After playing 5 seemingly “easier” games to start the season, Providence is throwing itself into the deep end of the Carribean waters by playing in the Battle 4 Atlantis in the Bahamas. Its tournament opener, Oklahoma, is no stranger to the Friars. English and team visited Norman last year and were bullied off the court to a score of 72-51. As we detail below, this Oklahoma team is drastically different than the one they faced last year and has a bevy of questions of its own.
We preview the Oklahoma Sooners and what to watch for in this game.
Oklahoma Sooners Team Preview
4-0 on season. Schedule to date eerily mimics the Friars with lower level competition against “regional foes”.
Oklahoma is averaging 84 points on the year, led by 6’7 senior Jalon Moore. Moore started against the Friars last year, but had an off night with scoring 2 points on 17 minutes. This year, he is averaging 19 and 6 and is the classic wiry forward that is a defensive nightmare to guard. For reference, last year he was third on the team in scoring, averaging 11 and 7. Currently, he is shooting 39% from three. A complete three level scorer.
Superb freshman Jeremiah Fears runs the show for Oklahoma, averaging 16 points, 4 assists, 4 rebounds, and 2.5 steals. Factor in that he technically should be a senior in high school due to his reclassification, and you have to be in awe of what he is doing early. I know the Duke boys get all the freshman love, but he should be talked about more nationally. My dream of him transferring to PC after this year is probably a pipe dream, as he may be league bound after one season. This is a gut check game for Joseph and Pierre against Fears.
Duke Miles is a senior guard who is averaging 12 points and 4 assists. He comes from High Point. Kobe Elvis, a transfer from Dayton and DePaul, rounds out the backcourt with 11 and 5. A former Friar, Brycen Goodine, is also on the roster after blossoming at Fairfield.
The last player I want to call out is Sam Godwin. The 6’10 senior is the anchor in the frontcourt. He is averaging 8 and 11. He is the ONLY other player besides Moore who contributed in last year’s blowout, going for 12 points and 4 rebounds.
Keys to Game
Take Care of the Basketball!
Oklahoma is 11th nationally at 11.8 steals/game. PC was reckless with the basketball in the first few games, but has been a bit better of late. In the last two games, they’ve turned the ball over just 16 times.
Five games in, Providence is averaging 13.8 turnovers/game. Pierre and Joseph need to ensure they have the ball in their hands the majority of the time and truly prioritize quality possessions and not giving the ball away. Oklahoma can run away with this one if PC has another outing of 15+ turnovers.
Get The Sooner Frontcourt in Foul Trouble
Besides the 6’10 Godwin, Oklahoma plays a very small line-up. Providence may not have a ton of obvious advantages in this one, but the size and depth of the frontcourt absolutely is one. Just like we saw in Delaware State, English needs to draw up some isolation looks for Essandoko as well as throw some lobs to Oswin to put pressure on Godwin to defend without fouling. It also gets the Friar bigs involved early. An engaged Essandoko is a different caliber of player, as we saw in the last game.
The frontcourt for Providence has been up and down five games in, but they need to flex their muscles a bit here. Early foul trouble for the Sooners at the 4/5 spots could swing this game heavily for the Friars. Let’s see if Oswin and Christ are up for it mentally.
One last thought on this topic: do we see a two big line-up deployed? We haven’t seen it really all season, but maybe English is keeping it in his back pocket for this one. Oswin absolutely has the athleticism to guard the smaller hybrid forward Moore with Essandoko/Bonke guarding Godwin. A curveball idea, no doubt, but it’s something to keep in the back of your mind.
Sooner Team = Similarities to the Friars
This Oklahoma team has a lot of turnover to its roster as well. For reference, only two players on this year’s roster scored in last year’s game against the Friars. Those two players also started in last year’s game. Providence has 4 players returning who scored in last year’s game in Norman.
I mention this because this game has the makings of being an ugly one. Both teams are trying to find their identity and haven’t played difficult competition to date. Being in a neutral game environment, traveling a far distance to play, and rapidly increasing the quality of opponent will lead to some rough looking play early. Which team acclimates quicker and throws the first few punches (not literally, which hopefully doesn’t become a Bahamas trend) probably wins this one.
Will Hopkins Play?
I believe I’ve written this in each preview article for the past 3 games, so apologies to the readers. With a week of additional practices since the Delaware State game, it wouldn’t surprise me to see Hopkins play in this one on a pitch count.
Given my point above about a thin frontcourt, Hopkins can contribute to the bully ball aspect of this game. Jalon Moore would likely draw him in a match-up, and Providence would welcome BHop going up against a player of his caliber. I fear Moore could be a game wrecker for Oklahoma. Having Hopkins helps us minimize the Moore impact.
Does This Defense Travel?
Providence is 4th nationally at allowing 53.6 points a game. Seventh nationally at allowing only 18.8 baskets/game. Fifth nationally at opponents being 34.6% from the floor.
Is this fool’s gold due to the quality of competition for the Friars to date or will this team provide a rude awakening for the Oklahoma Sooners? I tend to think it’s the former. Oklahoma is averaging 84/game, but I think we’ll see them finish in the high 60’s/low 70’s. Will that defensive output be enough? We saw too many games last year where the defense did their part, but the offense couldn’t throw the ball in the ocean if they tried. Let’s hope this year is different.
Prediction
BOC: Providence wins an ugly one 70-68 and remains undefeated before facing…Caleb Love and the Arizona Wildcats.
The Crier: 76-70 Providence.