PC Upsets #3 Villanova 76-71
GoLocalProv Sports Team
PC Upsets #3 Villanova 76-71
THE. DUNK. IS. ROCKING! @PCfriarsmbb leads #3 @NovaMBB by 8 after a Cartwright triple. Get to @FS1 for @CBBONFOX. #PCBB #BIGEASThoops pic.twitter.com/2Hb7vTw0LP
— #BIGEASThoops (@BIGEASTMBB) February 15, 2018
“I can’t be more proud of our kids and their resilient approach today. We are a little bit healthier, still not 100%, but I thought we played well defensively and I thought we had timely shots,” said PC head coach Ed Cooley in his press conference after the game.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTIt is PC's second victory over a top-five team this season, after beating #5 Xavier earlier in the year.
Providence improves to 17-9 on the season and 8-5 in the Big East, good enough for a tie for third place with Creighton.
PC Holds Off Villanova
A three by Villanova’s Mikal Bridges cut the Friars lead to two, 49-47, with 10:27 to play in the game after the Friars had led by ten with 11:28 to play.
From that point, Rodney Bullock scored seven straight points for PC capped off with a dunk to put Providence up 56-49 with 8:43 to play.
Villanova would get back to within five, 67-62, with 1:47 to play, but Diallo would knock down two free throws to extend Providence’s lead back to seven.
The Wildcats would get within three, 74-71, with 15 seconds left, but Alpha Diallo would knock down two free throws to seal the upset.
The Friars were led by Kyron Cartwright who poured in 17 points and dished out five assists, while Bullock finished with 14 points.
PC Grabs 1st Half Lead
Despite shooting 31% from the field and just 21% from three in the first half, the Friars took a 27-23 lead into the break.
Trailing Villanova 21-19, PC’s Isaiah Jackson knocked down a three to put the Friars back in the lead, 22-21 with 4:06 to play.
Providence extended the lead to 24-21 on a jumper by Diallo, before the Wildcats got back within one, 24-23, following two free throws from Omari Spellman.
With 41 seconds left, Lindsey got a three to go to give Providence a four-point lead at the break.
Lindsey returned after missing PC's last game with a concussion.
Next up
The Friars return to action on Saturday, February 17 when they visit Butler.
PC beat Butler 70-60 at the Dunkin' Donuts Center earlier this season.
Game time is set for 12 p.m.
Providence now owns wins over both Villanova and Xavier. The epitome of Quadrant One. #pcbb
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) February 15, 2018
Providence College Basketball 2017-18 Projected Starting Lineup
Guard
Kyron Cartwright - Senior
Kyron Cartwright was ranked as the sixth-best guard in the country and the second-best guard in the Big East by CBS Sports.
He was also named to the preseason All-Big East second team at Big East media day.
"Kyron is the fastest player in the Big East, he can distribute the ball, he was 4th in the league in assists last season, so he can make things happen," said Hassett.
In 2016-17, Cartwright averaged 11.4 points and 3.5 rebounds per game in the regular season helping the Friars to a third-place finish in the conference.
He finished the season ranked fourth in the country and first in the Big East with 6.7 assists per game.
Coming into this season, Cartwright is tied with John Linehan with 450 career assists. He has a chance to climb as high as second all-time and pass Ernie DeGregorio who recorded 662 career assists.
Vincent Council is number one with 725 career assists.
Guard
Alpha Diallo - Sophomore
Alpha Diallo will look to build off a freshman season in which he started 16 games for the Friars.
He averaged 5.7 points, 3.2 rebounds and one steal in 21 minutes of action per game. At the end of the year, the team named him the Marvin Barnes Defensive Player of the Year.
Diallo started his freshman season coming off the bench and playing inconsistent minutes through the first eight games.
By PC's fifth Big East Conference game, he was in the starting lineup and would stay there.
Diallo finished the season reaching double figures in five of the Friars final 12 games, including 18 points against both Villanova and St. John's.
Guard
Jalen Lindsey - Senior
Jalen Lindsey has missed the entire preseason with a knee injury.
Lindsey returned to practice on Wednesday and will be a game-time decision for Friday, according to Cooley.
If Lindsey can't go, senior Isaiah Jackson will take his place in the starting lineup.
Last season with PC, Lindsey averaged 10.4 points, four rebounds and one steal in 31 minutes of action per game.
He also shot 46% from three.
Forward
Rodney Bullock - Senior
Rodney Bullock returns to the Friars this season after testing the NBA Draft waters last March, before pulling his name out.
Prior to the start of this season, Bullock was named second-team all-Big East.
"With Rodney Bullock, he has to be consistent. He has to come out and give it to you every night. With this team, there is no reason why he shouldn't average 17 points and get 8-10 rebounds per game. He has to be more aggressive on both ends of the floor," said Hassett.
In 2016-17, Bullock led Providence in scoring and rebounding with an average of 15.7 points and 6.4 rebounds per game.
He also led PC with five double-doubles on the year and scored at least 20 points in nine games, including a career-high 36 points against New Hampshire.
In PC’s NCAA Tournament game against USC, Bullock poured in 17 points and grabbed seven rebounds.
Center
Kalif Young - Sophomore
Forward Emmitt Holt remains out with abdominal issues and is not even on campus,
"The Holt injury is a major problem. He is the toughest player on the team, the best rebounder, and a post up guy that they don’t have. He is also good outside guy that can stretch the defense. Plus, you lose the experience," said Hassett.
Holt's absence means 6'9" sophomore Kalif Young will open the season at center.
"He has a tremendous opportunity now with Holt gone to get more minutes then he would have gotten. The reliance on him now is bigger. With Emmitt out there he didn’t have to play important minutes, now he has to play important minutes," said Hassett.
In his freshman season with the Friars, Young averaged 3.2 points, 3.2 rebounds 0.5 blocked shots in 13 minutes of action per game.
