MILWAUKEE — Forget any notion of sixth-ranked St. John’s playing it safe Saturday against Marquette.
The Big East regular-season champion Johnnies are going to FiserV Forum to win a game, not avoid injuries.
Coach Rick Pitino made that clear Friday ahead of the trip to take on the 20th-ranked Golden Eagles.
While point guard Deivon Smith isn’t expected to play, that’s because he hasn’t practiced since Saturday’s win over Seton Hall due to his right shoulder acting up again.
Everyone else of note will be available and used like this is a do-or-die contest.
Kadary Richmond, Aaron Scott and RJ Luis Jr., all of whom have dealt with different leg injuries in recent weeks, practiced fully this week.
A win would be a significant addition to the Red Storm’s résumé in their pursuit of the highest possible NCAA Tournament seed.
“I don’t have to motivate them because they know how important this game is. It’s important that we play great basketball,” Pitino said. “We played a great game against UConn at the Garden, and the next two, we didn’t play great basketball.
“We’re going to need to because it’s Senior Day at Marquette. It’s a sold-out arena. It’s their last [home] game. They need the game for a lot of reasons. Maybe the toughest game of the year for us.”
Since clinching the regular-season crown last Saturday, St. John’s has been the toast of the city.
Pitino and Luis went on CBS’ “Inside College Basketball” on Sunday, and the entire team was part of a skit to open NBC’s “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” on Thursday night.
Pitino sat down with Fallon later in the show.
He doesn’t view these appearances as distractions.
“If you’re away from the lines, have yourself a blast — that’s what college is all about. That’s what life is all about,” he said. “Between the lines, it’s about work and preparation, and I’ve got no doubt our team will be prepared, our team will play hard.”
To open Fallon’s show, Pitino, all 13 St. John’s players and mascot Johnny Thunderbird joined the comedian to sing a sea shanty parody based on their successful season.
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Pitino even donned his trademark all-white suit alongside Fallon.
“It was fun. Very creative,” star guard Kadary Richmond said. “Some of us did some things we didn’t think we would be doing. … It’s not my usual thing. [We have] a lot of funny guys on this team.”
Asked the best singer on the team, Richmond smiled and said there isn’t one.
“I told the team: ‘I’ve been to seven Final Fours and won two national championships as a coach, and we never went on the “Tonight Show,” ’ ” Pitino said. “ ‘You’re very lucky because you’re in the greatest city in the world. That’s why you’re on that show.’ ”
