Providence hosts Milwaukee on Saturday night, in what should be an fast-paced contest
The Panthers were picked to finish second in the Horizon League and should provide a good early test.
It’s been over ten years since Providence last played an opponent from the Horizon League. In March of 2013, the Friars were in the early stages of a program turnaround, taking out Robert Morris, 77-68, in the second round of the NIT behind 41 combined points from Bryce Cotton and LaDontae Henton.
The Friars have never lost to a Horizon League opponent (7-0), but they should receive a stiff test when Milwaukee comes to the Amica Mutual Pavilion on Saturday night (6pm tip, FS1/WPRO).
The Panthers are fresh off of a 22-12 campaign, marking their first finish over .500 since 2016. It’s a program with a noteworthy coaching tree over the past 25 years (Bo Ryan, Bruce Pearl, LaVall Jordan), and one that saw a dramatic improvement in Bart Lundy’s first season as head coach last year.
Lundy had a terrific run for about a decade at Queens College before bringing a pressing, attacking style to Milwaukee in 2022. The Panthers pressed a ton last year (6th in the country at 29.0 possessions per game), and ranked fourth in the nation in blocked shots.
Offensively, the Panthers ranked in the 93rd percentile nationally in pace, 94th in points in the paint, and 99th in percentage of shots attempted at the rim (40.7 per game — the national average was 29.8).
Four of their starters return from last season, highlighted by junior BJ Freeman, who averaged 18.2 points and 5.1 rebounds per game. The 6’6 Freeman broke a CBI record by scoring 43 points versus Stetson, and notched a triple double against Purdue Fort Wayne earlier in the year.
Freeman, Kentrell Pullian (10.6 points, 4.4 boards), and Markeith Browning II (9.6 points, 5.1 rebounds) were all terrific as sophomores and give the Panthers a competitive group of guards with experience.
The trio is a big reason why the Panthers were picked to finish second in the Horizon League in the preseason.
Milwaukee went 0-2 against high major competition last year, falling to Purdue (84-53) and Iowa State (68-53).
Lundy added a pair of high major transfers in the offseason. Erik Pratt is a 6’5 guard from Texas A&M, while 6’9 Washington transfer Langston Wilson brings size to a frontcourt that lost much of its rim protection from a season ago. Opponents shot just over 40% from the field against them last year.
What to watch for from Providence against Milwaukee: