It was a game that we all knew would be tough to get however for the first 37 minutes of gameplay it appeared to be one they would get. PC held a 11-point lead with three minutes to play against the 4th ranked Huskies Wednesday night but couldn’t close it out and fell in overtime. As I texted in our Big East Fantasy Hoops group message it was just a cavalcade of errors and whacky shit in the final 3 minutes of regulation. PC now is 0-3 in overtime games and either a play here or there would’ve been the difference in not only them winning but perhaps avoiding OT all together.
Had PC won the game it would have put them in a position to really build a resume to receive an at large bid. Instead, PC is now 1-7 in combined Q1/Q2 games and needs to put together a serious stretch of winning basketball to even be in consideration for an at large. That stretch starts on Saturday where the Friars will travel to Cincinnati to take on Xavier then a 2-game home-stand against Villanova and Creighton.
Attack Attack Attack– We wanted the Friars to be the aggressors on offense and play downhill attacking the basket. They did exactly this with 32 paint points and got to the foul line for 27 free throw attempts. Jamier Jones posed big problems for the Huskies’ interior with his drives. However he did get hurt on an illegal screen by Tarris Reed and was out of the game for a considerable amount of time before returning. PC’s attack mindset allowed them to kick out to open shooters as well with PC going 14/27 from the 3 point line.
PC Holds Their Own on the Glass– On the podcast we were discussing how you had to compete with UConn on the glass to give yourself a chance to win. Going into the game it was PC who surprisingly the better rebounding team and that showed in this one. PC out rebounded UConn 37-33 in this one although the Huskies did have a +3 edge on the offensive glass. Despite PC’s rebounding efforts it was the one that they couldn’t corral that really cost them. With PC cling to a 88-86 lead in the waning seconds of regulation Alex Karaban took a three that went off iron. If PC secures it they likely win the game but Tarris Reed grabbed the offensive rebound and put it back in to tie the game at 88 with 12 seconds left. Corey Floyd would then miss a buzzer beater and PC headed to overtime with UConn having all the momentum.
3 Minute Calamity– The Crier held his breath in Section 234 for basically the entire second half, however when Ryan Mela made a sick driving layup to put PC 86-75 with 3:12 to play even I started to think they had it. Then the three minutes from hell happened. Karaban would score on the next possession and then PC had 3 straight possessions where they turned it over and led to UConn baskets. One of the turnovers was on a 2-1 break for PC where Jones dished it to Oswin who lost the handle on a wide open jam. Tarris Reed was standing out of bounds when he secured the steal on that one but I digress. PC did try to quell UConn’s late surge when Corey Floyd secured a crucial offensive rebound and kicked out to Sellers for three. UConn then would instantly respond with a 3 of their own to set up the final seconds where Reed’s put back sent the game to OT. At that point you just knew PC was in trouble.
UConn Showed Championship Mettle– Although the Friars had mistakes and misfortune allowing UConn to steal the game you do have to credit the Huskies in this one. Even prior to making their furious comeback UConn was hitting big shots all night. PC would get a hoop to put them up 10, 11, or 13 and UConn would always have an answer. It seemed like their best offense on the night was when their backs were against the wall and they needed a hoop to avoid the game being out of hand. Hurley said in the post game presser that the championship culture showed in the end and he isn’t wrong. UConn certainly looks like a national title contender, think PC did expose their highly rated defense but they got some really good players and they know how to win.
While Wednesday’s loss was certainly a gut punch and any at large tournament prospects seem slim after yet another missed opportunity you do have to feel somewhat encouraged about the team the rest of the way. PC just went toe-to-toe with the two best rosters in the conference. It was such a painful way to lose a game but you gotta feel like if Providence continues to play this way they can start stacking wins in this league. Kim English said it in the postgame the biggest challenge is going to be to get the guys to stick together, if they can there is still time to salvage the season.
We are onto Cincinnati.
This loss will sting for a long time. But I give our Friars kudos for their great effort last night.
Let’s see if any other Big East team has the ability to take the Huskies to OT this season.
I doubt it. We still have two more chances at redemption. Granted the Gampel Pavillion will be tough to be victorious in but the BE Tourney at MSG will be totally doable. We already upset a very good Johnnies team and Pitino there. All is not lost if the team keeps playing at the high level they showed they are capable of last night. Go Friars!