On Wednesday, Rick Pitino was worried that Davon Smith would not return until the postseason.
On Friday, Pitino ruled out Smith in Sunday's match against No. 24 Clayton.
However, on Sunday, the senior point guard somehow helped ninth-place St. John's knock off the Blue Jays 79-73 at the sold-out Madison Square Garden.
The move from Utah was healed faster from neck and shoulder injuries than anyone had expected.
“The biggest shock. I was shutting him down,” Pitino said. “[I told him]”Davon, you're 100%, you're back,” he said. [on Saturday]'Coach, try out player development sessions. I feel good and ready. “I thought I was seeing the earliest after Connecticut, so that was one of the biggest shocks of the year for me. [on Feb. 23].
“And to be honest with you, if you don't have him, we won't win this game. We're pushing the whole game. Without him, we won't win the game.”
Smith looked like the best he has since hurting his right shoulder in his victory at Villanova on January 11th. Since then, he has missed four games and hasn't looked like he was on the floor.
However, in 26 shocking minutes on Sunday, he had eight points and three steels and showed no hints of injury.
He pushed the pace and kept well. His presence allowed St. John's to press for most of the game, which appeared to wear Clayton, who was held at 16 points at the final 14:51.
“His speed is offensively and defensively, they have a lot of good defenders. I think he's the best defender on the ball,” said Clayton coach Greg McDermott. . “He's difficult to screen. His closure speed is very good.”
Smith practiced fully on Saturday. St. John's wrapped around. His availability was a surprise to Clayton.
“Do you believe what he says?” McDermott joked, referring to Pitino. “I might have had it before, but it's not like that anymore.”
The sophomore Wing Brady Dunlap is back on the bench for the first time since undergoing season-ending surgery to repair torn abdominal muscles.
