There is definitely progress being made. Along the way, a little excitement to supplement a comprehensive Big East education for the young Providence College players. A thrilling triple overtime win by the Friars over Butler on Friday put the conference record at 3-4. Year three in coach Jim Crowley’s rebuild is starting to get noticed around the conference.
Crowley came to New England in the spring of 2016 following an excellent run at St. Bonaventure. After a few tough early seasons, the latter part of his 16-year head coaching tenure at the Atlantic 10 school saw six trips to post season play, highlighted by a trip to the 2012 Sweet Sixteen. Crowley appeared headed to be a ‘lifer’ at Olean before the lure of the Big East and Providence came calling. The first year at Providence saw the Friars put together a 12-18 record (4-14 in the Big East). Last season saw a drop to 10-21 (3-15). Following the win over Butler, the Friars stood at 11-8.
“It’s a challenge,” Crowley said following a 79-73 loss at Seton Hall last Sunday. “We are getting good players on board, but relying on a lot of first and second-year players can be tough.”
That weekend epitomized what Crowley was saying. On Friday the Friars defeated St. John’s in overtime in Queens. Forty eight hours later, they were taking the floor at Seton Hall. They had an early six-point lead and appeared to be in position to expand it, and didn’t.
“That’s youth,” Crowley said. “They got the lead and relaxed. You can never do that, especially in this league.”
Another factor was Seton Hall being able to speed them up. The Friars prefer a pace in the sixty-possession range. The Pirates got them into a 76-possession game-suitable to Seton Hall’s liking. “They got us into the pace they wanted,” Crowley lamented.
A bright spot was having four players, led by freshman Kaela Webb with 16, in double figures. In the final analysis, Seton Hall’s experience was the difference preventing a weekend sweep on the road. “They made plays in the stretch,” Crowley said. “We didn’t.”
On the afternoon at Seton Hall, Crowley’s top seven rotation featured three freshmen, two sophomores and two seniors. Jovana Nogic, a senior guard, leads the Friars with 14 points per game. Maddie Jolin, another senior, is the only other double-digit scorer at 10 a game. Mary Baskerville, a 6’3” freshman and good post presence, is turning out a nice eight points norm to compliment a team leading 6.7 rebounding mark. Beyond the arc Providence has been impressive, shooting 37 percent while holding rivals to 27 percent. “They are good,” Seton Hall coach Tony Bozzella praised. “They are much improved and will get even better.”
More than numbers, the concern is growing as a team while facing the rigors of the Big East. “Marquette is well ahead of the pack,” Crowley said. “Beyond that you have a group of two through ten. Everyone in that group is fairly evenly matched, which means teams are capable of knocking off one another. That means quite a competitive balance. “ It also means no easy “circle the date for a W” games. Each night out is a challenge with the realization you will be tested.
With the conference schedule calling for a format of two on the road in a given weekend or two at home, Crowley notes the scheduling can help more experienced teams. True, he also realizes this is the conference’s prescribed format and you still play everyone twice. In the end, the learning process is more important. “Our younger players are getting to realize the intensity level you need to sustain in the Big East.”
