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Kimble playing more for St. Joseph's with Newkirk out

Lamarr Kimble was ready to see extended playing time this season for St. Joseph's, but he never envisioned such a heavy workload.

Lamarr Kimble was ready to see extended playing time this season for St. Joseph's, but he never envisioned such a heavy workload.

The sophomore point guard, who began the week third in the nation in minutes played with an average of 37.4 per game, is coming off a 50-minute effort Saturday in an 86-83, double-overtime loss to visiting Fordham.

In Atlantic Ten games, he was averaging a whopping 39.3 minutes entering Tuesday's night matchup at Dayton.

A year ago, the former Neumann-Goretti High star averaged 18.1 minutes while fellow point guard Shavar Newkirk averaged 23.6.

This season, they were paired in the lineup, giving the Hawks essentially two point guards. But that ceased when Newkirk suffered a season-ending torn anterior cruciate ligament in a 68-63 win over George Washington on Dec. 30.

Kimble had been playing heavy minutes before the injury, but he never had to be in for an entire game. Since the injury, Kimble has played the entire game six out of 10 times.

"It's been a puzzle figuring out playing 40 [minutes] and leading my team as best as possible," the 6-foot Kimble said. "I not only have to put the ball in the basket but put my teammates in the situation where they do the same."

He's been able to do both. Entering Tuesday, Kimble was averaging 15.2 points and 4.1 assists for a Hawks team that was 10-12, 3-7 in the A-10.

Of course, it took some adjustment. In his first five games with Newkirk out, Kimble averaged 6.2 turnovers. The next five, he lowered it to 2.8.

"We talked to him about it and he has cut down the turnovers," St. Joseph's coach Phil Martelli said. "I hate to sound funny, but he looks fresher."

The player who is nicknamed "Fresh" agrees with his coach.

"I am feeling more comfortable, and my stamina is great," Kimble said. "I am in the best shape of my life, and I feel I have the ability to play 40 [minutes] and not just float through 40 but be productive and affect the game."

Martelli and his staff try to monitor Kimble's minutes in practice, but even that is difficult.

"You have to remember he gets all the reps in practice. There is no backup guy in practice," Martelli said. "We are practicing a little differently, and we are trying to be conscious of his minutes, even giving him off segments in practice."

In high school, even though the games are shorter, Kimble usually earned much more rest because his team often had games in hand by the fourth quarter.

"I never really had to play the full game until now," he said.

Maybe it's the product of the minutes, but one thing Kimble is looking to improve on is his shooting. Last year he made 37 percent of his three-point shots and 74 percent from the foul line. The numbers entering Tuesday were 31.5 and 67, respectively.

"His shooting numbers are down, and I will attribute it to the fact that he is tired," Martelli said.

Kimble remains undaunted about the shooting numbers.

"At the end of the day my confidence is high," he said. "I put up the same shots every day, and sometimes they fall and sometimes they don't. But I will live with it knowing the amount of work I put in in the gym."

Newkirk, who was averaging a team-best 20.3 points, has been an inspiration.

"Even with his injury, he has been great with his leadership and being vocal," Kimble said. "He has pushed me to fight through moments if he sees fatigue in my face."

mnarducci@phillynews.com

@sjnard