When the St. John’s basketball team heads to Las Vegas, the opponents will be fairly unfamiliar.
The Johnnies did play Baylor last season in the Baha Mar Hoops Challenge – a game many people with the Red Storm are hoping to forget – and both rosters are very different from a season ago.
Its last matchup against Iowa State was three seasons ago and during the previous coaching regime, which is basically a lifetime in college sports.
However, one St. John’s player is quite familiar with the Cyclones and Bears – and the overall schemes of Big 12 basketball – and that’s Dillon Mitchell, who has played in the conference for all three of his prior college seasons.
“I’ve been playing the Big 12 for the past three years, I can’t get away from Big 12 games,” he joked.
“I know what it’s like playing Iowa State ad Baylor and they’re two tough teams.”
Mitchell, who was named as a co-captain last week, said he would explain to his teammates what it is like matching up against these teams.
“They’re very physical and they’re a big team,” he said.
Mitchell has shot 55.2-percent in his career against his former conference foes.
No. 14 St. John’s fell in its first real test of the season against then No. 15 Alabama inside Madison Square Garden and needs at least two wins to add to its resume this week at the Players Era Festival.
Since, it landed blowout victories over William & Mary and Bucknell, but the competition will be much more difficult in Vegas.
Tipoff between the Red Storm and Iowa State is on Monday afternoon at 4:30 p.m. ET (truTV) and Tuesday’s matchup against Baylor is set for 5:00 p.m. ET (truTV). Both games will be play at the Michelob ULTRA Arena.