St. John’s facing prove-it test against No. 23 Iowa State

On this prove-it season, St. John’s is dealing with a prove-it sport.

The Pink Storm may have an opportunity Sunday to point out they will contend on the high of the Large East, that this season will likely be totally different from many others earlier than it and that their good begin isn’t the product of a Charmin-soft non-conference schedule

Mike Anderson’s crew will face No. 23 Iowa State of the loaded Large 12 within the cauldron often called Hilton Coliseum in Ames, Iowa. The Cyclones (6-1) will likely be by far one of the best opponent the Pink Storm (8-0) have confronted this yr, the primary crew ranked among the many top-75 within the nation.

A win, and there will likely be a sensible likelihood for St. John’s to be ranked for the primary time within the Anderson period on Monday. The Pink Storm no less than would get a big quantity of votes. Most significantly, it might present a significant jolt for a program that’s in want of 1 coming into the Large East season, which begins Wednesday at Carnesecca Enviornment towards DePaul.

After St. John’s entered the 2021-22 season with heightened expectations, it by no means received any video games towards high competitors and didn’t come near reaching the NCAA Event. The Pink Storm have been 0-7 towards ranked groups (and have gone 4-16 in Anderson’s three seasons in Queens). 4 of these losses got here by six factors or much less. The overriding story of that crew was that it was unable to tug out a detailed sport, going 4-9 in video games determined by six factors or much less.

This season, the Pink Storm opened some eyes by discovering a technique to win a pair of tight video games within the Empire Basic, beating Temple and Syracuse by a mixed 13 factors regardless of some shaky moments.

Iowa State will likely be totally different.

The Cyclones are on a degree above Temple and Syracuse. They’re a stout defensive crew, ranked twenty first within the nation in effectivity and forcing 20.8 turnovers per sport, the seventh-most within the nation. They already personal a victory over preseason No. 1 North Carolina and will likely be at residence, the place they received 14 of 19 video games final season.

Due to the aforementioned St. John’s schedule and the weakened state of the Large East, this sport carries further weight. It’s the lone likelihood for St. John’s to notch an announcement victory outdoors of league play. The choice committee at all times values at-large groups beating fellow event groups, and the Large East could wind up being a five-bid league based mostly on the primary month of this season, bracketologist Brad Wachtel of Info and Bracks stated. Which means there will likely be fewer alternatives for résumé-building wins.

“It’s undoubtedly a big sport,” stated Wachtel, yearly one of the vital correct bracketologists. “Proper now, sure, they’re undefeated, they’ve achieved all the pieces they’ve wanted to do. Nice begin for them. However who have you ever crushed? Have you ever crushed some other event groups but? No, and that’s why this chance is large on Sunday.”

It’s arduous to know what St. John’s is at this level. The Pink Storm have performed the 349th-ranked non-conference schedule within the nation. That’s out of 363 groups. They’ve but to play a real street sport. Florida State, which St. John’s will face on Dec. 17, was speculated to be a top quality crew, however accidents have decimated the Seminoles (1-8). Syracuse is down and already has misplaced at residence to Colgate and Bryant.

Towards Syracuse, Nebraska and Temple (the highest three groups the Pink Storm has confronted so far, ranked eightieth, 91st and 97th respectively by KenPom.com), St. John’s carried out poorly within the first half of every sport, digging important deficits, solely to flip a swap and prevail every time.

There may be purpose for optimism, significantly within the large 4 of vastly improved large man Joel Soriano, level guard Posh Alexander and affect transfers Andre Curbelo (Illinois) and David Jones (DePaul). The Pink Storm have higher depth, and extra athleticism, which match Anderson’s up-tempo model.

St. John’s does personal these three top-100 wins (by the KenPom.com rankings) after managing three all of final yr, and has received all eight of its video games. That also issues, regardless of the caliber of the opponent.

There have been stretches when it actually appears to be like as if St. John’s is pretty much as good as any crew within the Large East, not together with heavyweights Creighton and Connecticut. However, there have been inconsistency, turnover issues, outdated points guarding the 3-point line and poor shot choice.

Beginning on Sunday, St. John’s will start to disclose itself. Questions will begin to have solutions subsequent to them. On this prove-it season, Iowa State will supply the Pink Storm an opportunity to show they will stay as much as Anderson’s preseason boast that they’re just like a few of his finest groups. A win, or perhaps a robust efficiency in defeat, would converse volumes concerning the early route of this crew.