Ian Jackson’s St John’s Red Storm is set to take on the Creighton Bluejays today at home. The Red Storm have had a resurgence in their recent stretch, winning the last 12 games in a row to occupy the top spot in the Big East.
At home, they have won 12 of 14 games and hold an overall 21-5 record. They are 14-1 in the conference and have a one-game advantage over the second-place UConn Huskies in the Big East.
Today’s matchup against the Bluejays could be an opportunity for the Red Storm to extend their winning streak to 13. The Bluejays are 14-13 overall and have a losing record on the road with just three wins and seven losses.
The biggest problem for the Red Storm right now is the injuries within the camp. Their star shooting guard, Ian Jackson, is dealing with an ankle injury, which he suffered during their last game against the Marquette Golden Eagles.
Jackson suffered the injury early in the first half, but he was able to finish the game for his team after getting his ankle taped up. The Red Storm won the game 76-70, but they have another problem to deal with before the Bluejays game.
Jackson has been ruled out for the game due to a sprained ankle. As per head coach Rick Pitino, the ankle sprain is serious, and Jackson needs some rest and treatment before he can step on the court again.
“He’s got a pretty good ankle sprain. He’s in a boot from the other night,” he said. “He showed a little toughness, went back and got re-taped and played through pain.”
When the Red Storm were struggling against Marquette, Pitino gave a motivational speech to his team, which helped them bounce back and secure the win.
What Did Rick Pitino Say to His Players?
The Marquette game was very close, and if it wasn’t for Pitino’s message to his team, they might’ve failed to register a 76-70 win. At the post-game press conference, Pitino revealed what he said to his players.
“When momentum swung their way, my message to the guys was, ‘we’ve been here before,’” he said. “‘Don’t panic, we’ve been here before. We’re going to have our run,’ and they 100 percent didn’t panic, played like a veteran team.”
His motivational message worked. He said exactly what the players needed to hear, and when they stepped on the floor again, they handled their business. Going into the Bluejays matchup, Pitino might have to deliver another message as the players might be disheartened due to the injury.
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