Providence has a two game winning streak and can make this season very interesting with a road win in Omaha.
Creighton is 10-6 on the season and 3-2 in the Big East. They are led by 15th year senior Ryan Kalkbrenner who is averaging 18, 8, and 3 blocks. Steven Ashworth has stepped up as the Robin to his Batman, averaging 17, 7 assists, and 4 rebounds. Jamiya Neal is a do everything wing averaging 11, 6, and 5.
We break down how P.C. can secure a victory against Creighton and Coach Mac to get above .500 in the Big East.
Keys to Game
Oswin & Avoiding Foul Trouble – Oswin had his best game as a Friar against Seton Hall, putting up his first double double of his young career (12 and 10) and tallying 5 blocks. He faces arguably the toughest test of his career to date with a match-up against 3 time DPOY and Big East first teamer Ryan Kalkbrenner. Kalkbrenner is an especially difficult match-up due to him having about 4-5 inches on Oswin. Oswin needs to do his best to avoid foul trouble in this one, even if it means letting up a bucket or two. Oswin has done himself no favors and shows his youth with fouls on screens, over the backs, etc. He needs to play aggressive, but disciplined in this one.
I think it’ll be on English to use Oswin strategically, which brings me to my next point.
Bonke Providing Resistance – This will be one of the few times in Kalk’s career where he matches up against somebody who is his size. Bonke is by no means as experienced or productive as Kalkbrenner, but he at least has the size to match him.
If Bonke does get extended time, it’s imperative that he hustles back in transition. Kalkbrenner makes a living getting easy buckets in transition when his defender “falls asleep”. Additionally, Bonke needs to do his homework early and not let Kalkbrenner get too good of position in the post.
Bonke and Oswin are graduating from the 101 course to a PhD level with this match-up. Let’s see how they hold up.
High Ball Screen with Ashworth – Ashworth has been incredibly productive this year and can kill you from deep. Providence plays drop coverage a lot on defense, and I presume they’ll do that again to avoid the Kalk lob. It’ll be interesting to see how English chooses to defend this set, but I’d imagine he’s content with giving up the mid range and floaters to Ashworth.
The opposite strategy is providing help D off the dribble, but that would play right into Creighton’s hands of making the extra pass and dishing out to the perimeter for a 3. They have enough perimeter weapons with McAndrew and Traudt who can beat you from deep, but that’s their primary offensive game. Run them off the 3 point line.
This isn’t the juggernaut Creighton offensive squads of old. While Kalkbrenner, Ashworth, and Neal are a strong trio, the injury to Pop Isaacs has really put a cap on their season.
To date, they are 7th in Big East in scoring at 75.4 (PC 72.1…and climbing!), 8th in 3 point field goal % at 34.1 (PC above them at 34.6), and second worst in Big East at 13.3 turnovers a game (PC at 12.5).
If there was a time to get Creighton on the road, it’s this game. They are vulnerable and not at 100%.
Staying Honest to Offensive Strategy of Late – On the road against Creighton, Providence may fall into some bad habits and fall back in love with the three ball. English needs to insist on doing what has worked the past 3 games and staying in the 20-25 attempts from deep range. In the last 3 games where they’ve hit their season highs in points scored in each consecutive game (2-1 during that stretch), Providence has only shot 20.7 threes per game. That’s the recipe for a road win, not bombing 30+ three’s.
This is a game where P.C. should be able to expose the guards and attack their man off the dribble. Pierre and Joseph should be salivating at this match-up. Floyd Jr. and Cardet should push the ball downhill and not settle.
Summary
This is a game the Friars can absolutely steal on the road. They just need to continue to do what they’ve done offensively the past 3 games while tightening the screws a bit defensively. Creighton is sloppy with the basketball, and Providence should attack that weakness in their game.
Creighton doesn’t have the firepower that we’re routinely used to seeing under a Coach Mac team, and I do think the Friars can steal one on the road.
BOC, spot on in your assessment of the Friars upcoming game. I would point out that while our offense has really taken off in the last couple of weeks, our defense has gotten worse. I haven’t seen a game yet where we’ve handled the high ball screen. Defensively, we still are late to close out and most importantly, we get beat far too often on the back door cuts. However, having said that, I think we can outscore Creighton. Although I never thought I would ever say that. I think as PC fans, we’ve got to get used to the fact that, you are never going to know what PC team is going to show up with. To me, its game to game. Did we have success recently because its the lower half of the BE or are we improving? This game is a fair assessment of what we are…. Lastly, while Mela has been a wonderful find, can anybody tell me why he’s not shooting any jumpers at all? He was open multiple times on the 3pt line and our guards take a look and pass opposite or decide to take their shot. Don’t believe me then, look at the film. Seems that we’ve had this problem before with Horchler.
They look almost like a new team with the two Freshmen. Mela as the point forward changes this team a great deal—-mvt, opened up offense, driving to the basket (mela and cardet). I think they will improve w/ this lineup over the next few games—then we will see.