NASSAU, BAHAMAS — If Sunday's game against New Mexico was the kind of game that sent St. John's over the edge of the pool, Thursday night it will be at the edge of the pool.
Sink or swim?
The Lobos had a great first test, and Rick Pitino's 22nd-ranked Johnnys easily breezed through it, taking a near-close lead with a 14-point victory at the Garden.
This is different. This is a legitimate title contender and a player the Post drafted in preseason to win it all.
This is a chance for St. John's to show that the opening game of the Baha Mar Hoops Championship is for real.
No. 13 Baylor is a different animal.
The Big 12 powerhouse has averaged 25.6 wins over the past five seasons and advanced to nine of the past 10 NCAA Tournaments.
That includes elite transfers like Norchad Omie (Miami), Jeremy Roach (Duke) and VJ Edgecomb, who is projected to be a one-time top-10 NBA draft pick.
And Scott Drew is one of the best coaches in the country.
“They're one of the top 10 players I've seen so far this year,” Red Storm coach Rick Pitino said this week as the Johnnys prepare for their first ranked-versus-ranked nonconference game in 25 years. “We are one of 12 teams that can advance to the Final Four.” year. “Tennessee is also in this tournament. They're one of 10 or 12 teams I've seen play in the Final Four. Of course, the competition is great.”
St. John's (4-0) is having its best performance of the young season.
Pitino and his coaching staff graded him a B-, the first contest with more positives than negatives.
The Johnnies outscored New Mexico by 17 points and outscored the Lobos by 10 in the paint, shutting down dynamic guard Donovan Dent.
St. John's dominated a quality opponent, with five players scoring in double figures.
“I was very encouraged. I liked our pace, our passing, our rebounding,” Pitino said. “Now we're going to play a different level of opponent, but we can't make the mistakes we made against New Mexico because we're going to pay for them. They're a very talented offensive basketball team. . They drive, shoot and rebound very well. That's going to be a big challenge for us.”
Coach Pitino focused on the Johnnies defending the 3-point line.
The Bears (3-1) often play four guards at a time.
They spread you out, create mismatches and fly from deep. In four games against St. John's, opponents have shot just 30.5 percent from long range, but Baylor has yet to perform.
New Mexico made 8 of 18 from long range and hurt the Red Storm from beyond the arc in the second half.
“Protecting the 3-point line is going to be really big for us,” forward Zuby Ejiofor said. “Almost everyone on that team can be defeated at a high clip.”
What is noteworthy is that Baylor University started the season with a crushing loss to No. 3 Gonzaga University, 101-63, but bounced back with a five-point victory over No. 20 University of Arkansas on a neutral field.
They defeated their final opponents, Sam Houston State University and Tarleton State University, by a whopping 100 points.
They will be without standout guard Langston Love, who has not played yet this season due to an ankle injury.
This showdown begins an interesting journey for St. John's.
They will play either No. 11 Tennessee or Virginia on Friday night, depending on the results of Thursday's two games, and then face upgraded Georgia in a lone nonconference game on Sunday.
The Red Storm arrived in the Bahamas full of confidence, believing they could play with anyone.
The Johnnys will be able to prove that this weekend.
“We all believe we can beat Baylor,” Ejiofor said. “We all believe we can win the tournament.”
