Providence survives Xavier in 3OT

[Palatine]

PC probably wins the conference but they are still not relevant.

 

[FriarJ]

you're saying that nunge fouled him intentionally??? he had four fouls. they had to have known any dead ball foul there was flagrant. i think it was just him being "physical" and they called a soft foul. not that we can even really see what happened because the only view is a fish eye lens from the opposite sideline. it was a weak/soft call - but i sympathize with the refs a little there. it's not their fault it's an all or nothing scenario.

but i refuse to believe that Nunge was fouling intentionally. or that fouling Watson was the design there (unless a player/coach has come out and said it was post game and i missed that). I think it was just sloppiness

They were not going to throw it the length of the court to their worst FT shooter. Of course he was fouling him intentionally. He put his arms around him.

 

[FriarJ]

The purpose of protecting Scruggs was get him looks on the offensive end, I think he got one shot in the 3rd OT, that's a bad job by X if you're going go to an ineffective zone to protect a guy then at least get him in spots on the offensive end where he's got a chance to score and you're telling him get the ball and shoot it.

At some point you are who you are, the zone was a bad move, just live with the M2M.

Absolutely agree. It was a good move by Cooley to move Minaya onto him even though he didn't foul him when he should have in the 2nd.

 

[Beowulf]

They were not going to throw it the length of the court to their worst FT shooter. Of course he was fouling him intentionally. He put his arms around him.

no he didnt? he didnt wrap watson up....he looked like he was trying to run him off whatever movement he was doing, like he was trying to force him OB for some reason

i'm not debating that it wasnt a foul, but i'm saying intentional? the coach drew up a play for their second best player with 4 fouls to intentionally foul in a situation where a foul would only warrant a flagrant call? that's what we think happened...?

 

[CaptainRon]

no he didnt? he didnt wrap watson up....he looked like he was trying to run him off whatever movement he was doing, like he was trying to force him OB for some reason

i'm not debating that it wasnt a foul, but i'm saying intentional? the coach drew up a play for their second best player with 4 fouls to intentionally foul in a situation where a foul would only warrant a flagrant call? that's what we think happened...?

If he does when the ball is in play, it’s just a foul. When you do it when everyone is just standing there, well…. I think he mistimed it.

 

[Waquoit]

I've never hated Providence.

Then you never went to a UConn game there. I'll feel bad for Cooley when they blow it but that's about it. It kills me that just a week ago the PC fans must have felt like they were on top of the world with the press clippings their Nova game garnered. But they lost that game, then UConn comes along and tops their team and crowd performance. And now their roof leaks.

 

[superjohn]

Then you never went to a UConn game there. I'll feel bad for Cooley when they blow it but that's about it. It kills me that just a week ago the PC fans must have felt like they were on top of the world with the press clippings their Nova game garnered. But they lost that game, then UConn comes along and tops their team and crowd performance. And now their roof leaks.

I've been to a bunch of UConn Providence games there and I don't hate them in the least. I root for Providence when it doesn't impact UConn just like I root for all Big East teams.

 

[FriarJ]

no he didnt? he didnt wrap watson up....he looked like he was trying to run him off whatever movement he was doing, like he was trying to force him OB for some reason

i'm not debating that it wasnt a foul, but i'm saying intentional? the coach drew up a play for their second best player with 4 fouls to intentionally foul in a situation where a foul would only warrant a flagrant call? that's what we think happened...?

I’m not saying the coach did anything. I also don’t think the coach drew up a play to tackle a player trying to get out of bounds to receive a side pass on the baseline. Players make mistakes. Let’s just say I understand completely where you are coming from and can understand your position. I just don’t agree.

 

[FriarJ]

If he does when the ball is in play, it’s just a foul. When you do it when everyone is just standing there, well…. I think he mistimed it.

This. It was definitely meant to put Watson at the line.

 

[FriarJ]

Then you never went to a UConn game there. I'll feel bad for Cooley when they blow it but that's about it. It kills me that just a week ago the PC fans must have felt like they were on top of the world with the press clippings their Nova game garnered. But they lost that game, then UConn comes along and tops their team and crowd performance. And now their roof leaks.

You think the XL Center which was a great environment btw, out did the games at the Dunk?

 

[UCfor3]

You think the XL Center which was a great environment btw, out did the games at the Dunk?

It depends if you like 90's jock rock or Taylor Swift. Let's call it a wash on that one...

