The Friars entered Wednesday night’s game against Seton Hall with a chance to have their first three-game winning streak since December 9th and their first streak of three wins in the Big East since February 21st, 2024. The Friars got off to a great start with sizzling three-point shooting and found themselves leading for the majority of the game’s first 28 minutes of play. That, however, would change as Seton Hall grabbed their first lead of the game with 12:15 left to play and didn’t look back as they defeated the Friars 87-80 in Newark.
For the Pirates it was the most points they’ve scored all season long. For the Friars it was the same story all season, allowing an opponent to score at will with no defensive resistance.
With the loss the Friars fall to 11-14 on the season and 4-10 in the Big East, tied with Marquette for last place in the conference. While the Friars offense put up 80 points in this one, they also did their defense no favors by committing 18 turnovers, which led to 17 easy points for the Pirates. It has been the same story all season.
More Turnovers than a French Bakery
We talked on the latest Providence Crier Podcast that the last thing you want to do is turn the ball over against a Seton Hall team, and it’s exactly what the Friars did. You have to credit Seton Hall for their stellar on ball pressure, but it’s also an indictment on how poorly prepared Providence was.
There have been warning signs of recent with the DePaul 16 turnover game, but it’s been an issue all season. They lead the Big East in most turnovers per game. It’s unfortunately a calling card of the entire English tenure. Last year, they also led the Big East in turnovers at 12.7 turnovers per game. His philosophy doesn’t seem to preach taking care of the basketball, and it continually bites them against defenses with a pulse.
Despite shooting 6/9 from three to start the game the Friars only found themselves leading by 6 points, partly because they had 9 first half turnovers. However, the first half turnovers didn’t hurt them as bad as the 10 they gave up in the second stanza. The dead ball turnovers you can live with but the ones in the half court that led to fastbreak layups for the Pirates were killers. Ryan Mela, Corey Floyd Jr and Jason Edwards each had one down the stretch that gave a bad Seton Hall offense confidence. It also didn’t help that Seton Hall finished the final 28 minutes of gameplay without committing a single turnover. It was clearly the difference in this game.
Budd Clark Torches the Friars
Budd Clark, Seton Hall’s diminutive guard import from Merrimack University, absolutely went off against the Friars especially in the second half. Clark finished the game with 31 points on 11/16 from the floor, with 21 points and 5 of his 8 assists coming in the second half. The entire offensive game plan for Seton Hall in the second half was having a high ball screen for Clark. He would drive right to the hoop, stop and either dish to his teammates for a hoop or take and make a turnaround fadeaway mid-range shot. He also added 5 steals in the game as an extra bonus.
Jordan Cornette, who was doing the color for the game on Peacock, talked about how PC was fighting over ball screens when they should be going under the screen and have the big play drop coverage. Ironically PC has been getting killed from the perimeter all year long by going under screens and playing drop coverage. The three isn’t Clark’s game but I bet if PC played this way Clark would’ve went 5/7 or something from three.
Seton Hall – Oswin’s Kryptonite
We wrote pregame that Oswin is the most vital to this team’s success, and he needed to be on the court for more than 19 minutes like he was in the first game.
Well, he played for 25 minutes, but was a complete non-factor offensively. Oswin had 0 points on 0 attempts and turned the ball over 3 times.
I thought that there was no way Payne would have another 18 and 16 game and predicted those numbers would be halved in this one. He ended up with 9 and 4 so kudos to him for at least slowing Payne and the bigs down.
Whomever is the next coach for Oswin needs to prioritize his offensive development. It’s a sin to waste his talents and have him be nothing more than a put back and lob guy. I know Felton was brought in as a big man guru, but I haven’t seen it, personally. He should be much more refined than what he is showing on the court as a true sophomore. I admittedly had sky high expectations for him this preseason, and he’s fallen short of maybe my unrealistic expectations.
For Oswin, he needs to continue to build up his strength. He gets the ball ripped away or fumbles the ball with too much frequency.
Miscellaneous Other Items
- English getting a technical was not knowing time or place as a coach, and it turned the tide in the game. It awarded Hall two free throws and a possession, which cut the lead of 6 in half. It was a missed call, sure, but you simply cannot give the Pirates free points.
- Jason Edwards had a rough go in this one. We preached no hero ball against this stingy Pirate defense, and he did just that. He was a negative factor in this game. The cherry on top was turning the ball over and complaining to the ref instead of getting back on defense. You expect more from your highly paid portal upperclassman. He’s been a disappointment.
What’s Next
The light has dimmed a bit on Saturday’s game against the Johnnies due to this Seton Hall loss, but regardless the fans will be out for blood for Bryce Hopkins as he makes his return to Providence. He heard it in waves at MSG, and it is going to be 1000x worse.
For PC, the season is a lost cause, but a win against Hopkins and the Johnnies will be a silver lining on an otherwise dreadful season.
I hate saying this but I’m already looking ahead to next season WITHOUT English. Will we keep Jones, Vaaks, Oswin, Mela and Davis? Who can we score as a new coach? Hopefully a coach and staff who will concentrate on playing defense and ball retention. Let English go somewhere else where he can get experience coaching. We need a coach with experience and a history of winning and taking teams to the Big Dance!
Long shot of the year: where will 5 star recruit Caleb Holt go? Although he did visit PC the experts predict Arizona. In any event: Go Friars!