Cadderly Richmond is becoming increasingly influential.
He's similar to the player who made a huge difference last season at Seton Hall.
Wednesday night was Johnny's best so far in Richmond.
He's great defensively and is very powerful with the ball in his hands.
He helped St. John's force overtime and rally from a 16-point deficit against Xavier at the Garden for a 79-71 victory.
The 6-foot-6 senior scored a career-high 19 points for the Red Storm and added seven rebounds, five assists and three steals. He also didn't commit a single turnover in a team-high 44 minutes.
“I liked his stamina. I think he's in great shape right now. It took time,” coach Rick Pitino said. “Cadaly was great all night. He was able to play that long without a turnover. From a conditioning standpoint, he's getting better and better.”
Richmond scored inside with 1:03 left in regulation to tie St. John's at 65-65, then hit a jumper in the lane with 3:15 left in overtime to extend the lead to four points.
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Xavier couldn't keep him out of the paint, and St. John's benefited from his frequent penetration.
“He made all the right plays, especially in overtime,” Zuby Ejiofor said. “He came out aggressive and did a little bit of everything.”
Richmond has reached double digits in five of the past six games, dishing out six assists a night during that span. He has become more aggressive and less submissive to others.
This is especially important since Davon Smith is sidelined for the time being with a right shoulder contusion.
“We try to approach every game the same way, but I felt like we were more aggressive tonight,” Richmond said. “I took what the defense gave me and my teammates continued to give me confidence. I think this was one of my best games in a St. John's uniform.”
Smith, the starting point guard, was sidelined due to a lingering right shoulder contusion. The senior returned with a big win against Seton Hall on Saturday, but his shoulder wasn't feeling well the next day. An MRI scan revealed no structural damage. Pitino said Smith received a second cortisone injection, this time in his biceps. …Former Mets closer and St. John's University graduate John Franco Billionaire Red Storm booster Mike Lepore attended the game as well.
