Friars Win: Boston College 51, (15) Providence 66

Final Score
Boston College 51
Providence 66

Leading Scorer Leading Rebounder
Boston College Carter: 15 Clifford: 8
Providence Bullock: 17 Lindsey: 9

Notes:

  • Ben Bentil got off to another terrific start for Providence and was outscoring the entire Boston College team for much of the first 10 minutes of the first half. Bentil appeared on his way to another 20+ point night and a double-double, but the improved Friar big man landed on Dennis Clifford’s foot coming down after a shot and rolled his left ankle with 1:58 left in the first half. Bentil went to the locker room and would only return to the bench at the under 8 media timeout on crutches. Bentil finished the game with 16 points and 8 rebounds despite not playing a minute of the second half.
  • Kris Dunn did not appear to be himself during 15 first half minutes. Dunn came out of the game with about 4 minutes remaining in the first stanza and went to the locker room with what we would find out later was an illness. Dunn went 2/8 from the field in the first half and didn’t return to the game because of that illness.
  • Rodney Bullock was the story in the second half for Providence. The Friars were putrid on the offensive end, beginning the half with 9 turnovers and 4 points through the under 12 media timeout. Bullock scored Providence’s first 11 points of the second half and was the sole reason Providence didn’t fall behind the Eagles in this one. Bullock finished with 17 points on 9/14 shooting, with 15 of those points coming in the second half.
  • Ryan Fazekas was not at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center for this game as he came down with the flu and remained on campus. Jalen Lindsey got his first start of the season and didn’t do much to makeup for Fazekas’s lost offense. Lindsey finished the game with 8 points after starting 0/5 from the field. He did make a big 3-pointer with 2:51 to extend Providence’s lead to 12 and led the team with 9 rebounds. Jim Peters, a local reporter who covered Fazekas in high school, reported on Twitter that Ryan has mononucleosis and will miss several weeks. We’ll see what is heard leading up to Saturday’s game against Bryant.
  • Kyron Cartwright had to run the show for the entire second half and played all 20 minutes during the second session. Cartwright lit up the turnover stat with 4 for the game, but he also made some nice plays cutting into the lane and feeding teammates.
  • Drew Edwards was forced into his first extended action and the young man was impressive with his energy, especially on the defensive end. He didn’t have a ton of points or rebounds but he had tough defense and deflections.
  • This is an all-grit game for Providence. Down 3 starters, 2 for the entire second half and 1 for the entire game, and they managed to gut out a win with a lot of young and inexperienced played having to play big time minutes.
  • The Friars return to action Saturday and will complete the Quahog trifecta by playing Bryant at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center. That game tips at 12pm EST and is on FS1.

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#pcbb Links of the Day 12/9/15

Providence in the Mix for UNLV Transfer Goodluck Okonoboh

Goodluck Okonoboh announced his intention to transfer from UNLV on the Friday after Thanksgiving. Because of the timing, some fans might have missed the news or forgotten that the former NEPSAC big man and top-30 recruit in the class of 2014 is now available and looking for a new home for the final 1.5 years of college eligibility. Okonoboh is looking to enroll somewhere for the second semester and would have to sit out that semester and the Fall semester next year before becoming eligible for competition, per NCAA transfer rules.

Continue reading Providence in the Mix for UNLV Transfer Goodluck Okonoboh

Game Notes & Preview: (15) Providence (8-1) vs. Boston College (3-5) 12/9/15

Where: Dunkin’ Donuts Center – Providence, RI

When: 7:00pm EST

How: FS1 (Tim Brando & Donny Marshall)/WEEI 103.7 FM and Friars.com (John Rooke and Joe Hassett)/FriarTV

Game Notes

Continue reading Game Notes & Preview: (15) Providence (8-1) vs. Boston College (3-5) 12/9/15

Opening Line: (15) Providence -15.5 vs. Boston College 12/9/15

The Friars welcome Boston College to the Dunkin’ Donuts Center and will look to avenge last season’s loss at the Conte Forum. Providence was a 2.5 point favorite last season and lost the game by 9 on the road. The line is a bit larger this year and the Eagles are trying to overcome a possible E. Coli virus outbreak among 10 team members from some bad burritos at Chipotle. Providence has opened as a 15.5 point favorite over Boston College. The Friars are 5-3 ATS this season. Boston College is 1-4 ATS this season.

Opening Line

Providence -15.5

Opening O/U

TBA

Opening Moneyline

TBA

UPDATE 5:05pm, 12/9/15: The line has been taken off the board pretty much everywhere, likely due to the uncertainty about who will be able to play for BC after the norovirus outbreak and Eli Carter’s sprained ankle.

UPDATE 1:30pm, 12/8/15: The line has moved to Providence +16.

Stay tuned for updates as the line moves.

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Joey Brackets Releases Updated Bracketology 12/8/15

With nearly a month of college basketball games played to date, Joe Lunardi has released an updated bracketology post on ESPN.com. Joey Brackets had the most Big East teams in the field — 6 — of the preseason bracketology that I profiled just before the season started last month. He also had the Friars as an 11 seed, topped only by Jerry Palm at CBSSports.com who had Providence as a 9 seed. Here is where Lunardi sees Providence and the rest of the Big East as of December 8, 2015.

Continue reading Joey Brackets Releases Updated Bracketology 12/8/15

#pcbb Links of the Day 12/8/15

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