St. John’s basketball: Big East, Big 12 determined to play conference battle

The Big East and Big 12 are still determined to play the conference battle amid the COVID-19 pandemic as the St. John’s basketball team is scheduled to go to Lubbock.

Bubble talk in college basketball is at an all-time high in September, but it’s not the bubble you are accustomed too in the sport.

As the coronavirus pandemic continues to impact the United States of America and a return to college sports is upon the country, bubbles have been the safest way to resume play, as can be seen in various professional sports leagues.

However, it becomes much more difficult in college athletics with the concept of amateurism and student-athletes needing to go to class, although most colleges and universities have opted for a majority of courses taking place online.

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CBS Sports college basketball insider Jon Rothstein reported on Tuesday afternoon that officials in the Big East, Big 12, and NCAA are determined to play the yearly challenge between the two conferences this year, but there are logistical issues in terms of team locations, bubbles, and other scheduling.

St. John’s is slated to face the Texas Tech Red Raiders in Lubbock, Texas, although is seems almost a guarantee that the game will not take place in that location.

The Red Storm are also scheduled to play in the Preseason NIT Tournament with the Red Raiders, as officials are also trying to find a location to hold that event in a bubble.

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Cincinnati and Arizona are also scheduled to compete in the tournament, but as a member of the Pac-12, Arizona currently cannot play sports until January 1, although it’s likely the conference will walk back that starting date for the basketball season.

Last season the Johnnies were able to knock West Virginia from the ranks of the unbeaten in the Big East vs. Big 12 Battle at Madison Square Garden in the first signature victory of the Mike Anderson era in Queens.