Smith Potentially Out for Rest of Regular Season

In one of the interviews, one distinguishing talent Smith brings on the floor is that with Kadary, RJ, Scott, and Zuby it gives us 5 guys who are good rebounders. Staff is pushing Wilcher to become a better rebounder.

Obviously Smith gives us an x factor vs any team in the country. Defense, steals, rebounds, assists, points.

Blazing speed makes us a very good transition team.

I wonder if Father Rock is a faith healer?
Not a conspiracy guy, but this Dev injury situation feels odd.
 
I think almost all of us agree he shouldn't have played in the Seton Hall game.

The three games that he played since then he has shot 5 for 28. His presence was still invaluable a number of ways but it's not crazy for Pitino to say he is not the same player since the injury.

As for the severity of his injury of I have no idea but I understand why in a perfect world you would want to shut him down for a while and hope he gets better before he returns. If worst case is he misses the rest of the regular season the rest of the team should be able to beat DePaul, Seton Hall and Butler. The other three games will be a battle but many of our games have been. Our seed may drop a little but in the end hopefully we will be at our best for the NCAA's. Its possible he comes back sooner as well.

Beyond that who knows but it doesn't seem like anything that won't work itself out.
 
You missed the point. Some posters stated they hoped Sju79 would reveal some information regarding this, since he knows Smith. But he was told by the staff not to discuss it publicly.

I feel we should respect that.
I would just add to this to be sensitive about how we critique players. It's a fact that this site gets read by everyone - SJU admin, players, even parents and family, beat reporters.

Not that kids aren't dismissive of stupid crap that gets written about them here or on X. Even Pitino has spoken about almost quitting Louisville and coaching over nasty stuff said about him by "fans" after an early tourney exit. He was about to take a lucrative TV gig till his son Richard talked him out of it, essentially saying consider the source, something akin to internet trolls are the dregs of social media.

Sort of understandable, then that Smith is super concerned about what gets said about him here and on X. Players 18-23 played hs and aau being adored, and are unprepared to get crapped on when their team loses and they don't play well.

It's why Rick is mostly very careful when he criticizes one of his kids publicly. He tosses in a lot of platitudes along with his criticisms. He knows what he is doing - calling a kid out for mistakes and deficiencies even as he praises him.

SJU79# has visited 100 colleges since October? Either he is a handler, setting the stage for portal transfers, or a guy who sell class rings for Josten. 😀
 
Hey guys, remember there is a documentary being filmed this season.

Vital to any film’s success, is building character arcs. They have must go through a series of events in order to keep the audience engaged. Almost as if they are in the journey together.

When SJU is in the Final Four and Smith is making one of his patent electric drives to the basket, everything will serendipitously come together. In fact, I already hear that moment accompanied by a musical score

(Side bar: It is obvious by the consternation, no one has studied under the artist, Monte. I learned this by keenly observing his artistic brilliance in action).

I feel so strongly about this, that I anticipate a Final Four and an Emmy when all is said and done.
 
It’s very clear there’s frustration and I take 79 at his word it’s not directed towards Smith.

The main thing should be that Pitino isn’t talking about this publicly as if he couldn’t play, but moreso that we need him more for March than right now to limit any future injury. That uncertainty of recovery is probably grating at Rick and Deivon.

Seems relatively clear to me Smith has enjoyed playing with these guys and especially at MSG.
 
its Feb 14th... Send smith to Germany for whatever treatment Kobe used to get... get him back here 2nd week of March...

I'd rather a 10 seed w/Dev than a 4 seed w/out him...
 
It’s very clear there’s frustration and I take 79 at his word it’s not directed towards Smith.

The main thing should be that Pitino isn’t talking about this publicly as if he couldn’t play, but moreso that we need him more for March than right now to limit any future injury. That uncertainty of recovery is probably grating at Rick and Deivon.

Seems relatively clear to me Smith has enjoyed playing with these guys and especially at MSG.
The frustration is probably compounded by the fact that the staff and team know if everyone is on board, this thoroughly special season has more magic to it.
 
It’s very clear there’s frustration and I take 79 at his word it’s not directed towards Smith.
The two most straightforward interpretations of that are that the frustration is with either (1) the medical staff; or (2) folks around Smith who don't want him to play until he's fully healthy.

Given how this played out, if it's the first option then I think the last people Pitino should be frustrated at are the medical staff; on that front he should start by looking in the mirror.

And if its the second option, I again don't think it's reasonable to be frustrated with folks who are looking out for the best long-term interest of the kid - which is of course directly linked to the first issue.

I have no inside knowledge on this, so of course it could be option 3, "none of the above."
 
In one of the interviews, one distinguishing talent Smith brings on the floor is that with Kadary, RJ, Scott, and Zuby it gives us 5 guys who are good rebounders. Staff is pushing Wilcher to become a better rebounder.

Obviously Smith gives us an x factor vs any team in the country. Defense, steals, rebounds, assists, points.

Blazing speed makes us a very good transition team.

I wonder if Father Rock is a faith healer?
Reminds me of when we played Oral Roberts back in the 1970s.
 
So you say you’re not a conspiracy guy and then imply a conspiracy?

Come on, Paultz, you’re better than that.
Take it as you wish. I was clear that I just had odd feeling about his status & hope things are clearer soon. That is it, I said I had no info and was just talking out loud regretfully I guess.
 
Last edited:
Back
Top