The Providence Friars are probably embracing the fact that it is a new season, and everyone’s record is 0-0. PC enters NYC losing 9 of their last 10 games and all but can guarantee they have their first 20 loss season since 1985 and only second in program history. However, none of that matters. The Friars get one more opportunity, one more chance to change the perception of what their season is. They need to take it one game at a time and that starts on Wednesday at 4pm when the Friars play the Butler Bulldogs at Madison Square Garden. The two schools split their season series with the Friars taking the home game back in January by 19 but fell at Hinkle Fieldhouse by a point back in February. What is it going to take for the Friars to survive and advance to extend their season one more game?
Be Solid with the Basketball
The Friars have struggled all season long with taking care of the basketball but luckily their opponent to start the postseason isn’t a team to force them. In two games against Butler the Friars averaged only 9 turnovers, down from the 11.8 they average per contest on the season. Still the Friars must take care of the basketball and avoid lazy/sloppy passes. If they want to get to Thursday they should at the very least try to keep the turnovers to 10 or less to give themselves a chance to win.
Guards Need to Step Up
Providence has shown that the Bulldogs are incapable of staying in front of the Friars quick backcourt. Jayden Pierre and Bensley Joseph have combined to score 36 ppg in the two games against Butler. It will also be interesting to see if Kim English goes back to Wesley Cardet Jr. after he was a DNP (coach’s decision) in their regular season finale. While he did not play in the game in Indianapolis he did go for 17 points (7/11 FG) in the game in Providence and his physicality attacking the hoop seemed to bother the Bulldogs.
Don’t Give McCaffrey Open Shots
In the game where Providence lost to Butler they allowed Patrick McCaffrey to score 11 points and shoot 3/4 from three. PC left their best shooter wide open multiple times, and it burned them. It’s understandable that the attention is going to be paid to Jahmyl Telfort and Pierre Brooks, but we can’t overhelp on their drives and leave guys like McCaffrey open from the perimeter.
Who Could Be the Friars X-Factor?
If the Friars want to go on a run and get a chance to flip the script on a disappointing season somebody is going to need to step up big. The leader in the clubhouse for that role seems to be Bensley Joseph and it helps his first matchup is a team he has had success against. There are other guys that can emerge too. Can Pierre show some of what he showed in last year’s postseason? Corey Floyd Jr has been getting buckets lately…could he ride that into MSG? Could Oswin continue to grow and put the league on notice for what could be instore in his sophomore campaign? The Friars have guys that can step up its just a matter of doing it and having the others follow suit.
For the Friars the two outcomes are clear either they can get a win against Butler and earn a Thursday afternoon tip with St. Johns or their season ends and begins an offseason with questions on how the program goes forward from a down year.
There have been folks who have asked if I’m attending the Big East Tournament this season and, I am unfortunately not. However, I do have a rule that if Providence plays on Championship Saturday I’m there no matter what.
Will I be seeing everybody Saturday? Only time will tell.
Go Friars