 

[8893]

Then you never went to a UConn game there. I'll feel bad for Cooley when they blow it but that's about it. It kills me that just a week ago the PC fans must have felt like they were on top of the world with the press clippings their Nova game garnered. But they lost that game, then UConn comes along and tops their team and crowd performance. And now their roof leaks.

I've been to UConn games in Providence, and I don't hate them.

Isn't it the very nature of fandom to be fanatical about your team? I don't get how that warrants hating on anyone.

Except Philly pro sports fans. They are a class unto themselves.

 

[FriarJ]

It depends if you like 90's jock rock or Taylor Swift. Let's call it a wash on that one...

LOL. To be honest? I simply can’t be cynical about kids. When 88% of your student body shows up in an off campus arena (Last nights estimate), they can sing whatever they want.

 

[FriarJ]

By the way, I know there are some metrics nerds on here. We have them as well. Could this explain luck a little? Al Durham says hi to Indiana.

 

[Palatine]

This year, the starving Pee Cee fans are going wild. It's a new experience for them. Good for them. Rock the Dunk.

But it's unlikely to be a reoccurring happening. This year their team is senior laden with a ton of experience. They were ready to go from the start of the season. While other BE teams were teething, they were winning. As the season progressed, the rest of the teams gained chemistry and caught up. That's why every Pee Cee game lately (even against cellar dwellers) is on the razor's edge. Their NET is in the high twenties. A stumble will make it worse. It's why I suspect an early out in the NCAAs.

But for now, it's high times in Rhode Island. It's the 1990 Hartford Civic Center. All bright and shiny and new. This year could their FIRST BE regular season title. Their first!!! They're virgins. Of course they are excited. They should be. But see it for what it is. A great year.

 

[FriarJ]

This year, the starving Pee Cee fans are going wild. It's a new experience for them. Good for them. Rock the Dunk.

But it's unlikely to be a reoccurring happening. This year their team is senior laden with a ton of experience. They were ready to go from the start of the season. While other BE teams were teething, they were winning. As the season progressed, the rest of the teams gained chemistry and caught up. That's why every Pee Cee game lately (even against cellar dwellers) is on the razor's edge. Their NET is in the high twenties. A stumble will make it worse. It's why I suspect an early out in the NCAAs.

But for now, it's high times in Rhode Island. It's the 1990 Hartford Civic Center. All bright and shiny and new. This year could their FIRST BE regular season title. Their first!!! They're virgins. Of course they are excited. They should be. But see it for what it is. A great year.

Interesting. I agree it’s one year. I think what opposing fan bases miss is the excitement around this year is because of this team and this teams players. They are an incredibly tough, poised, and resilient bunch. Despite what you may think, we are not stupid, we know the team is gone next year outside Bynum, Reeves, and Minaya. We know this is special. Do we hope Cooley uses this as a springboard to recruiting? Of course, what else are we fans of Providence supposed to feel?

In particular you seem annoyed that we push back on many fans here notion that we are just supposed to fade to irrelevancy because you say so. You may reclaim the top spot again for sure, you have a lot of things going in your favor. We may remain relevant despite it all as well. That’s why the teams play games and fans cheer them on.

 

[UconnU]

 

[Beowulf]

If he does when the ball is in play, it’s just a foul. When you do it when everyone is just standing there, well…. I think he mistimed it.

why have your second best player with 4 fouls commit the foul? when you already lost a player to a foul out when he probably shouldn't have been on the floor in an obvious intentional foul scenario. that's my only gripe. you wanna foul watson i get it. but you're gonna lose two of your starters to fouling out in obvious intentional foul scenarios when you could have had anyone do it??? if that's the case, it's inexcusable coaching. imagine hurley leaving sanogo in to foul out in that same situation when your only hope at winning is either 1. hoping prov misses at least one free throw and hitting a buzzer beater or 2. going to 3ot..................why you sacrificing your second best guy when literally anyone could foul there?? i dont think it was intentional or the plan. i think he was just messed up. if he was supposed to wait for the ball to be in the air....that's still a stupid foul. anyone on the bench could have done it. why the guy with 4?

 

[CL82]

We are not acting that way, we are enjoying our team. I don’t mind you hating on us. I actually like being despised for winning for once. But don’t make crap up about the fan base that is not true. Every PC fan knows we are not a “blue blood”. That’s just ridiculous. We are beyond overjoyed. Let us at least have that while it lasts.

Fully agree. I’m sure that all those stories about Providence fans making a deal with the devil are largely unjustified.

