VILLANOVA, Pa. — Rick Pitino isn’t anticipating Deivon Smith again quickly.
The St. John’s coach mentioned Smith, now coping with a neck harm, tried to play Wednesday evening in opposition to Villanova, however couldn’t go.
The plan now could be to relaxation him, hoping the senior level guard will get wholesome.
Smith has additionally been coping with a bruised proper shoulder he suffered on Jan. 11. Smith has missed 4 video games because the preliminary harm.
“I feel he’s accomplished for the common season, in my view. We have to get him wholesome,” Pitino mentioned after the ninth-ranked Johnnies fell to Villanova, 73-71, at Finneran Pavilion. “The longer he stays out, the higher it’s for us. He’s not the identical participant he was a month in the past and we acquired to get him wholesome. He’s in all probability going to be out for some time. Undoubtedly going to overlook the Creighton recreation [on Sunday] and I’ll say the DePaul recreation.”
Smith, averaging 9.5 factors, 5.2 rebounds and 4.1 assists this yr, is one in all St. John’s finest 3-point shooters and the important thing to its transition recreation.
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Being with out him could be a serious blow. However the Johnnies must get him proper. He had struggled since returning, making solely 5 of 28 from the sphere with minimal affect.
“In the event you deliver him again too quickly, you’re going to lose him for the [postseason],” Pitino mentioned.
St. John’s introduced that the March 1 dwelling recreation in opposition to Seton Corridor is being moved to the Backyard on account of elevated demand.
Initially scheduled for Carnesecca Enviornment, it would stay a 2:15 tipoff.
Season-ticket holders and scholar season-ticket holders shall be supplied with their common ticket location for the sport.
Followers who purchased tickets for the competition at Carnesecca Enviornment shall be positioned in a comparable part on the Backyard.