Can Providence Right the Ship Against Penn State?
Coming off the strong second half against New Hampshire, Providence heads to Mohegan Sun to face off against Penn State in the second and final game in the Amica Insurance Naismith Hall of Fame Showcase (try saying that 5 times fast). Can Kim English and the Friars collect a much-needed W against the Nittany Lions to get their season back on track?
Game Information:
Tip Off: 4:00 PM ET
Location: Mohegan Sun Arena – Uncasville, CT
TV Streaming: TruTV
It’s been a difficult start to the season for Kim English and his squad — a tight loss to Virginia Tech and a defensive collapse against Colorado have left the Friars searching for rhythm. But their explosive 66-point second half against New Hampshire was easily the best basketball they’ve played all year. Yes, the opponent was weaker, but Providence finally looked cohesive. If that momentum carries into tougher matchups, the Friars could quickly reinsert themselves among competitive Big East teams.
Providence Overview:
Strengths:
This is undoubtedly the most offensively talented team in the Kim English era of Providence College basketball, with several weapons who can hurt teams both in the paint and from three. Stefan Vaaks is yet to have a game below double digits, averaging 14.8 pts/game off 44.7% FG shooting. Similarly, Jamier Jones is averaging 10pts/game from 61.8% from the field. Even from these two alone, you can see the ability this team has, as Vaaks can punish you from three while Jamier brings the physicality to the paint (They’re both freshmen!). The transfers have also been having a great start to life in Friartown. Jason Edwards has had a fantastic season up to this point, averaging 20.4 off 48.5% FG shooting and Jaylin Sellers has averaged 16.6 off 45.8% in the field. Then you add returners Ryan Mela and Oswin Erhunmwunse, who have averaged 11 pts, 6.8 rebounds, and 6.6 pts and 8.6 rebounds, respectively. This team can attack from all angles, and if they can fix their defensive/rebounding issues, could be one of the teams to beat in the Big East this year.
Weaknesses:
Providence has really struggled in the rebound game this year, especially offensively. They have only won the offensive rebound game once thus far in their five contests (UPenn). It is not shocking, then, that the team has only scored more second-chance points in two of these games – a trend that must die before Big East play begins. Hopefully, New Hampshire can serve as a turning point for this, as the Friars went from allowing 15 second-chance points off 11 offensive rebounds in the first half to only 2 from 3 rebounds in the second. This could be attributed to the team’s lack of cohesiveness, something Kim spoke openly about during the post-game press conference after UNH, as he said “a big emphasis leaving Colorado was a little selfishness on offense, and not enough helping each other on defense.” Without playing as a unit, the Friars will struggle against most competition this year, especially with how many possessions occur during the games, as Providence plays a fast-paced game, looking to score in transition often.
Penn State Overview:
Strengths:
Penn State is a defensively disciplined team, not allowing any free throws in the first half, and only eight in the second half in a four point contest. This will be tested, though, as Providence is a team that knows how to get to the line and put them away. They have big bodies in the frontcourt too, with 7-foot freshman Ivan Juric finding form recently, getting 15 rebounds across his last two starts (avg 7.5). Freshman Kayden Mingo has been the star of the show, though, as the 6’3” guard has averaged 17 pts from 50% FG shooting. Coming off a 24-point game, he could pose some issues for the shaky Friars’ defense.
Weaknesses:
Harvard was able to hit 44% from three against Penn State on Wednesday, 50% in the first half, and 36% in the second. While they tightened up their defense in the second, the Nittany Lions allowed a lot of open looks, which could doom them against a team with shooters like Providence. Penn State also lacks frontcourt depth, which could hurt them with Providence’s fast-paced gameplay. This is an extremely young team, with only 5 players who aren’t freshmen – with a lack of experience, Providence can use some of their knowledge from transfers and returners to bully the young Nittany Lions.
Providence’s Keys to Winning
1) Win the Offensive Rebound Statistic
As I mentioned earlier, Providence has yet to really establish themselves on the offensive glass this year. As a result, they are not scoring as many second-chance points as their opposition. If the team can tire Penn State out through their fast-paced offense, they will be able to expose the lack of depth in the frontcourt. This is the type of game where Providence can begin to establish its identity for the season, and you want second-chance points and offensive boards to be a part of that.
2) Play Unselfishly
Jason Edwards said it best after the UNH win: the only guys this team has are themselves. The only people who are showing up every day to every practice, game, and event are the members of the team itself. They need to start playing like a unit and recognizing that they can sacrifice self-glory for the betterment of the team. They are all playing for the same goal, and they can help one another offensively and defensively to be a tournament team.
3) Finish Strong
One of the biggest frustrations as a Friar fan has been the team’s ability in recent years to start a game strong, but then lose the second half, and ultimately the game. This team feels different, though; they have the raw talent to compete for the entirety of each game they play, regardless of the competition. If the Friars can become a second-half team, that is where they will find wins that may be unexpected. Against a young team like Penn State, the second half is undoubtedly the best chance to take control of the matchup.
Key Players:
Providence: Stefan Vaaks, Jason Edwards, Oswin Erhunmwunse/Cole Hargrove
Penn State: Kayden Mingo, Ivan Juric, Josh Reed