Here’s the thing, undisputedly Providence has had one heck of a run of luck, but at the end of the day they are winning. [Shrugs] At this point I think you have to accept it as a thing. From my perspective, I just want them to hold it together long enough for us to knock them off. But I’ve been a lot of other fan bases have felt that way throughout the season.

 

[CL82]

I've been to a bunch of UConn Providence games there and I don't hate them in the least. I root for Providence when it doesn't impact UConn just like I root for all Big East teams.

Feel pretty much the same way. Maybe eventually I’ll get to dislike someone, but in the near term, I want everyone to do well as long as it doesn’t come at Connecticut’s expense.

 

[UncleSpliff]

So does Xavier make the tournament?? They’re a 35 KenPom, 17-10 - (7-9) in BE. They have 3 more games. I think they need to win them all against Seton Hall, St John’s and Georgetown and maybe win a game in the BET. Any loss in the next 3 to put them sub .500 in the BE overall I think puts them in NIT territory.

 

[navery12]

So does Xavier make the tournament?? They’re a 35 KenPom, 17-10 - (7-9) in BE. They have 3 more games. I think they need to win them all against Seton Hall, St John’s and Georgetown and maybe win a game in the BET. Any loss in the next 3 to put them sub .500 in the BE overall I think puts them in NIT territory.

As long as they win 2 games of the 4 you mentioned they'll be comfortably in

 

[businesslawyer]

Fully agree. I’m sure that all those stories about Providence fans making a deal with the devil are largely unjustified.

Here’s the thing, undisputedly Providence has had one heck of a run of luck, but at the end of the day they are winning. [Shrugs] At this point I think you have to accept it as a thing. From my perspective, I just want them to hold it together long enough for us to knock them off. But I’ve been a lot of other fan bases have felt that way throughout the season.

It's fine if folks feel like Providence is a rival, or dislike them for some other reason, but the bottom line is that the goal is to win games, and they have been incredibly successful at that this year. The goal is not to win games comfortably. The goal is not to win games when the other team doesn't have a key player hurt. The goal is to win games.

They are about to have done that more than anyone in the Big East this year and wrap up the title. Good for them. They deserve well earned congratulations.

None of that stops you, me or anyone else from being confident that if we get them in the Garden, we will be able to beat them.

 

[tzznandrew]

Skipping over Wofford:

2015 Notre Dame went into the tournament with a KenPom ranking of 10 (2 Offense/110 Defense)
2012 Baylor went in as 14 (15/32)
2019 Cincinnati was 32 (46/28)
2019 LSU was 19 (10/62)

2022 Providence is currently 43 (32/68).

 

[Viet Vet]

It's fine if folks feel like Providence is a rival, or dislike them for some other reason, but the bottom line is that the goal is to win games, and they have been incredibly successful at that this year. The goal is not to win games comfortably. The goal is not to win games when the other team doesn't have a key player hurt. The goal is to win games.

They are about to have done that more than anyone in the Big East this year and wrap up the title. Good for them. They deserve well earned congratulations.

None of that stops you, me or anyone else from being confident that if we get them in the Garden, we will be able to beat them.

Al Davis, "Just win baby".

 

[drayenob]

 

[CheshireCat]

PC has needed 5 OT's to beat Xavier, Butler, and DePaul.

The worst thing about their fanbase is they can't even have fun with the run they've been on. Luckiest team in the country by far.

Beating Wisconsin without Davis isn't beating Wisconsin. Beating UConn without Sanogo isn't beating UConn. Credit to them because they can only play the teams in front of them and they're winning - but their fans are so serious about it.

Trying to act like they've been there before when they literally have 1 NCAA win in the last 2 decades. URI has more.

Have fun with it. You're a scrappy small-school program having a dream season where the ball keeps bouncing your way. Embrace the luck. But my God they're insufferable and they can't even have fun.

Pretty inaccurate take if you ask me. Cheshire CT native now living / working in Prov. I jokingly said in another thread how their incredible season is pretty infectious over this way, but in no way will it change my fanship. What it has changed, is my perspective. Great city, great fans, I took A LOT of heat when we lost to them this year…but I don’t generalize about their fanbase (anymore) because of a few donkeys on their fan board or one interaction I had in a bar. Team aside, their fanbase and students are getting national recognition and trust me, that city and those fans are having a LOT of fun. Like I said, I live there and I don’t see this “acting like they’ve been there before” nonsense. I see quite the opposite sense of “wow, I hope something big happens because it might not happen again for a long time”.

 

[Hoopcrazee]

LOL... luck?...winning close games...all they know how to do is CLOSE!!!...if you call that luck, may the luck be with us!!!

