St. John’s basketball: Andre Curbelo will not play in Big East Tournament
St. John’s basketball will officially be missing Andre Curbelo for perhaps the rest of the season.
It has been a perplexing season for St. basketball guard Andre Curbelo and it might have just taken its final turn.
Curbelo missed Saturday’s regular season finale against Marquette because of a concussion suffered in practice last week and his absence carried over to Wednesday’s opening game of the Big East Tournament against Butler.
Shortly after the Johnnies took out the Bulldogs, 76-63, to punch its ticket to the quarterfinals on Thursday, Curbelo posted to social media and stated that he will not be back on the court this week, and perhaps the rest of the season.
“Due to my most recent hit to the head, I won’t be able to be part of the Big East Tournament,” the Illinois transfer wrote.
Due to my most recent hit to the head, I won’t be able to be a part of the Big East tournament. Only way I get to see action is making it to the big dance otherwise this year is over for me. Congrats to my boys on the dub today, one down 3 to go. See y’all when I see y’all 🤍❤️
— Andre Curbelo (@a_curbelo3) March 9, 2023
Curbelo was limited to just 19 games last season due to a concussion and had been wearing orange tinted goggles throughout the season to dim the lighting in arenas in an attempt to take pressure off his eyes and head.
“Only way I get to see action is making it to the Big Dance otherwise this year is over for me,” Curbelo added.
St. John’s must win the Big East Tournament in order to make the NCAA Tournament but it is conceivable that the Red Storm are selected for the NIT with at least one more win in the Big East Tournament.
St. John’s basketball guard’s rocky season
Andre Curbelo had been suspended for three games late in the season because of a coach’s decision and was also suspended earlier in the season for one game due to a violation of team rules
Curbelo averaged a career-high 9.6. points, 2.8 rebounds, and 4.3 assists this season while shooting 42.4-percent from the floor and just 29.4-percent from 3-point range.
Rafael Pinzon, Curbelo’s high school teammate at Long Island Lutheran, is also suspended because of a violation of team rules and has not played since February 14.
St. John’s will tipoff against top-seed Marquette in the quarterfinals of the Big East Tournament at 12:00p.m. ET (FS1) on Thursday afternoon.