St. John’s Guard Dylan Darling’s Status in Question Ahead of Alabama Game
St. John’s may be missing its only true point guard when they take on No. 15 Alabama this Saturday.
Junior Dylan Darling returned to practice on Friday after being sidelined with a calf strain. He was seen wearing protective boots.
The transfer from Idaho State got injured during the season opener against Quinnipiac. While not a starter, Darling plays a crucial role on the team.
In his debut with Rick Pitino’s squad, he led the team with six assists.
Darling believes the injury occurred when he tripped over a cheerleader’s foot, causing him to fall onto one of the officials.
“I hope so. I’m going to practice today, check how it feels and go from there,” he shared. “I’ll try my best and load up on tape.”
Pitino assessed Darling’s chances, stating he was “50/50” for the game.
If Darling can’t play, options like sophomore Lefteris Liotopoulos and freshman Casper Poto might step up. But it also hinges on foul trouble. St. John’s might also rely on Ian Jackson, Joeson Sanon, and Ojiya Sellers for additional minutes.
The point guard, whose father is former NFL linebacker James Darling, carries some tough lineage, which he seems ready to embrace.
“My dad is around for this, so I really want to give it a go,” Darling said. “I want to play.”
On a brighter note, St. John’s has a week off after this game, allowing Darling some time to recover.
Alabama is likely to be without sophomore forward Katen Bristow due to an ankle issue, as Coach Nate Oats indicated he is questionable. Bristow missed the season opener too.
However, guards Aiden Holloway and Latrell Lightsell have returned to practice and seem likely to be available for the game.
Both Holloway and Lightsell contributed significantly last season, averaging double digits.
This matchup against Alabama will kick off a challenging non-conference schedule for St. John’s, with future games against No. 9 Kentucky on December 20 in Atlanta and hosting Ole Miss on December 6.
“I would have liked to see more length and athleticism, but the SEC boasts the most talent in the country,” said Pitino. “Three of the coaches are very good friends of mine. Nate wanted to play at the Garden, so I did too. Ole Miss coach Chris Beard is a good friend, and Kentucky’s Mark Pope—they don’t usually play here, but we’re facing them anyway.”
“We aimed for a challenging schedule. More importantly, we’re focused on what needs improvement. Sometimes, you can win easily and still not understand your strengths or weaknesses until you face tough opponents. This competition will help us understand where we stand before entering the Big East.”
