The St. John’s basketball team was grateful for its bye week after multiple players have been banged up with injuries over the last month of the season, but the Red Storm will still be missing a key piece when it takes the floor against No. 20 Marquette (22-8, 13-6 Big East).
Deivon Smith, who is still nursing a shoulder injury that he suffered in January, will not play for the No. 6 Johnnies (26-4, 17-2 Big East) in its regular season finale. Smith, according to Rick Pitino has not practiced since its victory over Seton Hall last week.
“He hasn’t been the same player that he was before the injury, so hoping that he can get back in good health,” Pitino said over Zoom on Friday morning.
There is even doubt that Smith could play next Thursday (12:00 p.m. ET, Peacock) when St. John’s begins its run at the Big East Tournament.
“I don’t expect him back, but I don’t know that for a fact,” Pitino added.
There is no new injury for Smith, although he was hit by a hard screen against the Pirates and didn’t have the same explosiveness he showed after returning from an absence against Villanova.
Smith was 15-for-33 from the field in a three-game stretch after missing St. John’s loss to the Wildcats but has since turned in two straight performances of shooting a combined 6-for-22.
"Just a continuation of getting banged, which you are always going to do when you play basketball. you’re going to get hit. He could bang it in the NCAA Tournament, so you know you’re either ready to play or you’re not ready to play.”
The good news for St. John’s is that its three other injured starters Kadary Richmond (double groin), RJ Luis (groin), and Aaron Scott (hamstring) are all ready to play and will be available against the Golden Eagles.
“I think it helped everybody out mentally, physically," Richmond explained about the team's bye week. "There are some guys banged up, probably some guys that were mentally tired, so just to restart, refresh is always a good thing."
St. John’s will have another four days off following its trip to Milwaukee before getting back on the court for the postseason. Tipoff is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. ET (FOX).