“It’s not taught until it’s learned”
Billy Ricci's latest on the lessons being learned in Friartown
Friar Family,
“It’s not taught, until it’s learned” is a quote from Kim English on a recent episode of “PC Hoops with Kim English” on WPRI 12. It’s a great show to tune in on Sundays at 10:30 p.m. for our Rhode Island readers out there.
This quote stuck with me for a couple reasons, as it’s no secret the Friars have had plenty of learning moments in what has been a very up and down 2023-24 season.
There is no doubt Devin Carter has taught us he is one of the best players (not just guards) in the country, and it’s about time those who cover college basketball have acknowledged this fact. Being a part of a Naismith Midseason Watch List that includes Zach Edey, Caleb Love, Armando Bacot and some fellow top Big East foes is special, but what is even more impressive is for his position Carter may have the most unique season stats of any player on the list: 48% from the field, 38% from 3, eight rebounds per game and 1.7 steals per game. Caleb Love, for example, takes the L to Carter on every major category mentioned, when both players are nearly identical in points per game. I am curious to see if more teams start to double Carter as St. John’s did Tuesday night, as we round out the regular season.
Something else that has been taught this Big East season is the importance of home court advantage. St. John’s is 1-6 on the road, Xavier 2-5, and the Friars 2-5. It certainly speaks to tough environments to play in like Omaha, Indy, and Storrs, but what we have learned is the Friars can hang in there on the road. It has come down to just a couple points between the Friars being 4-4 rather than 2-5 on the road this season.
I still cannot believe the non-call at the end of the Butler game. Would they have called the foul if Corey Floyd Jr. went up for the layup instead? Was Carter fouled before that? Unfortunately, it seems we just have to move on from that game.
In terms of the St. John’s game, what we were taught is the supporting cast is getting a little more comfortable. Rich Barron shot 4-8 from the field and 2-5 from 3 in his new starting role, Corey Floyd was 3-6 from the field and 1-2 from three, and Carter only went 3-7 from the field and PC still has a win to show for it! That’s a much different balance in the stat sheet than those first couple games after Bryce Hopkins went down. Speaking of Hopkins, Kevin McNamara asked him during a media session on Friday if he plans to return to the Friars in 2024-25 and the answer was simply “yes.” This could be one of the most impactful ‘yes’ in college basketball if it is the case, as Hopkins also mentioned he believes Kim English is building something special in Friartown that he wants to be a part of. Hopkins’ timeline to return is still to be determined.
English is certainly building something in year one in Friartown, and it's all centered around a system that is new age and one he hopes will get his top guys to the league. I have enjoyed English’s passion on the sidelines this year, some moments of coming on the court that even led to a bogus technical or two. I have a clear vision in my head down the stretch from the “Pink Out” Creighton game of English in a low stance clapping like a mad man trying to help the guys get over the hump. But back to the original quote I led with: “It’s not taught until, it’s learned.”
We’ve all been there, we’ve all made mistakes that make so much more sense after we have faced the consequences they bring. Whether it was the UCONN loss which showed PC could hang in with the #1 team in the country with just a little more supporting cast contributions, or the importance of free throws in the Creighton and St. John’s losses on the road, or the importance of closing out close games in conference play in general as you can’t get them back. This Friar team has certainly learned a lot through the ups and down and that has recently benefited guys like Barron and Floyd who are finding themselves as we head into a very important stretch to close out the year.
Do I think the Friars can get to 20 wins? Yes. Do I think they can make the tournament? Yes. Because of Oduro’s recent dominance and some of the supporting cast above finding themselves, I think we are far removed from the team that lost four straight after Hopkins went down. But, as we have been taught and we have learned, we are more likely than not going to drop a game to a team we probably shouldn’t, as that’s been the story of this year in the Big East for pretty much all the league except UConn.
I remember when Hopkins went down I was worried Providene’s home record was going to take a big hit without #23. To English’s credit he’s been able to stabilize that thus far. Whether it’s a pro-style offense, running on the court to check on his guys, or being the new godfather to Josh Oduro’s newborn, English seems to be winning the belief and trust from his players that there is still greatness left to be achieved this season.