Providence Friars (10-3) 71

Texas Longhorns (7-4) 65

Finally the Providence Friars have a much-needed road out-of-conference win against a quality team.  The Friars led for the majority of the game but things got close down the stretch that needed the Friars to make big plays in order to take this one in Austin.

Alpha Diallo, the leader of this team, was the same reliable Diallo that we’ve come to expect this season, leading the Friars with 20 points and eventually making the free throws that really mattered down the stretch.

The depth of this team is showing up in spades as there were contributions from all over the place in crucial moments during the game.  The bench showed up with 28 points and the team played great defense throughout the game, limiting the Longhorns to a season low 8 assists and forcing 9 turnovers.  Anytime you can force a team into more turnovers than assists, you’re in for a positive outcome.

Game Notes:

• Can this be called the PJ Tucker Revenge game, even though that game happened in 2004?  I was at that game and came back to PC during winter break in order to catch it and it was the most phenomenal crowd I’ve ever experienced at a Providence game.  It still fires me up a little just to think of it.
• Anywho…Alpha Diallo, Ole Reliable Alpha.
• Diallo led the Friars with 20 points on 5-9 shooting.  Diallo eventually put things together from the free throw line, ending up going 9-14.  He also added 6 rebounds and 2 assists to his final stat line.  He took advantage of some glaring size miss-matches, posting up all damn day against smaller guards.
• I especially enjoyed that bank three off the high glass.
• The only other Providence player to finish in double-digits was Isaiah Jackson.  Jackson has thrived since returning to the “Super Sub” role and continues to show his maturity whenever his seniority is called upon.  Jackson also shot 5-9 from the field and connected on 2-4 threes during a pivotal Providence run.
• This move was Classic Isaiah…

Pure and Beautiful Fundamentals #pcbb #IsaiahJackson pic.twitter.com/KvZkXyL97G

— The Morning Hangover (@TheMorningHang) December 22, 2018

• Maliek White got his third straight start with Reeves still sidelined with his foot injury.
• White started out 3-5 from the floor but ended the game 1 for his last 6, finishing 4-11 on the night for 9 points.
• Maliek also recorded 5 assists to just 1 turnover.
• Since taking over in a starting role, White is averaging 14.3 ppg, 5.0 apg, and 3.0 rpg.
• Over his last 5 games, White has recorded 21 assists to just 4 turnovers.  That’s a 5.25:1 assist to turnover ratio.
• He has been so…damn…good.  Confidence at an all-time high.

Maliek White with the fancy finish #pcbb #MaliekWhite #FinishHim pic.twitter.com/P2U9jUHkF5

— The Morning Hangover (@TheMorningHang) December 22, 2018 

• Kalif’s intensity all game was sky-high.  He was going to scrap and claw for every rebound and defensive stop.
• Young grabbed a team-high 8 boards, hit a freaking jumper at the beginning of the game, tied a career-high 3 steals, and boosted the energy of the team the entire time he was on the court.  Young only had 3 steals total through 12 games before snatching 3 tonight.

Big Guys Can Dish Too #pcbb #KalifYoung #AlphaDiallo #SweetDoubleTeam pic.twitter.com/uz3Wyraby2

— The Morning Hangover (@TheMorningHang) December 22, 2018

• Jimmy Nichols Jr. got into some foul trouble thanks to those pesky refs trying to control the game but still played solidly when he got his time on the floor.  Gumbi Jim continued to get blocks (2) with that length of his, adding 6 points and 6 rebounds to his effort.

That was…..something, but all’s well that ends well #pcbb #awkwardcity #howtorunafastbreakkinda pic.twitter.com/e5qjs0ZnfE

— The Morning Hangover (@TheMorningHang) December 22, 2018

• David Duke, another Jr. who also got into early foul trouble, gave way to Maliek and MAL taking the majority of the PG duties tonight, “helping” to show just how good the depth of this team is.  Duke played just 18 minutes but needs to continue to try to cut back on those turnovers.
• Speaking of foul trouble…again…Nate Watson looked pretty uncomfortable in his sporadic minutes but played decently nonetheless.
• Makai Ashton-Langford continues to progress in such a way that it even the most uneducated basketball fan would be able to notice it.
• MAL hit an absolutely HUGE three-pointer and finished the game with 5 points, 4 rebounds, and an assist.  He also proceeded to show how well he can break a full court press.  He has a noticeable knack of being able to push the ball and see the open man in his self-made transition.
• Texas’ Jaxson Hayes might be the most athletic big guy the Friars face all year.  To quote a typical NBA Draft Scout, he has a high motor, great length, and huge upside.  But seriously, he’s an athletic freak.  That dude is always in the right place at the right time and never stops…and he’s a Freshman.  He tied a team-high in points in just 21 minutes and was a perfect 6-6 from the floor.  He’s going to be a problem for teams as he continues to grow his offensive game.
• Also, This.

• The biggest flopper I’ve seen all season.
• Real question, is Shaka Smart a poor man’s Dan Hurley or vice versa?
• BONUS…2019 PC Signee Greg Gantt hit a game winner tonight.

Greg Gant (@juuune__) with the game winner at the #CrownTown. @CrownTownCLA pic.twitter.com/AnpqEI3BQH

— Jason Jordan (@JayJayUSATODAY) December 22, 2018 

Next Up, the Friars get some Holiday time with family before starting Big East Conference play against a visiting Creighton on New Year’s Eve at 4 PM on FS1.