The absence of Deivon Smith has been troubling for the St. John’s basketball team yet it has found a way to continue to win.
Still, Smith remains a vital part of the Johnnies and could be making his return to the court on Saturday afternoon against Providence (11-10, 5-5 Big East).
The Utah transfer has missed the last two games with a shoulder sprain after being injured on January 11 against Villanova and has been labeled as day-to-day since the collision.
He would miss the Red Storm’s next game against Georgetown before surprisingly returning against Seton Hall, playing 17 minutes off the bench and missing all six shots he attempted.
He hasn’t played since, but Rick Pitino anticipates him being on the court soon.
“We’re playing brilliant without him,” Pitino said after St. John’s 66-41 victory over Georgetown on Tuesday night.
“He’s ready to play. He just psychologically is afraid to get hit,” Pitino continued.
Smith mentioned prior to the Red Storm’s game against Xavier that shooting the ball wasn’t the most painful part of the injury, it was dealing with how physical Seton Hall was with the injury and how to protect himself throughout a game.
“We’ve aired on the side of caution. I told the trainer I don’t want him ninety percent, I want him playing at a hundred percent where he doesn’t look at his shoulder afraid to get over a screen.”
Deivon Smith was able to practice with some contact on Monday and went through an individual workout on Tuesday while Rick Pitino said he thinks there is a 60 to 70-percent chance he plays on Saturday.
St. John’s (18-3, 9-1 Big East) has won seven straight games and is off to the best start of a season since 1984-85.
Tipoff between the No. 15 Johnnies and Friars is 12:00 p.m. ET (CBS Sports Network) inside Madison Square Garden.