Julian Champagnie made a change this week. Typically, the St. John’s junior spends his evenings in the gym taking shots when there isn’t a game. He took Wednesday evening off.
The Big East‘s second-leading scorer is in the midst of a shooting and scoring crisis, so he’s decided to try something different. Sometimes less can be more, like a batter in baseball who over-practices at bat.
“I was like, ‘Chill out and get back to what I’m doing,’ and give me those good thoughts, positive thoughts,” Champagnie told The Post ahead of the Red Storm’s visit on Saturday to No. 14 Villanova.
Champagnie scored less than 10 points in consecutive games for the first time since the middle of his freshman season, going on a double-digit 47-game streak. He’s gone 5 for 26 in his last two games and is only hitting 30% of his 3-point attempts in the league after shooting a solid 43% from range beforehand.
He made sure to credit opposing defenders who limited him, players such as Seton Hall’s Myles Cale, Creighton’s Alex O’Connell and Providence’s Justin Minaya, but he also took responsibility. It was not defended differently. It’s on him.
“For almost two years now, I’ve been hitting hard shots,” Champagnie said. “I have to give myself some of that blame for not making any shots. I have to hold myself accountable. I’m used to people laughing at me. I still shot.
The 6-foot-8 Brooklyn native dismissed the idea that he was insistent and pondered what his recent fights might do to his NBA draft stock. If he pressed, Champagnie said, he would force the shots. That was not the case in the Red Storm’s Monday win over Seton Hall. Instead, he contributed in other ways, grabbing eight rebounds, delivering five assists and blocking four shots. The NBA is obviously on his mind, but he’s not concerned about it.
“My main goal is to know how I’m going to get out of this, so that I can play well for the next game,” Champagnie said. “Not what’s going to happen in the summer and where I might get drafted. It’s not my main concern at the moment. My main concern is how I can pull myself together and help my teammates, so that we can win games.
Chamapagnie was encouraged by Monday’s victory. St. John’s won a big game despite their struggles, playing as many expected during the preseason. The 21-point win at Seton Hall was by far the Red Storm’s best team performance of the season, their first win in Quad 1. Perhaps it’s a sign this team finds itself in time for a big race February that could bring her into the NCAA Tournament picture. Of course, for that to happen, St. John’s needs their star forward to find their game.
“I have to figure it out, but I have to figure it out while making sure it’s what’s best for my team,” Champagnie said. “I can go out and fire 20 shots, and that might not be the best fit for my team that day. Getting back in the gym, having good training days and continuing to do what we want to do as a team, and just piling on good days is what’s going to help me out of my slump.
“All it takes,” he added, “is something to click.”
