I definitely wasn’t expecting heart-stopping moments this early in the season, but the Friars managed to keep my blood pressure sky-high throughout their opener against Central Connecticut State. A win is a win, no matter the margin (even if KenPom might disagree), but there were plenty of red flags in this underwhelming performance. The team looked every bit like a squad trying to integrate seven new players, with sloppiness and poor decision-making all over the court.
The Friars were saved by an outstanding performance from Bensley Joseph, who practically carried the team on his back as no one else could step up. Joseph matched his career-high with 21 points and made every clutch play during an otherwise tense night for Providence. He was the only Friar to score in double digits and accounted for more than half of the team’s three-pointers, hitting 5 of 10 from beyond the arc—a career-high he previously set last season at North Carolina. No other Friar made more than one three-pointer or shot above 25% from deep.
Providence was fortunate that, despite their struggles, Central Connecticut State played even worse. The Blue Devils didn’t make a single three-pointer, going 0-for-8 from beyond the arc, and managed only three assists. Pre-season All-Northeast Conference first-teamer Jordan Jones kept them in the game with tough two-point shots throughout his 36 minutes on the floor, but he ultimately wore down, shooting just 2-for-6 in the second half after going 6-for-12 in the first. He missed a crucial layup on Central’s final attempt to tie the game.
Game Notes:
- Let’s start with the good, because there wasn’t much of it. The Friars are 1-0 on the season.
- Bensley Joseph looks even better than advertised and is every bit as much of a dog as he was made out to be.
- The Friars were in desperate need of a playmaker, and nearly every time, it was Joseph who answered the call. He set a new career-high in field goals made, shooting an impressive 8-for-14, while tying career-highs in both three-pointers (5-for-10) and points (21), sinking clutch shot after clutch shot. He played like he wanted it more than anyone else on the floor, showing the kind of mentality I’d expected from the whole team after Kim English’s “Thirteen Dudes” comments at the end of last season. With that level of hustle, I wouldn’t have been surprised to see Coach English give Nilavan Jotham Daniels some minutes, given the energy he brought in the Friars’ exhibition against UMass.
- And look who was there being as fired up as English and Nilavan after his effort, my guy Bensley Joseph. It looks like he will be an extension of English on the court this season.
- After a first half that saw the Friars trailing by 2, their stats painted an ugly picture: 11 turnovers to just 5 assists, 34.8% shooting from the field, 21.4% from three (3-for-14), and five offensive rebounds allowed. The second half was better but still left much to be desired: 5 turnovers to 7 assists, 40.0% shooting from the field (12-for-30) and 27.8% from three (5-for-18). The outside shooting didn’t show up to game one (3-for-22 outside of Joseph) and the unforced errors will need to be worked out before the next game or the Friars may be at actual risk of dropping a stinker to a poor team that will haunt them come selection time.
- Next up, #theduck
- Someone has to explain to me how you get a duck into a college basketball game. Actually, on second thought, I want it to remain a mystery. The aura of The Duck shall not be tarnished or its secrets revealed.
- This duck now needs to be a part of this season. I want it at every single home game and all we need now is just a song to go with him whenever he is on the screen. May I present you with my recommendation…
- OK, back to the game.
- Oswin got the start over Christ, and based on his performance, it felt well-deserved. Although he only played 12 minutes, Oswin made the most of his time, shooting a perfect 2-for-2 from the field and pulling down five rebounds.
- Whenever a rebound was within reach, he went up and grabbed it with purpose. I was surprised he didn’t see more playing time, especially considering Christ’s struggles during his 27 minutes on the court.
- Christ is a strong passer, particularly for a big man, but he struggled by telegraphing his passes and putting the ball on the floor too much in traffic, leading to a career-high five turnovers. While he did lead the team with three assists, his mistakes clearly overshadowed his positive contributions. He also seemed to rely on his size advantage for rebounds against CCSU’s frontcourt, leading to him being out-hustled on several 50/50 balls. Better games are undoubtedly ahead for Christ as he gets more comfortable with his new teammates.
- Before Bensley Joseph took control to secure the win, I expected Jayden Pierre to step up—especially given his strong finish last season, where he averaged 17.3 points over the final three games. Instead, Pierre struggled, shooting just 1-for-5 with three turnovers and failing to record a single assist, something that happened only twice all of last season, and only against high-caliber teams like UConn and Marquette.
- Wesley Cardet Jr. seemed a bit indecisive on offense in the first half but found his rhythm in the second, finishing with 8 points and 7 rebounds, both good for second-best on the team. His shooting form looks a bit unorthodox (but if it works, it works), and I’d like to see him get more opportunities running the offense, especially with Joseph’s success shooting from deep. Cardet may actually feel more comfortable with the ball in his hands, as he did at previous stops in college. While his lateral quickness on defense was occasionally slow, allowing Central’s guards some driving lanes, his team defense looked promising.
- Corey Floyd Jr. came out aggressive, looking to capitalize on his size advantage against the opposing wings. However, after missing two close-range shots on strong drives to the basket, he spent the rest of the game more on the perimeter. Floyd’s strength and athleticism are tough matchups, particularly for mid-major teams, so I hope he continues to attack defenders in the paint, even after a couple of missed opportunities early in this one.
- Jabri Abdur-Rahim has a smooth, effortless shot that stands out. Given that he’s stepping into Ticket Gaines’ role this year, I had somehow expected him to be a lefty. I was also pleasantly surprised by his larger frame, which became evident once he hit the floor. I really liked what I saw from Jabri, and if he starts hitting his corner threes consistently, I think his minutes will increase in turn.
- Richard Barron had a bit of a frustrating game where he never really got going but I’m not worried about him other than the log-jam that might happen in the crowded backcourt this season.
- Justyn Fernandez is kind of in the same boat as Barron and played alright in his eleven minutes.
- Outside of Bensley Joseph, the best player on the court was Central’s returning leading scorer and lead guard, Jordan Jones. Jones made some high-difficulty shots, matching Joseph’s 21 points but doing so on four more shot attempts. Jones didn’t make a three (0-for-1) or record an assist which gives credence to the saying that no one should try and do it all alone.
- Post-Game Press Conference…
- Game Highlights…
Next Up, the Friars stay at home and take on Stonehill on Saturday at 6 PM. The game will be on FS2.
The Morning Hangover 