Princeton needs Aririguzoh to keep playing without fear PRINCETON GAMEDAY

PRINCETON >> Richmond Arirguzoh received the ball at the elbow, as is custom for the big man in Princeton’s offense, then did something he probably couldn’t have done when he arrived on Old Nassau.

The 6-foot-9, 230-pound Aririguzoh took a jab step, drove to the basket and finished with a layup.

“The coaches have been working with me, especially with my offense,” Aririguzoh said.. “Making sure I stay confident and keep calm.”

Call it the evolution of one of the Tigers’ key players. When Aririguzoh committed to Princeton after a standout senior season in which he was the Area Player of the Year at Trenton Catholic Academy, he was a rim protector and rebounder. Asking him to put the ball on the floor or make a post move to the basket was more likely to result in a clumsy turnover than points.

The Ewing native has worked hard to make himself a threat on offense. In Wednesday’s loss to St. Joseph’s, he finished with a career-high 14 points and was perfect from the field (3-for-3) and free throw line (8-for-8).

“He’s playing without fear,” coach Mitch Henderson said. “We just want to be getting a little bit better every single day and he does that, he embodies that for our group.”

Aririguzoh’s production jump backs that up. The junior is averaging 9.1 points — third on the team in scoring — along with 5.1 rebounds in 21.9 minutes per game. To compare, he posted 2.7 points and 1.7 rebounds in 9.1 minutes as a sophomore.

“I think my biggest focus has been footwork,” Aririguzoh said. “Just making sure my feet are down here and my pivot is good here.”

Knocking down free throws certainly helps. He’s up to 70.4 percent from 59.6 a year ago.

“I’ve been putting them up after practice,” Aririguzoh said. “I’m just trying to be aggressive about drawing fouls.”

Princeton (4-3) takes on undefeated St. John’s (80) on Sunday afternoon at Madison Square Garden, the Tigers’ first trip to the world’s most famous arena since December of 2000.

Aririguzoh has never been to MSG despite growing up in Ewing (he considers himself a 76ers sympathizer but not a fan), so he’s looking forward to it.

“It’s great, obviously, never played in a place like that, but that’s what college basketball is about — these great basketball atmospheres.”

The team is going into the city on Saturday to visit the World Trade Center Memorial.

“It’s an opportunity for our group to pay respect to the place and also learn a little about what happened on that day,” Henderson said. “Most of the guys on the team were one or two when that happened. There are a couple seniors who know.”

Then attention turns to a difficult run of games. Following Sunday’s game, the Tigers face Iona in Atlantic City, play No. 3 Duke at Cameron Indoor Stadium and head west to take on No. 20 Arizona State.

“What an unbelievable stretch for us,” Henderson said. Who: Princeton (4-3) at St. John’s (8-0)

When: Sunday, 1 p.m., Madison Square Garden, New York

TV/ Radio: FS1/ WPRB 103.3 FM

Last Time Out: Princeton lost to St. Joseph’s, 92-82; St. John’s defeated Mt. St. Mary’s, 85-71

Series History: St. John’s leads, 10-6

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