Jayden Pierre sets the tone in a second-half surge versus Green Bay

Plus, Kim English on toughness and buy-in: “You put that jersey on, you better care about it at a pretty elite level because it means everything to us.”

The mandate from Kim English seemed straightforward enough after his team won its first three games of the season, but fell short of their coach’s standards in a number of key areas. Turnovers have been a considerable issue, and English has touched on a lack of physical and mental toughness in the early going.

In game number four, the Friars found themselves in a 36-all tie at halftime against Doug Gottlieb and visiting Green Bay on Saturday night, thanks to a healthy dose of Anthony Roy (more on him in a moment) and despite cutting their turnovers way down (three at the break).

“It was about a care factor at halftime,” English said. “We talked some about scheme, but we want to see guys that are in it. I want to see in it. I want to see emotion. I want to see who cares the most.”

Investment was a theme throughout English’s postgame press conference — a presser that followed a 79-65 PC victory that saw Providence grab 12 offensive rebounds and score 24 points in the paint in the second half.

In trying to capture what he’s looking for out of his players English referenced the Book of Revelation: I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot… So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.

“Don’t come to the game if you’re not going to be on fire. Stay in the dorms,” English said.

Providence needed to bring that fire in a second half that looked tenuous five minutes in. Green Bay led 50-43 with 15 minutes remaining before the Friars responded with a 12-0 run spearheaded by junior guard Jayden Pierre.

Pierre shined throughout the game on Saturday, knocking down all three of his shots in the first half, and then scoring 10 of his 18 points after the break. His two 3-pointers during the 12-0 spurt were huge, and he followed that up with a layup and an assist moments later after Green Bay cut the lead to two again.

Pierre played with a tightly wrapped hamstring, and went to the locker room the first time he was taken out of the game. Despite missing weeks of practice heading into the season, he is shooting 45% from three and has scored 31 points over the past two games now that his minutes restriction has been lifted.

While the rotation is still very much a work in progress, and it will change dramatically once Bryce Hopkins returns and is playing at full speed, Pierre and fellow junior Corey Floyd Jr. have been two of the constants. Both are in their third year at Providence, and their second playing for English. Both were very good on Saturday.

The Friars were a +11 in the first half with Pierre on the floor (he picked up two fouls and only played 11 minutes), while Floyd was every bit as effective: 3-4 shooting (2-2 from three) while defending one of the top scorers in the country in Green Bay’s Anthony Roy.

Roy came into this game on a heater — averaging 29 points per game on 18-32 shooting from distance. He was on a record-setting pace early in Providence, scoring 13 points in the game’s first six minutes on 5-6 shooting from the floor.

He would score just four points the rest of the way, however, and made only one of his final 15 shots.

English challenged his team to limit Roy to 15 points. “I wasn’t too sure of that challenge early on,” he quipped.

The Friar guards are defending well in the early going, and Gottlieb praised Providence’s scout and execution when it came to slowing his star. “I thought they were really well prepped for him,” he said.

“Their defense was outstanding — their preparation, where they funneled him, how they helped, when they helped and stayed home, they closed out without fouling on threes. It’s one thing to tell kids to do it, it’s another thing to get kids to do it. That’s real coaching.”

The Friars now rank in the 91st percentile in points per possession against (.740), and opponents are shooting just 4-21 when being guarded by Wesley Cardet and 11-35 by Floyd.

While the coaching staff sorts through solidifying the rotation, freshman Ryan Mela is making it all but impossible for them to leave him out of it.

In only 13 minutes, Mela finished with eight points, six rebounds, two assists, a block and a steal. He didn’t play in the season opener, but in the three games since Mela has scored 19 points to go along with 13 rebounds and just one turnover in 34 minutes of playing time.

“He’s a gamer, and again, he cares, he’s in it. When he misses layups he lets out a bark, a scream. He doesn’t like getting scored on. When he makes mistakes you see it (his frustration),” English said of Mela.

Providence played more disciplined offensively on Saturday. After turning the ball over 20+ times in their first three games, the Friars committed just six turnovers against Green Bay.

Despite his struggles with turnovers through three games, English inserted sophomore center Christ Essandoko into the starting lineup and had positive things to say about his level of engagement and ownership.

“Coach Felton is doing a deep dive into Christ and his turnovers, going all the way back to St. Joe’s, and they’re working on it every day, cleaning up some things.”

Essandoko finished with seven points and five rebounds in 16 minutes, while freshman Oswin Erhunmwunse provided a lift in the second half, when the Friars were a +11 in his five minutes on the floor.

English’s messaging has been straightforward in each of his last two postgame press conferences: the toughest players, those playing with the requisite mentality — both physically and mentally — will solidify their spots.

“You put that jersey on, you better care about it at a pretty elite level because it means everything to us.”