Providence found some life in the double overtime win against Butler. Can they show some consistency unlike what they’ve shown all season to win another conference game in a row and build some momentum? We shall see.
Providence at 10-13 is last in the conference at 3-9. DePaul is not far ahead of them at 4-8 in conference and 12-11 overall. The game is home for the Friars with a 4PM tip.
DePaul is a good story, and I think Holtmann is going to eventually get them to be competitive in the Big East (truly believe that). They are incrementally improving as a program that needs some stability.
Can Providence win two in a row or will this be another sequence of one step forward, two steps back? We preview the game below.
Keys to Game
Health of Friars – Vaaks, Edwards, Sellers, Floyd
The more revealing injury report for the Friars these days is releasing a report of who isn’t injured. The Friars are battling the injury bug, but hopefully the rest of a few days between games will allow for a more complete roster.
Edwards has been out for some time now with plantar fasciitis, but English indicated he may be able to give it a go this Saturday.
I’d expect the same for Floyd to be available who is probably now soundly cleared from concussion protocol.
Vaaks missed the remaining minutes of the double overtime game against Butler, and we’ll see if whatever is ailing him is more serious than initially perceived.
Lastly, there is Sellers. He gave a heroic effort in the win against Butler and was clearly battling a leg injury. I’m sure once his adrenaline from the game wore off he was in a world of pain. We’ll see if he is able to go, but I imagine he will. He’s slowly become the leader of this squad, and I don’t think he’ll miss this one coming off his 36 pointer.
If I was a gambling man, I’d say 3 of 4 players are available to play. Just don’t ask me who.
Reining in Vaaks
Vaaks is leading the Big East in three point attempts by a healthy margin, averaging a whopping 8.3 attempts/game. Unfortunately, he is only 32.3% from deep, and a lot of those 8.3 attempts are often not quality looks.
This is as much of an indictment on the coaching staff as it is Vaaks, to be clear. I’ve long said that English’s offensive strategy isn’t a sustainable one unless you have a Devin Carter all-world collegiate talent on your team. It asks too much of individual players to create on their own. That is what is happening with Vaaks.
Yes, Vaaks will heave 2-3 three balls a game that has you scratching your head, but the staff needs to reiterate how effective he can be in the mid-range and attacking the rim. He can get a step on most of his defenders due to his ability to play at varying paces with ease. Once he gets that initial step, his 6’6 frame gives him the ability to finish around the rim and not have his shot be contested. Lean into your lead guard being plus sized.
Vaaks needs to be much more efficient with his three ball attempts. I’m not asking him to cut out the three ball, as he’s clearly a weapon from deep, but the heat checks from the logo with 20 seconds on the shot clock need to stop. It’s not winning basketball, but unfortunately the staff has probably put too much on the plate of the young Estonian.
Crash the Glass
I’ll keep this easy. Providence is first in the conference in rebounds per game. DePaul is last. Impose their will on the offensive and defensive glass, and this Blue Demon team should wilt.
Ball Pressure – Full Court
DePaul is the only team in the Big East with more turnovers per game than Providence. If Providence has enough healthy bodies, I want to see them pick up the Blue Demons full court and see if they can take care of the basketball for 40 minutes. I don’t think they can.
Daniels Playing the Right Way – More Minutes
I don’t care if everybody that has been out is healthy in this one. Kim needs to play Nilavan a minimum of 10 minutes. Daniels has earned the right to be in the rotation, and I would be writing this even if he didn’t hit that massive three against Butler.
Daniels works his tail off on defense, hits the ground for loose balls, and plays the way you want all your players to play. You need to reward these type of players to make a point to the locker room.
Prediction
BOC: I’ve watched DePaul. I’ve crunched the numbers on both teams. I’ll probably end up eating crow here but a home weekend game against this Blue Demon team after the win against Butler is exactly what Providence needs. Providence wins…and wins big. 85-72 Friars.