It’s hard to even write a post game recap of this game. So I won’t. If you want to read my best attempt at a postgame recap check out the one I wrote for Big East Coast Bias. This space will be used to try to express my frustration at how this team has played their last two games. The Kentucky game had some positives so I wasn’t too upset with that loss because a win would have been the biggest upset of the entire season in national college basketball.

The last two losses are inexcusable. Road games are tough. I get that. But to get pretty handily beat by a home underdog when your fans fill up a large chunk of the opponent’s arena makes no sense to me. I get that players have been hurt and they haven’t had a ton of practice time together and that probably has hurt their rhythm but there really isn’t an excuse for LaDontae Henton to only score 9 points in that game. But that’s a road loss so it doesn’t hurt the team too, too badly. Next up is Brown. Providence is favored by 15 points. They are coming off two losses and will definitely be hungry for this game, right?

Wrong. This game reminded me of a Keno Davis-era Providence team. They made a lot of mistakes and came out with no energy or effort. I know it’s a late tip on a Monday night in front of less than 5,000 fans but there is simply no excuse to have the entire team healthy and ready to play and come out and lay an egg like that at home. Brown was winning 50/50 balls and generally out-hustling the Friars. This team is not the “Heart & Soul” Friars of 2013-14. Bryce Cotton isn’t walking through that door so they better figure themselves out.

If this Providence team was having dreams of a return trip to the NCAA Tournament this season after a 6-0 start to the season this could be the very game that jeopardizes that opportunity. And it shouldn’t have. Next on the docket is URI on Wednesday night. If the Friars come out with the same effort and intensity they did tonight they will be blown off their own floor by the Rams. A 4th straight non-conference loss and a 2nd straight home loss would be catastrophic to this season.

I’m declaring Wednesday’s game a must win at this point. I know it’s early in the season and I know it might be a little crazy to say that game 10 of a 30+ game season is must win but I’m not sure this team’s RPI could handle another non-conference home loss to a team they are better than. Providence Friars: you must win Wednesday night. That is all.

/end rant

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