Rick Pitino laughed on the suggestion.
No, the St. John’s coach mentioned with a smile, jeers gained’t affect senior guard Kadary Richmond when he returns to Prudential Middle because the enemy.
“I think being booed is something that he can handle,” the Corridor of Fame coach mentioned on Friday as his group ready for the showdown at The Rock, the place the Johnnies have gained simply as soon as in 13 tries. “Well, he grew up on the streets of Brooklyn, so I think he can handle being booed. He’s not going to cry.”
It figures to be an emotional evening in Newark, N.J., because the 6-foot-6 Richmond faces his former group.
Large East rival Seton Corridor is anticipating a lower-bowl sellout, which is 10,481 followers.
An honest portion of that can seemingly be St. John’s followers.
The uber-talented Richmond is thought for his stoicism.
He hardly ever exhibits emotion on the courtroom.
If he’s feeling strain or trying to show one thing on Saturday evening, he hasn’t shared that with Pitino or his teammates.
There, nevertheless, will probably be additional consideration on Richmond, and never simply due to the venom that will probably be directed at him.
Pitino expects the Johnnies’ engine, Deivon Smith, to overlook his second consecutive recreation with a bruised proper shoulder.
Smith remains to be feeling discomfort capturing and has been unable to follow.
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Meaning additional duty for Richmond.
With out Smith towards Georgetown, St. John’s performed certainly one of its worst first halves of the season, trailing by 15 factors, earlier than rallying for a five-point victory.
“Obviously, it’s going to be a bigger environment for [Richmond] because of everything that he did for their program, but I feel like … he’s going to go in there and just show Seton Hall what they’re missing,” mentioned sophomore wing Brady Dunlap, who’s presently out with a small stomach tear. “I really feel like after all he’s going to rise to the event, however on the identical time I don’t assume he’s going to go on the market and attempt to have 30 or 35 [points] and compromise the group as a result of I don’t assume he’s that kind of participant or that kind of man.
“I feel like he’s going to go out there and play his game, and if that means he’s going to have 25, then he’s going to have 25. If it means he’s going to have 10 points and eight rebounds and however many assists, he’s going to do whatever it takes to win the game. I don’t think he’s going to get too overhyped for the moment.”
The Johnnies, at 15-3, are off to certainly one of their greatest begins of the final 25 years, they usually’re 6-1 in league play for the primary time since 1998-99.
Richmond has been a giant a part of that, averaging 10.7 factors, 5.1 rebounds and 4.7 assists whereas capturing a career-best 45 p.c from the ground.
Whereas the Brooklynite hasn’t made fairly the affect some anticipated, he has begun to be extra of a difference-maker.
He shined within the second halves of current wins over Butler, Villanova and Georgetown, and set the tone early in a one-sided win at Xavier.
“He’s a little underappreciated,” Pitino mentioned. “He owns up to every mistake he makes — every mistake. He’s just got a superb attitude and he has a great will to win.”
Requested about dealing with Seton Corridor following Tuesday’s win over the Hoyas, Richmond mentioned he was treating it like every other recreation. He wasn’t made out there to the media on Friday.
After committing to St. John’s final Could, Richmond advised The Put up: “Everyone might not be happy with it, but I just hope they understand sometimes you have to make the best decision to go places you want to go in life. If they were in my shoes, they would probably have a better understanding of that. I’m pretty sure everyone is going to be in an uproar and there’s going to be a lot of backlash from many different places.”
Richmond and St. John’s are sure to get Seton Corridor’s greatest shot on Saturday evening.
The Pirates, with a 1-5 file in league play, have struggled mightily with out final 12 months’s stars, Richmond and Dre Davis (Ole Miss).
Their followers will specific their displeasure with Richmond, and Seton Corridor will look to place a damper on its rival’s scorching begin to the season, hoping it will probably spark a turnaround.
St. John’s, in the meantime, is concentrated on including one other win.
“We all got to treat it like a normal game,” senior ahead Aaron Scott mentioned. “We can’t get involved in all the extra stuff. We have to stay locked in to the main thing — the main thing is winning.”
