Putting Bryce Hopkins’ historical night into perspective… Ed Cooley’s praise of Jared Bynum, Alyn Breed, and Rhode Islander Tyler Kolek… Where PC stands in offensive rebound and free throw rate… and Devin Carter’s energy plays and increasingly great Twitter game.
1. “Coach wanted us to make it a point to rebound. He told me that he expects me to get at least ten rebounds, or fifteen… He said one game he wanted me to get 20, so I just try to crash the glass as much as I can.”
That was Bryce Hopkins following Providence’s 88-74 victory at URI on Dec. 3. The Friars were searching for an identity at the time, and it sounded like Ed Cooley was challenging Hopkins to step into a starring role.
Hopkins has more than responded since, and as a result the Friars have won five straight games and started Big East play 2-0 after knocking off #24 Marquette in double overtime on Wednesday.
It took Hopkins just four games since the URI presser to find his way to 20 boards in a single game — and it came when the Friars needed him to be the best player on the floor against a very good Marquette group.
Hopkins was certainly that, with season highs in points (29) and rebounds (23). He became just the second Friar to finish with 20/20 in a Big East game (Jamine Peterson was the first when he did so 12 years ago against Rutgers). The only other Friar to finish with 20/20 since Marvin Barnes graduated was Herbert Hill, who just so happened to be in the building last night.
Hopkins came down with tough traffic rebounds at the end of the first overtime and to seal it in the second.
In the month of December, Hopkins is averaging 20 points and 12.8 rebounds per game. He has taken 28 free throws in two Big East games.
2. Hopkins also lived at the free throw line in this one, taking 18 attempts. That ties him for the fifth highest single game total in Providence history with Eric Murdock, Eric Williams, and Gerard Coleman.
The Friar record is 22 by Rudy Williams during the 1979-80 season, which came against Brown.
The previous top marks under Cooley came when Alpha Diallo took 20 in that dreadful loss to Florida in December 2019, and Bryce Cotton’s 19 versus Fairfield in November 2013.