PROVIDENCE, R.I. — St. John’s can expect a heavy dose of free throws at its next practic🍬e.
The ch🐓arity stripe nearly cost the Johnnies a big 💜win Friday night.
They went 11-for-26 at the line in their 72-70 victory over Providence at Amica Mutual Pavilion.
While St. John’s hasn’t necessarily been a good free-throw shooting team this year, it entered the evening shooting a respectable🅠 70 percent at the line.
Zuby Ejiofor and RJ Luis combined to miss 11 free throws in 23 attempts and the Johnnies were 9-for-19 after halftimಌe, many coming late in the second half when every point💫 was precious.
“We know we got to work on it. Wꦑe’re not going out there trying to miss shots,” Ejioওfor said. “I think it was a little bit of jitters. Obviously, it’s our first road game in a rowdy environment. It was really loud. That’s something we have to work on.”
Pitino didn’t sound overly alarmed.
Heܫ said in practice ไSt. John’s shoots free throws well.
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He believed it got into his players’ h💧e🍌ads as the misses piled up.
Ejiofor is already prepariไng to spend the majority of the next practice working on free throw✨s.
“Close to 500,” Ejiofor predicted.
Kadary Richmond was limited to 22 minutes as his patellar tendonit𝓀is flared up.
He was in and out of the game in the sec🌟ond half, and finished with 10 p🧸oints, five rebounds and three steals.
“He was hurting﷽ and even though he’s a great player, I’d r🌞ather go with players who are 100 percent,” Pitino said.
Pitino doesn’t expect it to linger and expects Richmond to be fine for the next game in ꩵeight days against Delaware at Carnesecca Arena on Dec. 28.
