INDIANAPOLIS – Twice over the last week, an unprompted Rick Pitino has singled out Kadary Richmond’s toughness. His determination. His refusal to let nagging groin injuries slow him down.
It started after last Wednesday’s win at DePaul and continued Sunday after a victory over Connecticut.
Pitino went as far as to say that the Seton Hall transfer shouldn’t have played against the Huskies, he was so injured.
The Hall of Fame coach brought up the “general soreness” nickname some Seton Hall fans gave Richmond, a reference to him missing a few games last year for the aforementioned reason.
“I don’t know what the hell they were yelling about at Seton Hall about general soreness,” Pitino said Sunday. “Kadary Richmond is more injured than any player I’ve coached right now, and he fights through it.”
It meant a lot to Richmond, who has been dealing with groin pulls in each leg dating back to a Feb. 1 win over Providence.
“It just shows the type of person he is,” the senior said ahead of St. John’s trip to Butler Wednesday night. “I try to block all that stuff out [that Seton Hall fans say]. I could’ve been spoken on that in my time there at any media availability I had. I chose not to. That just goes to show the type of person he is and how much he cares about us players.”
The injuries haven’t slowed down Richmond.
Since the Providence game, he is averaging 17.8 points, 7.4 rebounds, 6.2 assists and 2.2 steals. After a slow start during non-conference play the Brooklyn native is everything St. John’s could’ve asked him to be, as one of the top players in the Big East.
The big question upon his decision to transfer to the Johnnies was how he would mesh with Pitino.
The narrative with Richmond was his sometimes questionable work habits and Pitino is known as a coach who demands his players put in extra time.
But Pitino hasn’t seen that in his time with Richmond, he has said multiple times.
He has frequently talked up Richmond’s personal accountability and leadership qualities. Pitino has been complimentary of the newcomer from the outset.
When he wasn’t putting up the numbers some expected, the coach attributed it to Richmond being surrounded by talented teammates and the standout guard being mature enough not to force shots.
In early January, he did say Richmond could get in better shape and that would allow him to be more consistent for longer stretches.
It was around that time that Richmond began to take off.
Pitino hasn’t been shy about bringing up the fact Richmond has answered the bell, in part because of his improved conditioning.
St. John’s is enjoying its best season in 25 years, and Richmond is a major reason for that.
As someone who grew up in New York City, he’s savoring his final year in college and everything this team has accomplished.
“There’s been a drought in the city in terms of college basketball, and debates of who the New York team is,” the gifted 6-foot-6 guard said. “So it’s nice to go around and be noticed for the work that we’re putting in as a group, just going out and seeing our faces at Madison Square Garden, seeing the flag poles with us on it, people noticing you wherever you go. It’s a good feeling to have.”
