PROVIDENCE, R.I. — RJ Luis Jr. was named to a pair of All-American teams this week, and he played like one in his NCAA Tournament debut.
The 6-foot-7 junior, who was Big East Player of the Week and Big East Tournament Most Outstanding Player, dominated in second-seeded St. John’s 83-53 blitzing of No. 15 Omaha at Amica Mutual Pavilion.
He poured in 22 points on 8-of-14 shooting and added eight rebounds and two assists.
Most impressive, Luis was unconscious from deep, making a season-high five 3-pointers.
As a team, St. John’s hit an NCAA Tournament program record 14 from distance on 37 tries, continuing to improve upon its outside shooting late in the year.
“I didn’t know we hit 14 3s,” Luis said afterward. “We’re not bad shooters. It’s just about moving the ball and getting open looks and shots and shooting the ball with confidence. Definitely if we’re able to keep shooting the 3s, it’s going to be pretty interesting.”
Luis’ 3-point shot has really come on. Since Jan. 11, he is shooting 41.1 percent from beyond the arc.
The St. John’s bench continues to make an impact.
The unit was vital during the Johnnies’ run to their first Big East Tournament title in 25 years, and it produced again Thursday night.
Deivon Smith led the charge, notching eight points, six rebounds and three assists in the one-sided victory.
Vince Iwuchukwu may have had the biggest basket of the game, a 3-point play in the final seconds of the first half that gave St. John’s a five-point edge at halftime.
The Red Storm took over from there. Overall, the bench scored 22 points.
On Thursday, St. John’s coach Rick Pitino was named the Henry Iba National Coach of the Year by the USBWA.
He is the second Johnnies coach to win the award, joining the late Lou Carnesecca, who won it in 1983 and ’85.
Pitino will be honored at the annual USBWA Awards Dinner on April 17 at the Missouri Athletic Club in St. Louis.
Former St. John’s and Seton Hall guard Dylan Addae-Wusu was behind the Red Storm bench for the game. Addae-Wusu is very close with Kadary Richmond and Sadiku Ibine Ayo. … St. John’s booster and billionaire entrepreneur Mike Repole was in attendance.
