The sense around the PC basketball program after a disappointing 7-4 non-conference slate would be for them to get at least one of their first two games of the Big East schedule to save their season. After a heartbreaking loss to Butler in double overtime, 113-110, the Friars still had an opportunity with the 10-1 Seton Hall Pirates coming to town to get one.
Instead, another frustrating close game loss that now has the Friars at 7-6 on the season and a 0-2 start to league play. PC opened the game making only two of their first twelve shots from the floor. They would settle in offensively but let the defense slip, and Hall entered halftime with a 7-point lead.
After a timeout early in the second half, Providence finally made their push, even taking a 46-45 lead. Seton Hall behind their stout defense punched back and got their lead to the halftime margin of 7 with 5 minutes to go. Providence then made one final push taking a 67-66 lead after two Jaylin Sellers free throws with 1:16 remaining. That would be the last point PC would score as Seton Hall closed the final 76 seconds on a 6-0 run.
We recap the game in more detail below.
Good Defense Beats the Good Offense?- It was the theme going into this one, as PC entered the night with the 13th highest scoring offense in the nation and Seton Hall touting a 6th in the nation ranking in points against. So, the good defense beats the good offense, right? Well, that’d be the case if Providence actually played good offense in this one. Clearly you need to credit Shaheen Holloway’s group for having a hand in PC’s poor offensive night, but PC did themselves no favors. They had so many empty possessions on offense in this one. PC shot 5/22 from three. We want this team shooting threes, but it seemed like so many of the looks were forced and/or not in rhythm. PC only had 11 assists in this one on only 19 makes from the floor. It seemed when in doubt PC would throw a lob for an alley-oop, and it resulted in several of their 13 turnovers in the game. PC’s only good offense came from the free throw line where they were 24/30 on the evening.
Defense was OK, Until it Wasn’t– Providence’s defense was by no means excellent in this one. They got outrebounded by six, allowed Seton Hall to grab nine offensive rebounds, and allowed 34 paint points. However, for the most part their defense was serviceable and at times good. The on-ball defense was probably the best it’s been all season; Seton Hall was only 5/15 from three.
Unfortunately for the Friars the biggest lapse on defense on the night couldn’t have come at a worse time. Sellers had just given PC the 67-66 lead with 1:16 remaining. All PC needed was stop and based off their free throw shooting this season that likely would’ve been all they needed to get the victory. Corey Floyd attempted to help on a high-ball screen and slipped on the floor, with that Duncan Powell came over to help but left Tajuan Simpkins as wide open as you could possibly be and he drained the three. After PC missed their next shot, they still had a chance to get a stop to give themselves a chance, but Budd Clark hit a mid-range pull up to ice the game.
Game was a Whistle Fest– It wouldn’t be a Big East Conference basketball game without some commentary on the officiating, right? There were 41 fouls called in this game and 57 attempted free throws. If you were watching at home, you probably thought there was a sound delay in the FS1 production team with whistles coming well after the play was over. It was not your television set there were numerous whistles that came very late. It almost seemed as if the refs were waiting to see whether or not a player would make a shot before deciding they’d blow a whistle. Also, clearly Big East officials didn’t get the memo that the NCAA added continuation because there were several fouls called where continuation should have been called. Kim English did speak about the officiating in the postgame saying they are a good crew but there were several fouls called on PC where a Seton Hall player flailed their bodies on straight up defense and garnered whistles. He also said it wasn’t the reason PC lost. I agree with his overall assessment but will say that when games have a million whistles there is zero flow or rhythm to the game. With PC already not having a ton of rhythm to their offense didn’t think foul fest helped. It doesnt need to be said but people watch basketball to see players make plays, not refs blow whistles.
What’s Next
The reason many felt PC’s first two conference games were critical to turning around their season is due to who is next on the schedule. The Friars will get fourteen days off before their next game, and it probably couldn’t come at a better time, as they need to figure things out.
The problem is PC will be playing their next two games against the cream of the crop in the conference. PC will travel to NYC on January 3rd to face Bryce Hopkins and St. Johns. They then will turn around and have a home game against the 5th ranked UConn Huskies.
Theres a good chance this thing gets worse before it gets better, if it gets better. Time will tell if these next two weeks the Friars can internally figure things out and have a season still worth fighting for.
Another season is potentially lost before we enter January. Fun times.
Also very troubling signs off the court As Kim said, players looking at parents in the stands when they come out of the game. This means he’s lost those players and behind the scenes there is chaos. No coming back from this. Many people expressing Kim get fired but I’m thinking he’s going to resign at the end of the year. Lastly, the AMP was dead last night. Even with the students away, I get the feeling that the fans are done with not only Kim but the players too.
Russ- I agree with you about English. However, UCLA fired Steve Alford in the middle of the season because they didn’t like the way things were going. I say give him a few more games to fix the defense so we don’t get back cut on a regular basis and we see some aggresive and effective defense. If not, fire him and let Felton take the reins until we find a coach who can get the job done. In my humble opinion I think Nap jumped way too fast in hiring English after Cooley left. He should have took his time and searched for a coach with more experience in a power conference somehere. Cooley was a much better coach. We deserved better. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all Friar Fans. Go Friars!