Friar Basketball Newsletter: Providence Faces a Big Week Ahead with Trips to TCU and URI
Providence still looks out of sorts in many ways after a 2-0 week that saw them take home victories over Merrimack and Columbia. The Friars have a significant opportunity to get right when they take on a very talented TCU team on the road on Wednesday, and then return to Rhode Island to play in what is sure to be a hostile Ryan Center against URI on Saturday.
Ed Cooley has been emphasizing the need for energy and enthusiasm out of his club, and saw a pair of reserve guards provide both during Saturday’s 78-64 win over Columbia. Junior guard Alyn Breed scored nine points in five minutes of second-half action on Saturday, while freshman point guard Jayden Pierre continues to impress with 13 points on 5-8 shooting from the floor, and a perfect 3-3 mark from beyond the 3-point arc.
“I think Breed may have played 12 minutes and he changed the entire game in a two minute span,” Cooley said following the win. “I think he made three straight baskets. Game. Set. Match.”
“The two guys at the podium (Breed and Pierre) changed the game with energy, and that’s something we’ve been working on — energy, excitement, enthusiasm.”
When asked about his transition to college, Pierre seemed unfazed by playing at this level: “It’s been pretty smooth, honestly. Probably the first couple of games there was a little adjustment, but now the coaches have given me confidence, my teammates give me confidence, and now I feel like I’m just hooping.”
You can read more about this win, with additional thoughts from Cooley here. Miss the game? Check out this four-minute highlight reel.
Our “Week Ahead” article takes a detailed look at both TCU and URI. The Horned Frogs entered the season ranked 14th in the AP Poll, and looked terrific in dominating #25 Iowa on Saturday night. The article also includes details about Providence’s history playing against TCU, including David Duke Jr.’s monster night two years ago, and when an All American came to the Providence Civic Center in Tim Welsh’s first season as PC’s head coach back in 1998.
Rhode Island is in its first year under new head coach Archie Miller, and the Rhody crowd always brings a level of hostility when the Friars come to town. Both games will be big challenges, but they could also serve as a rallying point for this Providence team.
This week’s “News and Notes” column is loaded with information, including Syracuse’s continued struggles with Big East teams, how UConn has surrounded Adama Sanogo with players who are a better fit to complement him this year, details on Creighton’s impressive showing in Maui, why Xavier is a level above 7-0 St. John’s, Villanova residing in the Big East basement, how Providence was the first high major to offer Duke star Kyle Filipowski, the Big East’s most efficient scorers, and more.
Additionally, Billy Ricci is back with his latest column on how Providence has not found its identity yet… and why that’s okay. Billy points out that history is on Cooley’s side when it comes to righting the ship.
We also have highlights from Wednesday’s victory over Merrimack, and an article on that win. Readers can find a shot chart from that game, read Cooley’s thoughts on the challenges facing his club, and see what went right against the Warriors.
If you haven’t already done so, please check out the first episode of our podcast series on the 2013-14 Big East Tournament Champion Friars. You’ll hear from Ed Cooley, Bryce Cotton, LaDontae Henton, Kadeem Batts, Carson Desrosiers, and Ted Bancroft in this episode.
We hope you are enjoying the content at Friar Basketball this season. We’re looking forward to covering a potentially pivotal week ahead!