A little more than 24 hours ago, Davon Smith's status was uncertain.
Head coach Rick Pitino didn't expect St. John's engine point guard to play against Seton Hall while working his way back from a bruised right shoulder.
The pain was still there. Smith was unable to practice.
But he was there, participating in pregame warm-ups as usual.
He checked in just over six minutes into the first half and helped St. John's push the ball up the court.
Smith returned to the court during the Johnnies' 79-51 loss to Seton Hall on Saturday at Prudential Center, but was 0-for-6 from the field and missed shots in 16 minutes. The results were mixed. It's not like normal.
“He said he couldn't shoot and said, 'Coach, I want to go,' so he wasn't going to play,” Pitino said. “He told me, and I was surprised. My trainer and I both made the decision that he wasn't going to play, but he hasn't practiced at all, so it's good for him to go out and run. I thought it was a good thing. He'll be ready for Wednesday's game.”
So Smith, who averaged 10.8 points, 5.7 rebounds and 4.4 assists in his first season after transferring from Utah State, battled lingering pain and tried to overcome the remaining hurdles of the injury. “,” Pitino said.
Smith missed a jumper immediately after checking in, but caused a tic-tac-toe explosion in transition to the St. John's basket, lobbing an alley-oop to RJ Lewis.
But his shots kept hitting the rim, and some of them didn't even come close to scoring. He wore what appeared to be a hand warmer and a bag of ice on his right shoulder at various points during the game.
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Pitino's postgame comments suggested he would have Smith in the lineup again, at least when St. John's hosts Xavier.
It would add something to the coat. But Saturday also showed there may still be growing pains as he tries to get back into the lineup, especially in his offensive performance.
“I'm a little concerned when I take shots,” Pitino said. “Especially when you make a mistake.”
