Big games arrive early for Providence basketball. Up next: Rick Pitino’s Red Storm

[ad_1]

PROVIDENCE — To borrow from the late Yogi Berra and his seemingly endless supply of verbal wit, it’s getting late early for the Providence men.

The Friars enter their Big East home opener Friday night on the wrong side of the bubble when it comes to a nonconference NCAA Tournament resumé. Their last chance went by the boards last weekend at Mohegan Sun, as a slow start set the tone for a loss to St. Bonaventure.

It’s nothing but conference play beginning with this visit from St. John’s to Amica Mutual Pavilion, and the Red Storm are coming off a 28-point home blowout of DePaul. Providence needed overtime on the road to outlast those same Blue Demons, with Bensley Joseph and the defense leading the way late.

More: Bryce Hopkins on bench as PC basketball loses to St. Bonaventure. Here’s what happened.

Providence guard Bensley Joseph helped his team’s defense seal a recent win against DePaul.

“It was a new feeling, a new vibe, at DePaul last week,” Providence coach Kim English said on his most recent radio show, which airs on WPRO. “The most important game of our season.”

That could be the case every time out for the Friars between now and March. They can’t afford a stumble against a league that has largely underperformed through the first two months. Two-time national champion Connecticut, Marquette and St. John’s would be the only programs feeling comfortable if Selection Sunday were tomorrow.

More: Providence basketball will take the national stage this season. Here’s the Friars schedule.

St. John’s head coach Rick Pitino calls out instructions during the second half against DePaul on Dec. 17. Pitino’s Red Storm come to Providence Friday night.

Rick Pitino won’t hesitate for a second to drive an early nail in his former school’s March coffin. His reverence for and remembrance of that magical 1987 run to the Final Four aside, Pitino didn’t build his Hall of Fame career by being sentimental. The Red Storm have their own intentions on returning to the NCAA…

[ad_2]
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/big-games-arrive-early-providence-104421798.html

Author : The Providence Journal

Publish date : 2024-12-20 10:44:00

Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.