The booing.
The insults.
The venom.
Bryce Hopkins knows what to expect in his return to Amica Mutual Pavilion on Saturday.
He was there two years ago when the Providence fans treated former coach Ed Cooley like a villain.
He’s likely in line for a similar reception.
“It’ll be similar, for sure,” the St. John’s forward said with a smile Thursday.
Later, he added: “The decision for me coming here, that was my decision. I have to live with that, and it’s part of the whole situation.”
Hopkins got a taste of it five weeks ago when the Friars handed the 17th-ranked Johnnies their lone conference loss at the Garden and their fans booed him throughout that contest.
It will be amplified Saturday.
“Everybody really has to have his back,” teammate Zuby Ejiofor said. “It’s going to be a tough environment. It’s always a tough place to play and win at. The biggest thing is to get him involved early on and seeing him get some early baskets and deter all those fans and the noise and stuff like that.”
Ironically, that defeat changed everything for Hopkins and St. John’s (19-5, 12-1).
They haven’t lost since, reeling off 10 straight wins.
Hopkins has been a difference maker since that setback, more aggressive, better on the defensive end, a key to the Johnnies beginning to live up to their sky-high preseason expectations.
Hopkins struggled in the first Providence game, scoring just eight points on 3-of-13 shooting.
He has said on a few occasions his effort didn’t sit right with him, and Hopkins has made the necessary adjustments.
In that loss, he was outplayed by Providence freshman Jamier Jones.
Afterwards, Jones made headlines by saying that had Hopkins stayed at Providence, he would still play over him.
Asked about that comment Thursday, Hopkins took the high road.
“He’s a great player, he’s playing some good basketball right now. I have respect for him,” Hopkins said. “He’s a competitor, I’m a competitor, too. He should say that, and he should believe like he should be able to play over me at [Providence]. But that’s his opinion. I have my own opinion, and that’s that.”
During this run, Hopkins is averaging 14.8 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.1 steals.
CHECK OUT THE LATEST BIG EAST STANDINGS AND ST. JOHN’S STATS
He has committed only four turnovers.
More than those numbers, he has been at his best when it is needed, excelling in the second halves of several wins.
In Monday’s sluggish win over Xavier, he came up big in crunch time, getting two key offensive rebounds on the Red Storm’s final possession that resulted in Oziyah Sellers’ game-tying layup.
In overtime, he was a defensive stalwart, notching two steals.
“When the game was on the line, really Bryce Hopkins won the game,” coach Rick Pitino said that night.
St. John’s had a similar situation a year ago when Kadary Richmond returned to Newark to face local rival Seton Hall.
At the time, he had yet to begin to play his best, but enjoyed a strong game and took off from there.
It’s different with Hopkins, who has already turned a corner.
“There’s going to be a chip on my shoulder, that’s probably the only thing I’m going to say about it,” Hopkins said. “Not looking to go in there and prove something and force the issue because that’s when things don’t go well. Just playing through my teammates, whatever is open I’m going to take, and just play good basketball. That’s something I pride myself on.
“I’m not going to go in there forcing the issue and try to make the game about me. It’s about me and my teammates and we’re all playing for one goal, to win the Big East championship.”
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: nypost.com
