Providence basketball falls in heartbreaker to Villanova. Here’s what happened

[ad_1]

PHILADELPHIA – Next time they’ll fix it.

Next time the inbounds pass won’t be intercepted. Next time the ensuing play won’t get blown up resulting in a hurried shot that never had a chance. Next time they’ll do a better job boxing out on the defensive boards so that they don’t give up an uncontested layup with the game on the line.

And whoever it is wearing that Providence Friars uniform, they’ll learn from this so that next time things will go their way.

More: Providence basketball proves no match for this Big East contender. Here’s what happened

Villanova Wildcats forward Eric Dixon (43), shown in a Jan. 14 game, scored a game-high 23 points against Providence on Friday night.

“Our team lacks nothing,” Friars coach Kim English declared following his team’s 75-73 loss to Villanova here last night in a game where the Friars overcame a woeful shooting start to take a halftime lead, then saw a series of second-half lead changes before ‘Nova’s Tyler Perkins’ putback of an Eric Dixon airball with 42.7 seconds left put the Wildcats ahead to stay. “We’ve just got to learn from it and keep getting better

“We can get better if we continue to watch and learn, starting with me.

“How can I coach these guys better and put them in better situations to play to their strengths more, to execute more, to get to share a purpose.”

If you’re keeping score this marks the fifth game the 9-10 Friars (3-5 in the Big East) have lost by four points or less. While it’s undoubtedly frustrating. They insist they’re not discouraged.

More: Providence women’s basketball looking to get on track; how they did against Xavier

Friars coach Kim English, shown in a Jan. 14 game against Creighton, says his team will learn from Friday’s loss to Villanova and continue to improve.

“I just think we need to continue to come together,” said sophomore guard Andre Fernandez, who scored 17 points and knocked down 5 of 10 3-point shots in his first start of the season. “Obviously…

[ad_2]
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/providence-basketball-falls-heartbreaker-villanova-135411300.html

Author : The Providence Journal

Publish date : 2025-01-18 13:54:00

Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.