Friars February Woes Continue

Monday, February 28, 2011

Scott Cordischi, GoLocalProv Sports Editor

It’s no secret that the Providence College men’s basketball team is one of the worst defensive teams in the Big East Conference. But, when the Friars are making shots, they can play with any team in the league on any given night. When they’re not, it can get ugly. Sunday in Milwaukee, it got ugly. PC lost at Marquette 86-62.

In order for PC do be competitive, they must make shots. And Sunday they struggled shooting the basketball. Despite 14 more shot attempts than their opponents, the Friars made 8 fewer field goals. Marshon Brooks (17 pts) led PC which went just 23-73 from the field at 31.5%. They were 6-21 from three at 29% and just 10-17 from the free throw line at 59%.

But as off as they may have been on the offensive end of the floor, there was one play on defense which pretty much epitomized the Friars season on that end of the floor.

Five minutes into the second half, PC scored when Vincent Council (12 pts, 4 assists) hit Kadeem Batts (6 pts) for any easy lay-up. On the ensuing in-bounds play, Marquette found Jimmy Butler (15 pts, 6 reb) behind the Friars defense for a breakaway dunk. An uncontested dunk for the Golden Eagles following a made basket by PC – inexcusable!

Providence falls under .500 (14-15) for the first time this season. The Friars are now just (3-13) in the Big East.

It doesn’t get any easier for PC who will visit 16th-ranked Louisville at the brand new KFC-Yum Center Wednesday night at 7pm.

Providence upset Rick Pitino’s Cardinals 72-67 at the Dunk back on January 22nd. Louisville knocked off 6th-ranked Pittsburgh Sunday 62-59 in overtime.

NOTES:

-The Friars played without Duke Mondy Sunday. Monday did not make the trip to Milwaukee with the team for what the school termed a “coach’s decision.” The sophomore had planned on having plenty of family and friends at the game as he hails from Saginaw, Michigan.

-With the win, Marquette improved to (18-11) overall and (9-7) in the Big East. The Golden Eagles are one of 11 Big East teams that appear to have an excellent shot at making it into this year’s NCAA Tournament. The record for most teams from a conference to get into the NCAA’s in a single year is 8 which has been accomplished multiple times by the Big East. The conference appears to be well on its way to shattering that record this March.

-Louisville (#21 – RPI) is a lock for the NCAA Tournament but is still fighting for a first round double-bye at next week’s Big East Tournament in New York. The Cardinals are (11-5) in conference play tied for 3rd with St. John’s. The top 4 teams draw two bye’s before playing in the quarterfinals on March 10th at Madison Square Garden in New York.

-For the second straight year, the month of February was a brutal one for the Friars. PC finished (1-6) in the month of February this year after going (0-7) last year in the month of February. That’s (1-13) over the last two seasons in the month of February.