PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The Big East is certainly a strong conference this season, but the stretch Providence began on Tuesday still stands out nonetheless. It’s the first of four games against teams ranked in the top ten nationally, with two on the road. For the young Friars, it could make a difference in their careers, not just this season.
It’s easy to look at the current stretch and think the Friars are sure to come away not only 0-4, but perhaps a demoralized bunch as well. This team hasn’t exactly proven it can beat the best of the best, although they have had some more than favorable showings thus far. What this stretch can be, however, is educational.
“I think it’s good for us, as a young team, to be able to see these types of teams back-to-back-to-back-to-back,” said head coach Keno Davis. “Our players aren’t here at Providence to be able to compete against the best teams in the country, we’re here to try to become one of the best teams. To be able to see these teams in quick succession will, I think, leave a lasting impression on our guys – hopefully not too lasting – on how they have to improve in the off-season.”
The Friars lost the first game in this tough stretch to Georgetown, a 79-70 decision that was settled in the second half. The Hoyas shut down the Providence offense, and that made a big difference as they were slow to get going offensively before a second half that looked like many of their games this season. But the Friars weren’t without their bright spots. Effort wasn’t an issue, especially in the ultimate effort statistic – rebounding. Providence out-rebounded a taller Georgetown team 42-31, and while they aren’t big on moral victories, it’s a sign that they didn’t lose the game from lack of effort.
Looking at individuals, one can get a similar sense. Bilal Dixon, who has had his ups and downs in part from foul trouble, had 16 rebounds. Jamine Peterson had 23 points and three blocked shots. Davis singled both out as examples of players who have shown the kind of improvement from year to year and over the course of an off-season that players need to show.
“Bilal Dixon is just learning how to play and doesn’t know how to play yet, and yet he can come against Georgetown and get 16 rebounds, and that’s because he’s working so hard,” Davis said of the redshirt freshman.
Where a stretch like this can be difficult is that the Friars can continue playing well, but still lose. When wins are hard to come by, as they have been lately for this team, that can hurt a team’s effort as they can begin to question the methods used. It can also toughen a team up, and that’s what Friar fans are surely hoping for
In fact, Davis doesn’t have to look far for what he’d like to see his team become.
“As I watch Villanova’s team,” said Davis, referring to their next opponent, “that’s kind of who I’d like to be in a couple of years. I’d like to be Villanova. Obviously, with the up-tempo style, but they put five guys on the court that can all play, and they’re not just positional players. They can all play, they can all drive, they can all shoot, they can all defend, and they all play very hard. That’s not just their personnel, it’s their coaching as well.”
Certainly, there are some similarities, although the talent level is different. The Wildcats are a guard-oriented team and have a lot of options there, as do the Friars. With Villanova reaching the Final Four last season, they’re certainly not a bad choice for a program to want to emulate. And when Jay Wright got to Villanova, he didn’t take over a program that was in the NCAA Tournament every year. The Wildcats were just a middle-of-the-pack team in the Big East, and didn’t get to the level they’re at overnight.
When he was asked about who the Friars play next, Davis admitted he had briefly forgotten, saying, “I had to actually ask who we have next. I had forgotten that in the locker room, or tried to forget.” It’s understandable since one can be forgiven if they feel like all four teams look alike, even if it’s not true. The next three games along with Tuesday’s might seem like a blur when the stretch if over. It’s also possible that it becomes a defining point in the careers of Davis’ young team, something we won’t know for a little while.