 

[FriarJ]

Pretty inaccurate take if you ask me. Cheshire CT native now living / working in Prov. I jokingly said in another thread how their incredible season is pretty infectious over this way, but in no way will it change my fanship. What it has changed, is my perspective. Great city, great fans, I took A LOT of heat when we lost to them this year…but I don’t generalize about their fanbase (anymore) because of a few donkeys on their fan board or one interaction I had in a bar. Team aside, their fanbase and students are getting national recognition and trust me, that city and those fans are having a LOT of fun. Like I said, I live there and I don’t see this “acting like they’ve been there before” nonsense. I see quite the opposite sense of “wow, I hope something big happens because it might not happen again for a long time”.

You guys might appreciate this, and outside of the few references to God it really capture the essence of why we all love college athletics. This is from the Dean of students at PC who is obviously a nice man.

Dear Friars,
What a whirlwind of the past few weeks it has been! I truly cannot think of one day that has gone by over the last month that someone, internally and externally, has not mentioned their love for our Lady and Men’s Friars. Besides our love for God and His love for us it has been the one constant each and every day.

Moments and momentum: I often mention building memories, making every moment count, reflecting, thanking God, and living your best lives. Well, I say with confidence and conviction that our beloved athletic teams are making this easy for us.

...though there is no doubt it is not easy for them.

We may never truly realize what commitment requires of you, or what tremendous challenges you face day-in and day-out as a college athlete. For just a few hours on Game Day, we dress up and show up in stands, or we turn on our televisions; we gather, and we scream our collective hearts out, cheering you on, joining in song, and rooting for you like the fate of the game depended on it—for just a few hours.

But what do those few hours mean to you?

For those few that bring us together, there are innumerable hours you must experience alone, or in the small company of teammates, making the daily unseen decisions that build the body, steel the mind, and encourage the spirit. There is an amazing depth of valor and integrity to that. How you push yourselves through practice, strength and conditioning workouts, dynamic diet regimens, and travel—while balancing course loads, study, and prayer is nothing short of inspirational. We are in awe of you, and we are grateful that you allow us to celebrate with you and through you.

From this beloved community to all our Friar athletes: thank you.

You don’t just “play” a sport. You create such joy in our hearts, inspire imagination in our minds, and stir our souls. You invite us to feel extreme emotion, sensational highs, and a unity that is unmatched at any other institution of higher learning.

It is true yours is a path of profound preparation known only to those who share the same path alongside you—but know this: when you get out there to do what only you can do, to achieve what only you can achieve, we are right there with you, doing with decibels and achieving what we can with palpable passion and fearless faith.

Friars, you allow us to escape from all else to experience life in some of its most meaningful and uniquely familial ways. You gift us memories that we will unwrap and share for decades to come.

This short message is for you, our athletes: we love you, we are your biggest fans, and we appreciate you!

Being a Friar isn’t a way of life: it is life.

One heart. One heartbeat. One community.

Absolutely your Friar’d up dean of students,
Steve


P.S.: another snow day with advance notice. Wow, now that’s a treat...Below I have provided you with an array of events, programs and extracurricular activities for your consideration. Carpe diem!

 

[Sibeerian]

Interesting. I agree it’s one year. I think what opposing fan bases miss is the excitement around this year is because of this team and this teams players. They are an incredibly tough, poised, and resilient bunch. Despite what you may think, we are not stupid, we know the team is gone next year outside Bynum, Reeves, and Minaya. We know this is special. Do we hope Cooley uses this as a springboard to recruiting? Of course, what else are we fans of Providence supposed to feel?

In particular you seem annoyed that we push back on many fans here notion that we are just supposed to fade to irrelevancy because you say so. You may reclaim the top spot again for sure, you have a lot of things going in your favor. We may remain relevant despite it all as well. That’s why the teams play games and fans cheer them on.

I watched one of your home games earlier this year and the delirious crowd energy reminded me of what UConn fans called the Dream Season in 89-90. The team meshed, we were beating up on the great (at the time) Georgetown and Syracuse programs, we won the regular season and Big East Championships for the first time, and it was a magic carpet ride. We knew we had arrived. You can never quite recapture that feeling because it can only be the first time once.

Of course it all comes down to how the season ends. For us that year it was a classic final 8 game with a brutal gut punch at the end. At the time, Final 8 still felt like an achievement. Now as you can see people are just licking their chops waiting for Providence to have one bad game in the tourney so they can call your "lucky season" a mirage. But you're having a great year, and you should enjoy the heck out of it.