This season has sort of been a microcosm of Kadeem Batts’ career. He has been up and down. When he is up, PC usually wins. When he is down, PC usually loses. The numbers bear it out.

Batts decided to return to Providence this year for his 5th year after receiving his Bachelor’s Degree in May 2013. Once that was confirmed, he and Bryce Cotton were immediately deemed to be the leaders for next year’s team. Cotton is more of a lead by example guy but Batts is more vocal and expressive. You can usually tell how he’s feeling by just looking at him.

This has served him well at times.

And not so well at others.

A pattern has emerged.

If Batts is involved and aggressive early in games, he usually plays well. If he isn’t involved and isn’t aggressive early, he tends to get down and it affects his play at both ends. One positive potential change in that pattern occurred on Saturday at DePaul. Batts was not looking good on the offensive end. He missed a few shots within 5 feet and couldn’t seem to get in a rhythm. In the past, this is the kind of thing that would have taken him totally out of the game and resulted in foul trouble and/or a lack of effort on the defensive end. And yet, Batts managed to contribute to the game in other ways. He grabbed 9 rebounds, blocked 2 shots and took a charge late in the game, all while only managing 4 points.

Hopefully that was a preview of a new and improved Kadeem Batts for this 2nd half of conference play stretch run that PC embarks on tonight.

Yesterday he tweeted:

PC fans, no matter if they get frustrated at his poor play at times in some games, are with Kadeem. We know that in order for this team to get to the ultimate goal of their first appearance in the NCAA tournament since the 2003-2004 season, Kadeem Batts needs to be more like the guy who had 27 and 10 against Louisville in 2012 and the guy who had 27 and 12 against Seton Hall in 2013 and the guy who had 14 and 17 against Butler 2 weeks ago.

This is the last ride for Kadeem.  He knows it. He is motivated. In order for he and the Friars to get to the Dance, they need Kadeem to be aggressive and play like he did against St. John’s the first time. They need Kadeem to play like the Senior leader who is fighting for his legacy as a Providence Friar. They need Kadeem play like this: