Rick Pitino doesn’t believe it is a coincidence that in St. John’s three losses, point guard Dylan Darling either didn’t play (Alabama), fouled out with 5:09 left (Iowa State) or was physically limited by an injury (Auburn).
Before the loss to Auburn, the Red Storm had been plus-100 in Darling’s 111 minutes.
“When he steps on the court, he’s trying to make everybody better,” Pitino said. “I think the key [to the team’s success] is keeping Dylan Darling healthy.”
The Idaho State transfer injured himself in warm-ups before the Auburn game and played just seven minutes.
It was the back of his leg where the knee and hamstring meet.
He has since taken part in every practice and is good to go for Saturday’s meeting with Ole Miss.
Darling is averaging 4.5 points, 3.0 assists and 1.8 steals in 19.8 minutes per game.
He has a 4.5 assist-to-turnover ratio, which is tied for 18th best in the country, but has struggled shooting the ball so far.
“I’m off to a little bit of a slower start than I would have liked, but I don’t feel like I’m playing horrible basketball,” he said. “I just feel like I’ve either been hurt or I’ve been in foul trouble. I feel like I was in foul trouble in Vegas the whole time, and I haven’t been able to shoot the ball great to start the season, but that’s something I’m confident will flip because every day in practice I feel like I’m getting better and more confident.”
After going with the same starting five of Darling, Zuby Ejiofor, Bryce Hopkins, Oziyah Sellers and Joson Sanon for the entire Las Vegas trip, Pitino is planning a tweak.
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Sanon will come off the bench.
The St. John’s coach said this has nothing to do with how Sanon has played or practiced over the past week.
The Red Storm may look to start a more defensive-minded player to guard former Johnnie AJ Storr, a high-scoring 6-foot-6 wing.
Pitino declined to name the new starter.
St. John’s is partnering with Stout and Anheuser-Busch to offer students $2 Bud Lights beginning at 6 p.m. Saturday night ahead of the Ole Miss game.
Students just need to show their St. John’s IDs and proof of age.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
