Friars Win Third Straight, Look Ready to Surprise
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – It took a little while, but Providence broke away from Columbia en route to an 81-55 blowout win on Tuesday night. The win was their third straight after laying an egg against cross-town rival Brown, but more importantly, a sign that this team is really getting it together.
Early on, teams are naturally trying to win games, but equally important is how they play and how they win. The Friars won the first two in this streak mainly by beating up on the opposition inside, and while they won the battle on the glass Tuesday night, it was the guards that took the lead role. While their top three scorers were guards Weyinmi Efejuku (18 points on 7-9 shooting, six steals), Sharaud Curry (16 points, six assists) and Dwain Williams (13 points), the statistics don’t bear out their impact. Williams came into the game in the first half and sparked them, hitting two of his four three-pointers, then Curry and Efejuku combined to score nine straight points early in the second half when they broke the game open for good.
“I like the way, in the second half the last two games, we’ve come out of the locker room and pushed the pedal,” head coach Tim Welsh said after they outscored the Lions 49-30 in the second half. Two nights ago, they took over the game against George Washington in the latter frame as well.
That’s one good sign for the Friars. Another is the different ways they have won games, as well as those who have helped. The team is led by sophomores and has senior Herbert Hill playing a key role up front, especially in Sunday’s game where he had the first 20-point, 20-rebound game by a Friar in 32 years. But freshman big man Ray Hall came up big in the second half against George Washington on Sunday when they took the game over and classmate Williams played a key role on Tuesday night.
“He’s not shy, even though he’s a freshman,” Curry said of Williams. “He was a big lift for us because we were struggling and didn’t have as much energy as we needed to.”
Williams is almost an ideal reserve for this team, as he’s quick and can shoot the ball. He helped with their pressure on the Columbia guards in addition to his offense, and anyone who can shoot can come off the bench and make a difference. The Friars can have a small look when he’s on the floor with Curry, but they don’t lack quickness or scoring ability. Curry has the look of a player en route to a breakout season, as he has scored, shot the ball and run the show. Efejuku, one of the best athletes in the Big East, can combine with him for an excellent backcourt if the consistency is there.
“We’re trying to get him to that point, where he plays at that level. He’s got tremendous talent,” Welsh said.
Efejuku has had nights where he’s the best player on the floor, but also ones where he’s almost nonexistent. The hope for the Friars is that he starts to establish the consistency since he has played very well in two of the three wins.
“We’ve got to keep telling him to bring it every night. If he does, that will make us a better team,” said Curry.
With the guard play, the Friars’ offense is in good shape, while their front line will battle inside with anyone. Geoff McDermott continues to be a warrior inside and owns the glass on some nights, and Hill has really come along over the course of his career. Hall is limited but plays within himself, and his big body is another inside presence that can be a factor. He’s also quickly become a fan favorite with some of his hustle plays and running the floor. Sophomore Jonathan Kale is another big body who looks better each time out and will be a factor in how far this team goes; he helped lead the charge against Boston College last week.
Welsh would like the see the zone improve, as that is the defense he plans to go with. The rebounding advantage they have had of late is one he hopes to take into Big East play, and if they continue to play the zone better, it bodes well. The Friars have a good mix, one that Welsh has liked all along, and though it is a young group, this could be a team that surprises people.
“What’s happening now is that I see we can play a couple of different ways according to the style,” Welsh said.
It means the Friars can match up with anyone. Whether or not they can win is another matter, as Welsh knows since he felt last year that his team could play with others in the Big East but didn’t win. There is a reason why many have picked them in the second division in the Big East, youth being a major contributor. Although it is still early, the returns for this season are promising right now.
