Rick Pitino has a purpose for Simeon Wilcher the remainder of the season: Try a minimal of six 3-point photographs per sport.
A sophomore, part-time starter, Wilcher is averaging three triples per sport and capturing 30.5 % from distance.
“He needs to get up three-to-five more attempts a game, because he’s such a good shooter, and he’s not [taking enough 3s]. He’s open, and he’s looking to drive, and that’s concerning,” Pitino mentioned on Monday, as No. 15 St. John’s ready to face Georgetown in Washington on Tuesday evening. “I do suppose it’s self-confidence. Shooters like Aaron [Scott], ‘Sim,’ they’re counting their misses an excessive amount of of their minds as a substitute of simply taking open photographs after they’re there.
“Drive and get somebody a shot when you’re covered. Take every open shot available to you when you’re open regardless of what your percentages are.”
Wilcher is having a stable 12 months, averaging 9.3 factors on 43.2 % capturing from the sphere. He has steadily made large performs in crunch time. However Pitino desires him to be extra aggressive.
One other concern with the 3-point line, in keeping with the Corridor of Fame coach, is that Wilcher is taking them too deep on the Backyard, complicated the faculty and NBA 3-point line.
“He needs to step on that line and not shoot two feet behind the line,” Pitino mentioned.
St. John’s is averaging solely 19.9 makes an attempt from deep per sport, which is 297th within the nation, and solely hitting 29.9 % from 3, which is 328th nationally.
Pitino expects start line guard Deivon Smith to overlook Tuesday’s sport in opposition to Georgetown due to a bruised shoulder.
The 6-foot guard has acquired a number of cortisone photographs since struggling the damage in a win over Villanova on Jan. 11 and aggravating it every week later in opposition to Seton Corridor.
Smith, who can have missed three of the previous 4 video games, did some non-contact drills in apply on Monday.
“It’s a little concerning,” Pitino mentioned of the extended absence. “The good thing is there is no dislocation, nothing like that.”
