by: Frank Carpano
They have played almost 4 and a half minutes of the game and PC has yet to score from the field. The offense has yet to kick in. Fortunately, the Friars have gone to the foul line and scored 4 points….now trailing 11-4
by: Frank Carpano
They have played almost 4 and a half minutes of the game and PC has yet to score from the field. The offense has yet to kick in. Fortunately, the Friars have gone to the foul line and scored 4 points….now trailing 11-4
by: Frank Carpano
Greatest game I’ve ever seen?
I have had the honor and pleasure to see some memorable games in person. The Patriots winning the Super Bowl in the final seconds on an AdamVinitieri field goal, the Red Sox ending an 86 year drought to win the World Series, the Friars beating Georgetown to advance to the Final Four in 1987. The one thing they all had in common was that I was there working as a member of the media
But the UCONN-Syracuse 6 overtime game at the Big East Tournament is the first time I have attended such an historical event as a fan.
It was an amazing experience. Complete with mind blowing performances by players who refused to give up.
Think about this; the typical college basketball is 2 halves, 20 minutes each. In the Syracuse-UCONN 6 overtime game, they played a total of 70 minutes. Syracuse’s Jonny Flynn wins the ironman award, he played 67 of those 70 minutes. It’s not that the other players ran out of gas, they would have loved to been out there. But 8 players (4 for each team) fouled out!
Every fan watching inside Madison Square Garden knew they were witnessing something special. The vast majority of the 19,375 fans stayed in their seats for the entire 3 hours and 46 minutes. And the person handling the public address system music selection was right on with his picks. After each overtime picking the perfect song to help describe the situation. For example after the second overtime, they played “AfterMidnight”. And after the fifth overtime, the song “All Night Long” blasted from the speakers.
The players may have been getting tired, but the fans seemed to get a burst of adrenaline with each overtime. Some got too much. There were more than a few fights in the stands during the game. But even that couldn’t spoil this special occasion.
And when it was all over (at 1:22am), the fans didn’t want to leave. I saw many taking pictures holding 6 fingers up. They were there for one of the greatest college basketball games ever played.
I texted a friend of mine, a Syracuse fan, who was watching elsewhere in the Garden.
I told him in the 4th overtime that this game would be on ESPN Classic in the morning.
His response: “If it’s over”.
I’m not sure how you could ever top it
by: Frank Carpano
Louisville 73
Providence 55
Leading scorers
Louisville Earl Clark 24 pts (and 10 rebounds), Samardo Samuels 22pts
Providence Weyinme Efejuku 17 pts, Goeff McDermott 11pts
Rebounds
Louisville 41
PC 36
Turnovers
Louisville 20
PC 26
Shooting %
Louisville 14-26 54%
PC 12-28 43%
3 pt shooting %
Louisville 3-19 16%
PC 2-17 12%
After the game:
Keno Davis: “obviously it’s disappointing anytime your team loses. But when you play a team that is the top seed in the conference and likely a top seed in the NCAA tournament, we were going to have to play our best to beat them. We couldn’t make a run on them in the second half, mainly because of their defense and we couldn’t buy a bucket”. “I think fatigue did play a role in this game. And the fact that we were playing against athletes who will be playing in the NBA some day.We had some great looks and those shots just didn’t go in.“
On whether PC is in the NCAA’s: “I’ve heard alot of predictions. But all the people who are doing the predictions arent in the committee room.“ “We are in the upper half of the Big East with wins against Syracuse and Pitt. This game puts us squarely on the bubble. We’ll keep our fingers crossed on Sunday.: I think one of the things the committee will look at is that we play in a league with some many quality teams. I hope they consider that and we should get credit for that.“
Weyinme Efejuku: “I think they (Louisville) are the most aggressive defense we have played.“
Rick Pitino: “The key to our win is our ability to take the 3 point shot away”.
Regarding whether PC should be in the tournament: “Anytime you go over 500 in the league I thimnk a team should go to the NCAA tournament. In my mind, they deserve to be in the tournament”.
Regarding playing in the Garden: “ I have so many unbelievable memories of this building. So many things come to mind.“
Do you ever flashback to when you coached at Providence: “ I always root for Providence. It’s like my alma mater. The school and the city are a special place. If I had one place to pick, where I’d like to live, it would be Rhode Island.“
Friars record now 19-13
We will have coverage from PC and URI on Selection Sunday
Check out Joe Kayata’s updates of the URI game later tonight elsewhere on this web site
by: Frank Carpano
Louisville wins 73-55
Coming up Stats and postgame quotes
by: Frank Carpano
The Friars are shooting 8% from the 3 point line and 30% overall. Not exactly the recipe for an upset of the #5 team int he country.
9:20 to go, Louisville 51 PC 38
by: Frank Carpano
The Friars have come out here in the second half and they have stolen the momentum.
