It looks like St. John's could get their speedy point guard back in their next game.
After a hard-fought 63-58 win over Georgetown on Tuesday night, Rick Pitino said he hopes Devon Smith will be back on Saturday against Seton Hall in Newark.
Smith, the Johnnies' engine, missed the win over the Hoyas with a bruised right shoulder.
Georgetown due to a right shoulder contusion. Photos by Wendell Cruz-Imagine
He suffered the injury late in the first half against Villanova on Saturday.
Smith received a cortisone shot Tuesday to ease the discomfort, and is also taking anti-inflammatory medications.
“I think he's going to play against Seton Hall. We knew he was 100 percent,” Pitino said after the Johnnies won for the 10th time in 11 games. “He has a 60 or 70 percent chance of playing.” [on Saturday]. Seton Hall is going to be a really tough game.
“There's no tearing, no dislocation,” the Hall of Fame coach added. “He just got a bad bruise.”
Sophomore wing Brady Dunlap will see a specialist in Toronto on Wednesday.
He is dealing with a torn abdominal muscle as well as a fractured UCL in his left hand.
The hope is that Dunlap will not need gastrocnemius surgery. This would end his season.
The specialist worked with Jamal Mashburn years ago with a similar injury.
“Either way, I don't think Brady is going to play this year,” Pitino said. “I would just keep him away from surgery, because it takes 3 to 4 months, this type of surgery.”
After making just 11 three-point shots in its first five league games, St. John's has made 15 shots in the past two games. They were 8-for-24 from long range on Tuesday.
Aaron Scott He hit four of them in seven attempts.
“I see us becoming the Golden State Warriors from the 3-point line,” Pitino joked. “I feel it.”
