LAS VEGAS — Dylan Darling only logged seven minutes due to a hamstring damage on Wednesday.
The only true level guard on the roster was on the bench most of a disappointing 85-74 loss to No. 21 Auburn in which St. John’s was outscored by 17 factors over the closing 9:53.
Darling tried to intestine it out late, but was not efficient. It was unsure when he suffered the damage.
Coach Rick Pitino was uncertain of the severity of the hamstring problem. Darling already missed the loss to No. 8 Alabama due to a calf pressure.
The No. 14 Red Storm clearly missed him. The Johnnies entered the day plus-100 for the season in Darling’s 111 minutes.
Dylan Darling tries to steal the ball from the Tigers’ KeShawn Murphy during St. John’s 85-74 loss to Auburn on Nov. 26, 2025. AP
In their first two video games in Las Vegas against Iowa State and Baylor, they were outscored by 11 factors with Darling off the flooring, but plus-27 with him in the two video games.
“I think he has the ability to get other people shots on offense, but defensively he’s limited,” Pitino said.
St. John’s dedicated 14 turnovers in the loss, a lot of them coming from unfastened ballhandling.
“It’s really not knowing scouting, not knowing they’re a slap-down team,” Pitino said. “We told them they’re a team that’s just going to attack the basketball. This is not a great team with adhering to scouting with little time. [Auburn] had nine steals in the game, and that’s not good.”
St. John’s will now have an prolonged break.
The Red Storm won’t play again until Dec. 6 against Ole Miss, then have another week off before internet hosting Pitino’s former college, Iona. That’s two video games in the span of 17 days.
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