Sadiku Ibine Ayo is extra than simply one in every of Rick Pitino’s favourite folks as of late.
He has additionally turn out to be a key a part of the bench.
The junior wing performed a pivotal position in St. John’s Massive East regular-season championship-clinching victory over Seton Corridor on Saturday, scoring eight factors and including 5 rebounds in half-hour off the bench.
With starter Aaron Scott logging solely three minutes due to a hamstring damage, Ibine Ayo was referred to as upon within the 71-61 win, and got here up huge.
It was harking back to his career-high, 15-point effort in a win over DePaul, when RJ Luis Jr. was out.
“You want everyone to have the attitude of Sadiku and Zuby [Ejiofor]. Obviously, everybody can’t have that type of personality,” Pitino mentioned. “That’s God’s gift, always being positive, always working hard. That’s a great gift to have. He has it. He didn’t play great defensively, but nobody did, and he did a lot of good things offensively.”
Within the two video games following the DePaul win, Ibine Ayo solely performed a mixed 12 minutes however he stayed prepared.
The previous Iona College participant has proven the knack to knock down photographs, taking pictures 36.4 p.c from 3-point vary.
The 6-foot-6 Ibine Ayo has turn out to be a key a part of St. John’s.
The tri-captain at all times brings power and enthusiasm on the bench.
Now he’s making an influence on the courtroom along with his protection and shotmaking, notably necessary with sophomore Brady Dunlap and freshman Jaiden Glover out for the rest of the season with accidents.
Early on, it grew to become clear Scott wasn’t wholesome. He got here out after 2:50, and didn’t return. Ibine Ayo checked in, and infrequently left the ground the remainder of the best way. St. John’s outscored Seton Corridor by 16 factors in his half-hour.
“He was limping. The trainer told me he was 70-80 percent, and I found out real quick he was not 70-80 percent,” Pitino mentioned of Scott. “We had to go with ‘Diku’ and he did a solid job. Hopefully, we’ll get [Scott] back for next week’s game [against Marquette].”
Former Johnnie Dylan Addae-Wusu made it robust on St. John’s.
The fifth-year senior had 18 factors, seven assists and 4 rebounds in 37 minutes.
Throughout participant introductions, Addae-Wusu was applauded by St. John’s followers.
He spent his first three seasons with the Johnnies.
St. John’s accomplished its first regular-season sweep of Seton Corridor since 2013-14.
Its 26 wins are its most because the 1998-99, Elite Eight season, when the Johnnies received 28 video games.
Former Knicks star John Starks was in attendance, as was Tom Jurich, Pitino’s athletic director at Louisville.
