PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Aaron Scott is dealing with a torn ligament in his right thumb that will require surgery, but it won’t impact his availability for the NCAA Tournament.
“I don’t feel it,” Scott said on the eve of second-seeded St. John’s West Regional opener against No. 15 Omaha. “Honestly, I’ll be forgetting sometimes that it actually is hurt, and I do go for stuff I probably shouldn’t be doing. That’s the best way to go about it, just forget about it.”
Scott suffered the injury in the Big East Tournament semifinals against Marquette, and was able to play 39 minutes the following night.
“I’m thankful for the trainers because they wrap it a certain way [that] it stays in place,” he said.
One of St. John’s best defenders and top 3-point shooters, the 6-foot-7 Scott has been one of the team’s unsung heroes.
He had a strong Big East Tournament, averaging 10.3 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.6 steals.
“He’s actually shooting better with the torn thumb,” coach Rick Pitino said jokingly. “I wish he would’ve torn it long ago.”
Pitino said he expects six to seven players from this year’s team to return.
Star forward Zuby Ejiofor is one of them, while leading scorer RJ Luis Jr. is expected to test the NBA draft waters and leave open the possibility of coming back.
Senior guard Deivon Smith said his right shoulder has felt better and he has been able to practice all week.
He hurt it again in the Big East Tournament championship game against Creighton last Saturday and had to come out late in the second half.
Arkansas coach John Calipari ruled out star forward Adou Thiero (hyperextended knee) for Thursday’s opening-round game against seventh-seeded Kansas.
The No. 10 Razorbacks have been without Theiro, their leading scorer and rebounder, since Feb. 22.
Calipari was stunned the selection committee didn’t send this group of teams to Lexington, Ky.
He figured he would be in a pod with St. John’s and fellow former Kentucky coach Pitino.
“When I saw we weren’t there, I’m like, ‘Wow, somebody must have been sick and went to the bathroom or something for them not to put us there,’” he said with a smile. “But look, this is so different for me in that [we’re] fighting to get in it, the reward of this.”
