play Iowa State and Baylor. They're strong and tough, and I'll be able to tell the guys what to expect.”
St. John's went 31-5 last season but faces a much tougher non-conference schedule this year as Pitino tries to identify his team's weaknesses early on.
Following the Las Vegas tournament, St. John's will face Chris Beard-led Ole Miss on Dec. 6 at the Garden.
St. John's is also scheduled to play No. 12 Kentucky on Dec. 20 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta.
“We have four new starters, so it takes time,” Pitino said. “We will get better and better and better.”
