Ryan Mela shines and Wesley Cardet continues to emerge in win over Butler, plus the latest on Bryce Hopkins' status

Ryan Mela continues to make this look much easier than it should be for a freshman in the Big East.

The Natick, MA native got the start in Providence’s convincing 84-65 victory over Butler on Wednesday night and made the most of it by finishing with a 10-point, 15-rebound, 4-assist effort. The 15 boards were the most by a Friar freshman since LaDontae Henton came down with 15 late in his first year.

He’s rebounding in traffic, finishing in the paint when opportunities arrive, kicking out to open shooters when it’s not there inside.

Sounds simpler than it is.

“Whether I have a double double or no stats, I’m just enjoying being out there and competing and winning,” Mela said Wednesday night.

“He’s an every day guy,” Providence head coach Kim English said of Mela. “He didn’t get to work with us this summer at all. He was rehabbing from a back injury. He’s just gotten better, and better, and better every day. He’s a sponge.”

Mela was unable to fully participate with his new teammates until late October, but two months into his freshman season he’s now a fixture in the Friar lineup. He was just as impressive in the first half at Connecticut on Sunday — a game in which the wing finished with 10 points, six rebounds, and two assists in 22 minutes.

It certainly feels like Providence found something in the player who spent much of his high school career under the radar, despite putting up massive numbers in his two seasons at the Newman School.

On a per-40 minute basis, Mela is second on the team in rebounds (12.6) and steals (1.6) and third in assists (3.7). His ability to rebound in traffic has been big for a team that has struggled on the interior at times this season.

Mela and fellow freshman Oswin Erhunmwunse are both taking steps forward now that the calendar has flipped to January.

“Both of them – so coachable,” English said of his freshmen.

“When guys are like that, when they don’t fight it, when they’re accepting of it, when everyone in their circle — they ain’t complaining, they ain’t making excuses — I haven’t talked to Jeff Mela (Ryan’s father) all season. Maybe hello. I haven’t talked to Oswin’s dad, maybe he’ll text me scripture, he’s a pastor in Nigeria.

They’re just such good kids. They’re so coachable, and those kids, those are the Kam Joneses, those are the Eric Dixons, those are the Tyler Koleks, those are the Devin Carters, those are the Baylor Scheiermans, those are the guys that are going to go like that (motions upwards with his hand). They are just all-in on doing whatever they’ve got to do to help the team. Because the realization is, why wouldn’t we want you to have great success?”

Slowing Butler in all Phases

The Bulldogs entered this game shooting nearly 39% from three and making eight a game. Wednesday saw season lows in 3-point makes (4), attempts (16), and percentage (25%) for them, while PC made 10-24 from deep.

This was a Butler team that played Connecticut down to the final minute and grew a big lead against Villanova, but over the final 20 minutes they didn’t threaten the Friars.

For the second game in a row, Providence did work on the interior. They enjoyed a 43-26 advantage on the glass, a 23-4 edge in second chance points, and scored 20 more points in the paint (44-24).

Wesley Cardet Strong Once Again

Senior guard Wesley Cardet Jr. followed up his 18-point effort against UConn with 17 more on Wednesday, making 7-11 from the field and 3-5 from deep. Cardet is shooting a career- best 43% from deep and seems to be finding his niche in English’s offense.

“Back in the day — before transfers became so rampant — when a junior college player would come up to the high major level, there was kind of buzz speak of ‘it takes the first half of the season.’ It’s similar to Wes. He was at a place in Chicago State where his usage was so, so, so high and every single thing went through him. It’s him figuring out how to play our way, in our system. He’s a great kid, I love coaching him, and he’s gotten better and better every day.”

Cardet was part of a productive Providence backcourt that got 18 points from junior Jayden Pierre, as well as 18 from Bensley Joseph off the bench.

A Bryce Hopkins’ Redshirt Possibility

With each passing game, it’s feeling more and more like the Friar team we saw on the floor on Wednesday could very well be who they run with going forward.

Of course, that group did not include Bryce Hopkins. We’re nearly in mid-January and English shared that Hopkins is still in pain after hurting his knee his third game back against DePaul.

English addressed Hopkins’ injury and talked about the possibility of a redshirt when questioned about the potential of Hopkins shutting it down for the rest of the season.

“He’s not feeling strong right now in the knee. We’ll keep working and mentoring him every day, but ultimately, if a kid doesn’t not feel good and strong it’s not worth it,” English said.

“Everything is an option. I really feel bad for the kid. He played 13 games last season and lost his junior season… Three games in, he hurts his knee again. There is a chance that if he plays he loses his senior season. It’s tough. That is absolutely on the table (redshirting), but he’s focused on just trying to get better, feel better every day.”