Providence Friars 79 (2-0)
Milwaukee Panthers 69 (1-1)
The Providence Friars took a step up in competition in the second game of the season, taking on the visiting Milwaukee Panthers, a team that won 22 games last season and was picked to finish 2nd in the Horizon League. The scoring on the Friars was evenly distributed amongst the team with five players scoring in double figures, led by Jayden Pierre with 16 points. The Friars were able to rectify their difficiences from their season opener against Columbia by cutting down on the turnovers (from 18 to 12), upping their assists (from 14 to 18), and connecting on a higher number of their outside shots (form 6 made threes to 10).
The team looked more comfortable in their offensive scheming and looked like they could be scary on defense this year if they get locked in, especially on the perimeter. Next week, the Friars take another step up in competition as Wisconsin makes their way to Providence as part of the Gavitt Games.
Game Notes:
- The backcourt trio of Jayden Pierre, Garwey Dual, and Devin Carter was pretty damn great.
- Jayden led the Friars in scoring with 16 points, while also tying the team-high with 5 assists. His 16 points came on 5/10 shooting from the field, including 2/5 from three, and a perfect 4/4 from the line.
- I was curious to see how Pierre’s three-point shooting would hold up against last year’s numbers with a much higher usage this season and so far, so good. I knew he wasn’t going to hit 54.5% of this threes like he did last season but he took less than 1 three per game during his Freshman year. He’s been shooting 4 threes a game so far and still hitting at a very respectable 37.5% clip this far. It’s still a small sample size but I’m loving what I’m seeing up to this point.
- Garwey Dual appears to have no carryover of any injury of any sort from his season opening scare as he looked as good as advertised. Dual played a team-high 24 minutes off the bench and after how great he looked when he was on the floor, I’m not sure how you don’t give him at least those minutes every game going forward.
- Dual looks completely comfortable on the floor and scored 14 points on 4/9 shooting, including 3/4 from deep. His three-point shot looks money and his game looks so fluid whenever he puts the ball on the floor.
- He handed out 4 assists to go along with his ability to put the ball in the hoop but it was his defensive prowess that stood out the most.
- Dual finished the game with 3 steals and 2 blocks and when he is on the floor with Devin Carter and Ticket Gaines, it is going to be a problem for opposing guards.
- This pass was just too sweet though.
- Speaking of Ticket Gaines, don’t scare me like that my guy.
- I say how he’s going to be the fan favorite this year and he immediately goes down the next game with an injury. He came back in the game later and seemed alright but my heart sank for a moment there.
- Gaines went 0-fer from deep but all of his attempts looked like they were going in and were within the flow of the offense. He complemented Dual on the other end of the court with 2 steals and 2 blocks of his own.
- Devin Carter got into the defensive fun with a team-high 3 blocks to go alone with a swipe.
- Carter finished with 13 points and his three-point shot looks much better than last year’s already. I don’t know if I want Carter taking 9 threes every game but if he can hit in the mid to high 30 percent range (currently 36.4%), I’ll allow it.
- Josh Oduro looked a lot looser on the court this time around and I’m sure will continue to become more comfortable the more he plays with the guys as the season goes on.
- Oduro was a beast on the boards snatching a game-high 12 rebounds, including 7 of the offensive variety, and chipping in 13 points for his first double-double as a Friar.
- Oduro was efficient from everywhere going 4/8 from the field, 1/2 from three, and a perfect 4/4 from the line…and how about an assist, a steal, and 2 blocks for good measure.
- I LOVE the way Oduro passes the ball for a big guy.
- Bryce didn’t have his A-game but still finished with a near double-double with 10 points and 8 rebounds.
- I’m alright with him struggling from three so far (0/5 in this game and 2/6 vs. Columbia) as those shots are going to fall the more he plays in this Kim English paced offensive but I don’t love going 6/11 from the free throw line against Milwaukee. Bryce is a solid free throw shooter so he will be fine but when things got within single-digits, it made me slightly uneasy…just for a minute.
- Buuuut, he can make outrageous plays like this…
- Corey Floyd Jr. was showing off his hops with a couple of alley-oops.
- There’s going to be a game soon where he hits 5 or 6 three-pointers and I’m going to go crazy.
- His shooting form is too pure for it not to happen sometime soon.
- Rafael Castro only played 8 minutes after scoring 13 points in 14 minutes in the season opener. Although he didn’t score in this one, he was able to corral 7 boards in his 8 minutes of action.
- He was also able to keep up his swatting statistics, notching 2 of the team’s 11 blocks for the game.
- Richard Barron’s minutes were all but taken away with Garwey back in action.
- Milwaukee implemented an unexpected amount of zone defense but the Friars were able to adapt to their defense.
- BJ Freeman was the offense for Milwaukee. He finished the game with 33 points and 10 rebounds, although his 33 points did come on 26 shots.
- Post-Game Press Conference…
Next Up, the Friars welcome Wisconsin the The Amp for the Gavitt Games on Tuesday at 6 PM on FS1.
The Morning Hangover 