Marquette, Creighton, UConn, and Villanova. Those are the four programs that Kim English views as first tier this season in the Big East. The Friars have faced three of those teams thus far and are 0-3. Add the home loss to St. Johns and that puts the Friars record in Quad 1 games at 0-4 on the season. Now the Friars turn their sights to Philly with a Friday night matchup against the Villanova Wildcats.
After a horrid non-conference start the Cats have started playing better basketball including a home win over UConn; however, Villanova has dropped two straight and are in desperate need of a win. Eric Dixon, who will turn 24 years old in a week and change, is your nation’s leading scorer at 24.8 points per game. Jordan Longino and Wooga Poplar are also helping put the ball in the hoop but their high powered offense has sputtered as of late. The Friars will have their hands full with Nova in what should be a desperate game of basketball.
Eric Dixon Probably Goes Off & That Might Be OK- Outside of Bryce Hopkins making an unexpected return in this one, the Friars really have no one to defend Eric Dixon. Dixon will be too crafty and savvy for Oswin to cover him, and Wesley Cardet is giving up some size there. Also, if the Friars are going to continue to play drop coverage on pick and roll then Dixon will pop out and burry threes. However, Dixon having a big night wouldn’t necessarily sink Providence. If I’m PC I’m focusing on the trying to lock down the other guys and live with the likely outcome with Dixon.
BOC: I’ll take an alternative approach and say it may be worth doubling Dixon every time he touches the ball in the post and forcing somebody else on Nova to beat you. It would force Villanova’s secondary players to step up, and I personally think that may be the better strategy. One on one with Dixon will lead to immediate foul trouble for the Friars, and Dixon will still end up getting his.
Pick your poison.
Miami Vice– Oddly enough two potential x-factors on Providence and Villanova were both teammates last year. Wooga Poplar and Bensley Joseph were both major parts of the Univesity of Miami’s run to the Final 4 two years ago and will now square off against each other. Joseph had a poor outing against Creighton after a career night against Seton Hall, and the Friars need him to be better than he was against the Blue Jays. As for Poplar, he’s the second scoring option and Dixon can’t do it all himself. The play of these two ex-Hurricanes could help determine the outcome.
Mela Vs Longino- This sounds like a boxing match on a card at the Lowell Memorial Auditorium, but I’m excited to see the basketball matchup between Friar forward Ryan Mela and Villanova’s Jordan Longino. Longino is one of the best wing defenders in the Big East and Mela knows how to find driving angles. Expect Longino to cover CFJ and Wesley Cardet as well, but the Mela matchup should be a good one.
Prediction
Crier: I’m not sure why I do this to myself but the Friars actually didn’t play that poorly in their 20-point loss to Creighton (BOC: completely disagree). They’ve played a lot better as of late and they’ve come close in several big games. This time Kim and the boys get it done. PC 76 Villanova 73
In order for Hopkins to qualify for a medical redshirt he has to have played 1/3 of the games or less. Is that regular season games or total games?? If its regular season games he can play about 7 more games to qualify. Maybe KE is saving Hopkins for the end of the season and the BE clambake at MSG. W/ the current list of players (meaning the two Freshmen) plus Hopkins this PC team could be pretty good. Watch out next year!!
Mike- I don’t know why you do that to yourself. Your prediction may be right but it all depends which team shows up for the Friars. The problem is there is no consistency. Sometimes we are a scoring dynamo and sometimes you would swear there is a lid on the hoop! I like this team alot but it’s a bumpy road when playing in the BE. One thing I will predict: UCONN is not going to threepete. I am really looking forward to March 1st when we play them at the AMP. If the right team shows up (which I think it will) we can beat them. You can bet that Donny Marshal will be one of the commentators there to cheer them on. GO FRIARS!