The Friars out of Providence are tonight’s opponent and the past tells us we’re going to beat them. Last time we played them, February 2005, we won 81-68. We’ve won six in a row against Providence and haven’t lost to the them at home in more than eight years. Get out the magic marker and mark a “W” right?
Well, I would hold off on that just to make sure. The Tribune-Review gives us an article on Providence’s improvement which has been a surprise to Big East teams and coaches who picked them to finish 10th back in the preseason.
Providence is among the top scoring teams in the Big East at 73.8 points per game. When they shoot, good things happen. The Friars rank second in the Big East — and 10th in the nation — in field-goal percentage and No. 4 in the Big East in rebounds.
“They are very good offensively,” Pitt coach Jamie Dixon said. “They are very skilled. They shoot the ball well with their guards. They have a well-balanced offense.”
Coach, were you taking about us or them?
It is interesting though to see a team that is supposed to play similar to us on the offensive end. They get it inside to senior center Herbert Hill (18.8 ppg) but the guards will take the open shot too, especially Sharaud Curry (16.6 ppg).
Antonio Graves knows that the key to taking a lead will be stopping the other team’s offense.
“You can trade baskets all day,” Graves said. “It come downs to who can make stops.”
Looking over Providence’s schedule, you see wins over Boston College (when BC was ranked 23rd at the time) and a win over Marquette at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center on January 4.
As discussed in this post about the possibility of mixing up the starting line up–notably putting Sam Young in and taking out Levon Kendall–well, don’t expect anything to change anytime soon. Even with Young coming off of a great performance over West Virginia and averaging 5.7 points in 14.7 minutes per game, Kendall will continue to get the starting nod (with 5.3 points in 26.2 minutes per game). Dixon is quoted as saying he loves having a new guy who breaks out every game and the writer’s continue to ask if that player will get more minutes. When another guy comes along the next game and puts up a load of points, then he’s the focus of writers who ask about getting more time.
Translation: One 21-point performance will not dictate a change to a system that has proven to be successful the past four years. For the most part, seniors start and underclassmen come off the bench if the competition is close.
If we keep winning then I have no right to complain.