They are taking a page outof Louisville’;s book. They are swarming the basket on defense. And they are attacking the glass on offense.
They are currently playing at a very high tgempo. I have to wonder what effect playing for the second day in a row will have on PC as the game reaches the critical stages of the second half
15:16 to go second half…. Louisville 38 PC 32
by: Frank Carpano
Leading scorers
PC Weyinme Efejuku 13 points
Louisville Samardo Samuels 12 points
Earl Clark 13 points
Shooting %
PC 27%
LU 44%
Rebounds
PC 23
LU 23
Turnovers
PC 15
LU 13
Fast Break pts Points off Turnovers points in the paint second chance points bench scoring
PC 5 11 14 7 4
LU 2 11 24 11 4
by: Frank Carpano
When the Friars have been successful over the past half dozen games of the regular season, they have had a great combination of an inside (Weyinme) and outside (Sheraud) game. Today, against a top notch opponent, the Friars are having trouble putting the ball in the basket. Everytime Weyinme drives to the hoop, their are 3 Louisville players on him. And the Cardinals guard the 3-point line incredibly well.
The Friars trailed by as many as 16, but have taken advantage of turnovers, Marshon Brooks has helped produce those turnovers. And it has helped PC get back into the game, now trailing by 9.
2:57 to go first half… Louisville 28 Providence 19
by: Frank Carpano
The Friars opponent today is so different from the team they played yesterday. To any college basketball fan that is an understatement.
Louisville is the #5 team in the country and the top seed in the Big East Tournament. There biggest asset is their defense, they are always swarming the basketball with 2 or more guys.
However, the Friars have been getting good looks, but are not shooting particularly well. They are shooting less than 30% at this point.
7:20 to go first half… Louisville 21 and Providence 10
by: Frank Carpano
+I love the buzz outside of Madison Square Gardern prior to a Big East tournament game. There are constant shouts of “who’s selling!“. And : “Need 2!“
Unfortunately, for the first game of the day (PC-Louisville today), that buzz did not carryover. I don’t know what it is about the first game of the day, but it lacks the energy of the games played later in the day. The fans seem like they are still half asleep. And the players are playing that way through the first few minutes of today’s game.
11:45 to play first half Louisville 17 and PC 7
by: Frank Carpano
The Friars beat DePaul in the opening round of the Big East Tournament 83-74. It was PC’s first win at this tournament since 2003.
The Friars will play again tomorrow against the tournament’s top seed, Louisville.
The Friars lost to the Cardinals at Louisville earlier this year. PC led that game by a point at the half. PC shot 75% in the first half. Commenting on their next game, PC coach keno Davis admitted: “It will take us playing a perfect game to beat Louisville
Keno also said that he wasn’t disappointed his team didn’t beat DePaul more decisively.
He said: “I’m happy we found a way to win. In every game this year where we haven’t playerd our best, I;’ve always been impressed with how we’ve found a way to dig down and found a way to win.
Stats:
PC: Curry 25 pts (including 5 3-pointers)
Efejuku 23 pts
Xavier 13 pts
DePaul: Walker 31 pts (including 6 3-pointers)
Tucker 30 pts
DePaul hit 13 of 31 3-point attempts
DePaul missed 8 of their 17 foul shots
Providence hit 9 of 19 3-point attempts
ARE THE FRIARS IN THE NCAA’S?
After the DePaul game, Keno Davis said he thinks his team has done enough to be considered for the NCAA’s, but admits that the Friars are still on the bubble.
The win over DePaul gives the Friars 19 wins this season
Since the Big East was formed, 90 % of Big East teams with 19 wins have been invited to the NCAA tournament.
by: frank Carpano
The Friars are playing much better with the lead. Jeff Xavier is stepping up…Curry leads PC scorers with 25. Weyinme has 21 11 points for Xavier
Will Walker is keeping DePaul in this, hitting 3 pointers. he has 31 points
PC WINS 83-74
Curry leads the Friars with 23 points
21 for Weyinme
Friars play Louisville tomorrow at noon
POST GAME STATS AND QUOTE COMING UP
by: Frank Carpanp
Great ball movement by the Friars on offense gave the Friars a 2 point lead with 4:48 to play on a jeff Xavier 3 pointer
Weyinme’s hoop made it a 4 point lead.
Sheraud Curry’s foul line jumper made it a 6 point lead.
a Friar steal resulted in a Goeff McDermott layup. PC by 8!
Now that’s more like it
by: Frank Carpano
Frustration set in at the 8:32 mark when Friar coach Keno Davis was called for a technical foul. likely arguing a questionable out of bounds call by the officials
The Friars have been trying to get the ball inside. Weyinme is driving to the hoop, but they are waiting for him there.
The idea is to get to the foul line. But when they have, the Friars haven’t executed. They are shooting only 43% from the foul line
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