Jared Bynum Serves a Reminder in a Perfect Shooting Half in a Comeback Victory at Villanova
Jared Bynum played the perfect half in leading Providence back from seven points down at Villanova on Sunday.
Appearing in just his second game since returning from an injury that sidelined him for three weeks, Bynum carried the Friars to a 70-65 victory at the Wells Fargo Center that improved PC’s conference record to 9-2.
The graduate point guard made all six of his shots from the field, including three of three from beyond the arc in scoring 17 of his 19 points after the break.
This game seemed to be getting away from Providence, as Nova led 49-42 with just over ten minutes to play. At that point, the Friars were 0-11 from the field, and hadn’t gotten much offensive production outside of Ed Croswell, the Philadelphia native who made his first seven shots of the day.
Conversely, Villanova was enjoying one of the best games of star freshman Cam Whitmore’s season, and were riding high off the return of Justin Moore, who had been out since tearing his achilles in last year’s Elite Eight.
That’s when Bynum came to life — while serving a reminder to the rest of the Big East (and some in Providence) that there is a reason why he was named to the All Big East Team last season.
In a span of 90 seconds, Bynum went on a personal 8-0 run, knocking down PC’s first two 3-pointers and then hitting a floater, to completely swing the momentum of this one.
Two minutes later, he found emerging freshman Corey Floyd Jr. for a 3-pointer, and then got to the bucket for a layup of his own to tie the game at 55.
PC’s next basket of the game came when Bynum got into the paint, drew three defenders, and found Hopkins alone for a three.
58-57 Friars.
After Eric Dixon countered with a layup on the next possession, it was Bynum once again answering. With just under five minutes to play and PC leading by a point, a wild scramble ensued at halfcourt. Devin Carter came up with a steal, and found Bynum open for a corner three.
That shot made it 61-57, and the Friars never trailed again.
Nova didn’t go quietly, however.
Bynum found Floyd for his second big three of the second half to push PC ahead, 64-58, but Villanova cut the lead to a point with under a minute to play.
That’s when Bynum shook Cam Whitmore, Villanova’s freshman future lottery pick and sunk a 15 foot fadeaway to make it 68-65.
The shot, much like Bynum’s second half, was perfect.
Bynum closed the game’s scoring with a pair of free throws at the 13 second mark.
Perhaps the biggest takeaway from this week is that Providence became a deeper, more dangerous team over the past five days — not only due to Bynum’s return, but because his insertion back into the lineup coincided with the best games of the Big East schedule for Floyd Jr. and Clifton Moore.
Floyd followed up a terrific effort on Wednesday versus Butler with eight points on the aforementioned threes, and a confident make shortly after entering the game in the first half. He also blocked Caleb Daniels (although he wasn’t credited for it by the official scorer) in the opening half. In Floyd Jr., Cooley has another big, athletic defender in the backcourt, and a needed threat from deep.
Moore was credited with three blocks, and he also knocked down a baseline jumper in 16 solid minutes in his return home.
While Providence has rushed out to a 9-2 conference record — tied for the best in the Big East — they have not gotten consistent production off the bench. That changed over this past week.
On Sunday, PC’s reserved outscored Villanova’s, 29-5.
Bynum, last year’s Big East 6th Man of the Year, said after the Villanova win that he doesn’t care if he comes off the bench or starts going forward. It wasn’t a surprise that we didn’t hear his name in the starting lineup on Sunday, considering he played short minutes in his return against Butler just five days ago.
Whichever direction Cooley chooses to go in going forward, this is a Providence team that is looking increasingly more balanced as the season progresses.
It’s a far cry from the disjointed team that wrapped up November with a 5-3 record. They are 12-2 since closing November with a loss at the hands of a very good TCU game — a game that also marked the last time PC lost with Bynum in the lineup.
Another great road win!
Tremendous, unexpected win with Justin Moore returning to start for 'Nova'. Our second half defense was suffocating. Cooley is masterful at coalescing the incoming portal guys...and we can finally inbound the ball under our own basket without turning it over! Amen! Go Friars!