VILLANOVA, Pa. — Rick Pitino isn’t expecting Deivon Smith back soon.
The St. John’s coach said Smith, now dealing with a neck injury, tried to play Wednesday night against Villanova, but couldn’t go.
The plan now is to rest him, hoping the senior point guard gets healthy.
Smith has also been dealing with a bruised right shoulder he suffered on Jan. 11. Smith has missed four games since the initial injury.
“I think he’s done for the regular season, in my opinion. We need to get him healthy,” Pitino said after the ninth-ranked Johnnies fell to Villanova, 73-71, at Finneran Pavilion. “The longer he stays out, the better it is for us. He’s not the same player he was a month ago and we got to get him healthy. He’s probably going to be out for a while. Definitely going to miss the Creighton game [on Sunday] and I’ll say the DePaul game.”
Smith, averaging 9.5 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.1 assists this year, is one of St. John’s best 3-point shooters and the key to its transition game.
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Being without him would be a major blow. But the Johnnies need to get him right. He had struggled since returning, making only 5 of 28 from the field with minimal impact.
“If you bring him back too soon, you’re going to lose him for the [postseason],” Pitino said.
St. John’s announced that the March 1 home game against Seton Hall is being moved to the Garden due to increased demand.
Originally scheduled for Carnesecca Arena, it will remain a 2:15 tipoff.
Season-ticket holders and student season-ticket holders will be provided with their regular ticket location for the game.
Fans who bought tickets for the contest at Carnesecca Arena will be placed in a comparable section at the Garden.
