St. John’s has the chance to make a real statement in the Baylor clash

NASSAU, Bahamas – If Sunday against New Mexico, St. John’s is wading out of the kiddie end of the pool, so on Thursday night it will be in the deep end.

Sink or swim.

The Lobos were a fine first test, and Rick Pitino’s 22nd-ranked Johnnies passed it with ease, leading nearly wire-to-wire in a 14-point victory at the Garden.

This will be different. This is a legitimate title contender, The Post’s preseason pick to win it all.

This is a chance for St. John’s to say it’s right in the opening of the Baha Mar Hoops Championship.

No. 13 Baylor is a different animal.

A Big 12 powerhouse that has averaged 25.6 wins over the past five seasons and has reached nine of the past 10 NCAA Tournaments.

It features elite transfers in Norchad Omier (Miami), Jeremy Roach (Duke) and expected one-and-done, top-10 NBA draft pick VJ Edgecombe.

And one of the country’s leading coaches in Scott Drew.

“They’re one of 10 or 12 teams I’ve seen so far this year that could play in the Final Four,” Red Storm coach Rick Pitino said this week as the Johnnies prepared for their first-ranked vs. ranked non-conference game in 25th year. “Tennessee is also in this tournament. They’re one of 10 or 12 teams I could see playing in the Final Four as well. Obviously, the competition is great.”

St. John’s (4-0) is coming off its best performance of the young season.

Pitino and his coaching staff rated it a B-, the first contest where there were more positives than negatives.

The Johnnies outscored New Mexico by 17, outscored the Lobos in the paint by 10 and shut down dynamic guard Donovan Dent.

Five players scored in double figures as St. John’s overwhelmed a quality opponent.

“I was very encouraged. I liked our tempo, I liked our passing and I liked our rebounding,” Pitino said. in the New Mexico game because they want to make us pay. They are such a talented offensive basketball team. They drive, they shoot, they rebound very well. It will be a big challenge for us.”

Pitino has focused on the Johnnies defending the 3-point line.

The Bears (3-1) will often play four shifts at a time.

They will spread you out, create discord and let it fly from the depths. In four games, the opponent shoots only 30.5 percent from distance against St. John’s, but it hasn’t seen anything like Baylor.

New Mexico went 8-for-18 from long range and hurt the Red Storm from beyond the arc in the second half.

“Defending the 3-point line is going to be really big for us,” forward Zuby Ejiofor said. “Almost everyone on that team can knock it down at a high clip.”

Baylor, it should be noted, started the season by getting hammered by third-ranked Gonzaga, 101-63, though it rebounded with a five-point, neutral-site victory over No. 20 Arkansas.

It crushed its last two opponents, Sam Houston State and Tarleton State, by a whopping 100 points.

It will be without standout guard Langston Love, who has yet to play this season due to an ankle injury.

This match starts an exciting trip for St. John’s.

It will meet either no. 11 Tennessee or Virginia on Friday night, depending on the results of the two games on Thursday, and face improved Georgia in a standalone non-conference game on Sunday.

The Red Storm arrived in the Bahamas full of confidence and believed they can play with anyone.

The Johnnies can prove it this weekend.

“We all believe we can beat Baylor,” Ejiofor said. “We all believe we can win the tournament.”