A year ago at this time, Rick Pitino called Zuby Ejiofor his most valuable player, RJ Luis Jr. his most outstanding player and Kadary Richmond his most clutch player.
The St. John’s coach was asked for a similar breakdown Tuesday.
He gave Ejiofor the nod for most outstanding, named Dillon Mitchell the most valuable, and the most clutch?
“Clutch player is obviously, you know who it is. It’s ‘Big Bells,’” Pitino said, referring to Dylan Darling.
After a road win at Xavier on Jan. 24, in which Darling hit the go-ahead 3-pointer in the final minute, Pitino said Darling has “balls the size of church bells.”
St. John’s now gives out a “Big Bells” award of the game after wins to the player that contributes the most to a victory.
The program even bought a large bell for the occasion.
Over his past nine games, Darling is averaging 10.3 points, 2.2 assists and 1.4 steals off the bench, and has scored at least 16 points in three of the past four games.
Different Big East coaches, from Connecticut’s Dan Hurley to Xavier’s Richard Pitino to Creighton’s Greg McDermott, have raved about the Idaho State transfer’s two-way impact.
Pitino has resisted starting Darling, preferring him as a reserve, in part to stay out of early foul trouble.
“I give him, obviously, a ton of credit,” Hurley said Tuesday. “The narrative around them early in the year was that there was no point guard and the point guard play wasn’t good. That guy is tough as nails, just a clutch performer. He’s got a strong will, and made huge plays [against us]. I thought he was the difference in our game at the Garden.
“When things got tight and we climbed back to a point or two in that game, he made all the big shots.”
Ian Jackson (ankle) practiced fully Tuesday and will play, according to Pitino. Jackson was held out of Saturday’s rout of Creighton. Pitino doesn’t expect him to start. … Freshman guard Kelvin Odih (right leg soreness) will be out.
