St. John’s Suffers Setback Against Auburn: Key Players Missing and Future Outlook

LAS VEGAS — In a disappointing performance, St. John’s fell to No. 21 Auburn with a final score of 85-74. The absence of point guard Dylan Darling, who suffered a hamstring injury early in the match, significantly impacted the team’s performance. Darling managed to only play seven minutes, raising concerns about his availability moving forward.

Impact of Dylan Darling’s Injury

Dylan Darling’s hamstring issue left St. John’s vulnerable, particularly in their closing moments, where they were outscored by 17 points in under ten minutes. Despite trying to make a late-game appearance, Darling was ineffective and appeared to be struggling. Coach Rick Pitino has expressed uncertainty regarding the severity of the injury, especially since Darling had already missed a previous game against No. 8 Alabama due to a calf strain.

• Game Stats:
  • Minutes played by Darling: 7
  • St. John’s record with Darling on the court: +100 in 111 minutes
  • Points loss during Darling’s absence: -17 over the last 9:53

Dylan Darling attempts to defend against Auburn’s KeShawn Murphy during St. John’s recent game.

As Coach Pitino noted, “I think he has the ability to get other people shots on offense, but defensively he’s limited.”

Performance Without Darling

The Red Storm struggled to fill the void left by their only true point guard. In previous games against Iowa State and Baylor, St. John’s was outscored by 11 points when Darling sat out but showed significant improvement when he was on the floor, leading by 27 points in those games.

Key Team Stats

• Total Turnovers: 14
• Opponent Steals (Auburn): 9
• Pitino’s Take: “It’s really not knowing scouting, not knowing they’re a slap-down team.”

Next Steps for St. John’s

The Red Storm now face an extended break before returning to action. Their upcoming schedule is as follows:

• Next Game:
  • Opponent: Ole Miss
  • Date: December 6
• Following Game:
  • Opponent: Iona (Pitino’s former school)
  • Date: A week after the Ole Miss game

This long break will offer St. John’s the chance to regroup and reassess their strategy, especially regarding ball security and team coordination.

Conclusion

The injury to Dylan Darling has clearly highlighted the team’s need for depth at the point guard position. As St. John’s prepares for upcoming matchups, how they adapt and recover will be crucial for their season’s success.

For more insights and updates on the Red Storm, stay tuned to coverage from sources like ESPN and NCAA.