NBE BIG EAST POWER POLL (1/18/2010)

1) Villanova (7): 157 points.
2) Syracuse (2): 150 points.
3) Pittsburgh (1): 141 points.
4) West Virginia: 129 points.
5) Georgetown: 122 points.
6) Louisville: 102 points.
7) Notre Dame: 97 points.
8} Connecticut: 90 points.
9) Cincinnati: 81 points.
10) Marquette: 70 points.
11) St. John’s: 59 points.
12) Seton Hall: 52 points.
13) Providence: 50 points.
14) South Florida: 32 points.
15) Rutgers: 20 points.
16) DePaul: 10 points.

The National Prep season is underway, with 9 of the top 10 teams in ESPN’s prep rankings playing at the National Prep Showcase in New Haven, CT.

NATIONAL PREP SHOWCASE RECAP, PART I

Ron Giplaye, who recently signed his LOI to come play for the PC next year, played for Notre Dame prep (they lost to Hargrave Military Academy).  Interesting note: current Friars Johnnie Lacy and Jamine Peterson also played at ND Prep.

Ron Giplaye, 2010, Notre Dame Prep, Providence: The future Friar big man was a beast in the paint against Hargrave. He struggled to finish at times, but was dominant on the glass and got great position against his defender. Once Giplaye gets the ball, he just lowers his shoulder and muscles up a shot. He was also active on the offensive board, getting several tip-ins, and blocked a couple of shots.

The Friars could definitely use his rebounding beast-ness next year.  The line “He struggled to finish at times” could be a cause for wanting to run away from the computer screaming (since we’ve been dealing with that for the last several years it seems), but I wouldn’t worry too much about it.  His future classmates Gerard Coleman and Joseph Young sound like they will be able to finish.

KENO DAVIS, PROVIDENCE HOPE SPEED KILLS in 2009-2010

The most glaring weakness for Providence heading into the year is its lack of size up front. The Friars have no one taller than 6-foot-9 and just four players bigger than 6-foot-7.

“We’re not going to be the biggest team,” he said. “But we’ll be one of the smallest and quickest. We’re going to have to find the match-ups to best be successful.”

NBE Stock Report: BET Edition

8. Providence 18-11, 10-7, Stock: Level

Last game: L 97-80 at Villanova
Second Round Big East Tournament vs. winner of No. 9 Cincinnati/No. 16 DePaul
Current Streak: L 1
Postseason Status: NIT
Projected Big East Tournament Finish: Second Round

Strong Point: Providence remains one of the deepest teams in this conference, with seven guys averaging eight or points per game, as well as 20 or more minutes for each.

Area of Improvement: The Friars dropped to dead last in scoring defense to end the regular season with an appalling 80.4 points given up per game, making themselves the only team in the conference giving up 80 or more points.

Overall Analysis: It seems if the opposition isn’t bogged down with turnovers, they have the right of passage down the lane for wide open layups on the Providence defense. Villanova was the latest to expose the (lack of) defense, when forward Dante Cunningham torched the Friars, going 8 of 17 with 19 points, scoring the bulk of that in the paint. The graph is quite simple really. When Providence gave up 80 or less points they went 7-0 in conference play. When they gave up 80 or more they went 3-7.

BIG EAST Stock Report: Week Nine

7.  Providence 18-11, 10-7, Stock: Rising

Last game: W 73-66 at Rutgers
Remaining game: Mar. 5 at Villanova

Current Streak: W 2

Postseason Status: NCAA

Projected Big East Tournament Seed: 8

Strong Point: One of the deeper teams in the league, Providence is getting eight or more points from seven different players.  Even forward Geoff McDermott, who is averaging the lowest at 8.1 points, dropped double figures in each of his last two games.

Area of Improvement: Providence has pulled down nine or less offensive rebounds in their last three games.  They have also been out-scored in second chance points in each of those games.

Overall Analysis: Expect to see the Friars dancing in March even if they drop their season finale to Villanova Thursday night.  Just one win in New York City and key wins over Pittsburgh and Syracuse should just be enough to punch their ticket to the Big Dance.

Folks, there is a good chance this will be the last day I can post stuff like this…so enjoy.

Big East Dance Card 2/23/09

Providence: The Friars were in a few prominent projected brackets heading into the week, but I guarantee it will be very tough to find their name this week. They were destroyed in the second half by Louisville during the week, and then were blown out at home by fellow bubble dweller Notre Dame. They are 1-6 against the top-50 of the RPI and just 5-11 against the top-100. Despite a Big East record above .500, this team is not NCAA-worthy right now. Projected Seed: None

Big East Dance Card (2/16/09)

Providence: The Friars are the exact opposite of Georgetown. They have a gaudy conference record, but poor computer numbers and nothing of substance to convince the Selection Committee that they belong. They beat South Florida and Rutgers this past week to move to 8-5 in the Big East, but they are still just 5-9 vs. the RPI top-100. That could change down the stretch, though, as they head to both Louisville and Villanova as well as host Villanova. It starts Wednesday against the Cardinals. Projected Seed: None

NBE Big East Stock Report: Week 6

8.  Providence 15-9, 7-5, Stock: Level

Last game: W 77-62 at South Florida
Next game: Feb. 14 vs. Rutgers

Current Streak: W 1

Strong Point: Providence tied a school record with 17 three point field goals made in their loss to Villanova Wednesday night.  They are averaging eight three pointers a game, and a percentage of 36.7% from beyond-the-arc.

Area of Improvement: Providence is tied with Notre Dame for second to last in defense, giving up 80 points per game.  They surrendered 85 or more points in 5 of their last 6 games.

NBE BE Power Poll for 2/9/09

It’s tough to see Cincinnati ahead of the Friars, considering they beat them both times this season.  Ugh.

1) Connecticut (8): 128 points.
2) Louisville: 115 points.
3) Pittsburgh: 114 points.
4) Marquette: 106 points.
5) Villanova: 97 points.
6) Syracuse: 86 points.
7) West Virginia: 77 points.
8: Cincinnati: 74 points.
9) PROVIDENCE: 61 points.
10) Georgetown: 57 points.
11) Seton Hall: 47 points.
12) Notre Dame: 42 points.
13) South Florida: 33 points.
14) St. John’s: 26 points.
15) Rutgers: 17 points.
16) DePaul: 8 points.

BIG EAST Stock Report: Week #5

6.  Providence 14-7, 6-3, Stock: Level

Last game: L 94-61 at Connecticut
Next game: Feb. 4 vs. Villanova

Current Streak: L 1

Strong Point: Providence continues to light it up in offensive categories, but perhaps that is due mainly to their Big East best 17.44 assists per game.  Guard Sharaud Curry has contributed the most with an average of 5.4 this year.

Area of Improvement: The Friars are giving up points in the second half at alarming rates.  In their three losses this year, they have been out-scored in the final period 156-103, squandering first half leads in all three games.

Overall Analysis: The past week has taught us a lot about Providence and what they have to do to win-score, and score big.  The Friars posted 100 points, out-lasting Syracuse’s 94 point rush, and were pelted by Connecticut when only scoring 61 points.  With a defense that is giving up 78 points per game, and a rebounding defense surrendering 37.8, it seems the only way Providence can guarantee a win is scoring at an extremely high pace.