By the time the Big East Tournament arrives next March, the St. John’s Red Storm will have been hardened into a dangerous postseason contender or pulverized into traumatized freshmen.
In addition to the grueling Big East Conference schedule the young Red Storm will play, it was announced yesterday that Steve Lavin’s crew will face Arizona in the semifinals of the 2K Sports Classic in the Garden at 9:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 17.
The Wildcats, which lost to Connecticut last season in the West Region final, are projected to be one of the top teams in the Pac-12 . Joining Arizona on the non-conference schedule is Duke, Kentucky and Detroit, which will be honoring Dick Vitale in what should be an emotionally charged environment.
If the St. John’s beats Arizona, it will meet the winner of the Texas A&M-Mississippi St semifinal in the championship game on at 9:30 p.m., Friday, Nov. 18. A loss puts them in the consolation game at 7 p.m.
The Red Storm will be one of the youngest squads in the nation. The Johnnies, which lost 10 seniors to graduation, will play Georgetown, DePaul and rising Cincinnati twice each in league play.