Steve Lavin and St. John’s will open the 2013-14 regular season against Big Ten power Wisconsin on Nov. 8.
But there’s a twist.
The game will take place in Sioux Falls, S.D., “in an effort to showcase the newly-built, $19 million Sanford Pentagon facility,” according to a Wisconsin press release.
Wisconsin’s showdown with the Red Storm will be played on the 3,250-seat Heritage Court, the centerpiece of the 160,000-square foot facility that makes up the Sanford Pentagon.
“Playing a Bo Ryan-coached Badger team gives us an early-season test and an opportunity to get a report card following an offseason that will include a European tour,” said Lavin. “Having covered the Big Ten for seven years with ESPN, I developed an appreciation for the cohesive brand of basketball Bo Ryan’s teams play. Coach Ryan and I have also partnered in the fight against cancer. We are looking forwarded to competing against Wisconsin and participating in the first-ever college basketball game at The Pentagon in Sioux Falls.”
In August, St. John’s will also take a trip to Europe for 10 days of practice and potentially five exhibition games.
Other key non-conference games for St. John’s include Ole Miss/Georgia Tech/Penn State in the Barclays Center Classic (Nov. 29-30) and Syracuse at Madison Square Garden (Dec. 15).
“We’re looking to take the next step,” Lavin, whose team went 17-16 and lost in the second round of the NIT last year, told Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports. “I think next year is the year where we’ll be able to accomplish that.”
The Johnnies figure to be among to the most talented teams in the new-look Big East with the addition of star recruit Rysheed Jordan, the addition of big man Orlando Sanchez and the returns of guard D’Angelo Harrison and forward JaKarr Sampson.
“We have size, skill, athleticism, and depth,” Lavin told CBS Sports. “The pieces are in place for us. The biggest question is, how will we jell as a team?”
