Analysis of the Game
The first half of the Providence College match against Villanova on Saturday saw the Friars leading 37-34, hinting at a promising week ahead to conclude the regular season. The anticipation included avenging a prior loss to the Wildcats at the AMP in front of 12,525 enthusiastic fans. The plan also involved a visit to DC to face a struggling Georgetown squad and a return to the AMP next Saturday to challenge #3 UConn in what could have been the biggest upset of the season.
Contrary to expectations, the Friars faced a rough patch in the initial 9 minutes of the second half, trailing significantly and eventually succumbing to a 71-60 defeat. This loss not only dashed their hopes of an NCAA bid but also underscored Coach Kim English’s observation that the Friar team operates with minimal room for error. Since Bryce Hopkins’ injury in early January, the team has heavily relied on Josh Oduro and Devin Carter, with insufficient scoring support from the rest of the lineup. While Oduro maintained his season average with 16 points on Saturday, Carter struggled, scoring 13 points, 6 below his average. Unlike previous losses attributed to free throw inaccuracies or turnovers, this defeat was straightforward – the Friars couldn’t convert their shots in the second half, shooting a mere 27% compared to 54% in the first half.
Prospects for the NCAA
The question looms: Can Providence College secure an NCAA bid with an anticipated victory against Georgetown and a potential upset against UConn? A win over the Hoyas would primarily serve to push the Friars to a 19-win mark and a 10-9 record in the Big East, offering marginal benefit in the eyes of the selection committee. While a triumph against UConn would be significant, it would essentially be viewed as another Quad 1 win by the committee.
Furthermore, Providence College currently sits 6th in the Big East standings and is likely to finish 7th even with two additional wins, with Villanova and St. John’s poised to surpass them. Given this scenario, securing an NCAA selection with a 7th place regular season finish seems challenging, necessitating at least two wins in the Big East tournament, including a notable victory against either Creighton or Marquette. However, even this might not suffice, potentially leading to regret over losses to Butler, Xavier, and St. John’s on Selection Sunday.
Notable Highlights
The Brown men’s basketball team has faced a tumultuous season, struggling through various defeats. Despite a 6-17 record and a 2-6 standing in the Ivies two weeks ago, the team has remarkably won their last 5 games, elevating their position to 7-6 in the Ivies. With an upcoming game against Ivy co-leader Yale (likely in favor of Yale), Brown is set to secure 4th place and participate as the 4th seed in the end-of-the-year Ivy Madness tournament. While either Princeton or Yale is expected to clinch the Ivy title and the automatic NCAA bid, the late-season resurgence bodes well for Coach Mike Martin and the Brown Bears in the upcoming season.
Amidst significant victories over Harvard (71-68) and Dartmouth (89-67) this past weekend, the standout performance was delivered by reserve senior guard, Kimo Ferrari. In his final game at Pizzitola Sports Center, Ferrari, typically averaging 6 points per game, showcased an exceptional display by scoring 39 points on 14-of-16 shooting (87.5%), including 10 successful three-pointers. This remarkable performance on Senior Night left a lasting impression, prompting reflections on whether Coach Martin might have encouraged Ferrari to take more shots over the past four years.