Tag Archives: Providence

#pcbb Bracketology Update 2/27/14

Joe Lunardi has PC as an 11 seed against Tennessee in a First Round play-in game in the East Region (updated on 2/27).

Jerry Palm has PC as an 12 seed playing Arkansas in a First Round play-in game in the Midwest Region (updated on 2/27).

Bracket Matrix, which updated yesterday at 7:55pm, has PC’s average seed as an 12 but they are only in 35 of 89 brackets.

http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/bracketology/team-comparison/PROV/PROV

Continue reading #pcbb Bracketology Update 2/27/14

Bracketology Update: Joe Lunardi’s Updated Bracket #pcbb

ESPN’s Joe Lunardi came out with his new bracket today and he has PC as a 12 seed in a First Round Play-in game in the Midwest bracket (Indianapolis) playing Oklahoma State. Lunardi currently has a total of 5 Big East teams in with SJU and PC in the last 4 in category and Georgetown in the next 4 out category. It looks like, depending on how this last couple weeks of the season go, the Big East could get as many as 6 in and as few as 3.

Lunardi lists PC’s chances as a coin toss right now to get into the NCAA tournament:

LAST FOUR IN
ODDS
FIRST FOUR OUT
ODDS
NEXT FOUR OUT
ODDS
St. John’s
55%
 Minnesota
40%
Oregon
35%
Providence
50%
Richmond
35%
Georgetown
35%
Tennessee
55%
Dayton
35%
Nebraska
30%
Oklahoma State
45%
Florida State
40%
Southern Miss
30%

LAST FOUR IN: These teams are being squeezed at both ends. They don’t want to be caught from behind, of course, but they also want to move up and secure a first-round bye. Dayton is their most likely destination.

In my opinion, the Friars need to get to 21 wins to dance. I’ll have a full Bracketology update on Thursday at noon as I do every week.

Joe Lunardi’s Latest Bracket Update

#pcbb Weekly Recruiting Update 2/21/14

  • Check out the article on 2015 PF from Putnam Science Academy, Mamadou Diarra.
  • PC made an offer over the weekend to 2015 PG Justin Robinson of St. James School in DC. The southpaw transferred there after playing his first 2 seasons of high school ball at Montrose Christian. He also plays for famed AAU squad, Boo Williams, current PC Sophomore Josh Fortune’s former AAU team. Robinson has seen his stock rise from mid-major to possibly high major. PC is his first high major offer and it seems that Cooley and staff have had a way of finding these kinds of players just before their recruitment’s take off. For now, Robinson is likely a backup plan at PG for the 2015 class but he could wind up being a very solid plan B if things don’t work out with Jalen Adams.

  • Scout Friars posted a great article by Kevin San on the push to land guards in 2014. The article, titled PC’S Full Court Press for a Guard, can be found here but a subscription is required.
  • Paschal Chukwu and the Fairfield Prep Stags remained undefeated (19-0) after winning at home against Career last night. Chuwku poured in 21 points in the win and added 11 rebounds and 8 blocked shots despite sitting for nearly 5 minutes in the 2nd half after he picked up his 4th foul. Prep is now 1 win away from a perfect regular season.

Continue reading #pcbb Weekly Recruiting Update 2/21/14

Cox Sports: Joe Lunardi – “Providence Friars May Be America’s Bubble Team” #pcbb

http://coxsportsonline.com/2014/02/joe-lunardi-handicaps-the-friars-ncaa-tourney-chances/

#FriarTBT 2/20/14: Butler Edition

#FriarTBT time again

Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports
Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports
Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports
Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports
Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports

#pcbb Bracketology Update 2/20/14

Joe Lunardi has PC as an 11 seed against St. Joseph’s in a First Round play-in game in the West Region (updated on 2/20).

Jerry Palm has PC as an 11 seed playing St. Joseph’s in a First Round play-in game in the South Region (updated on 2/17).

Bracket Matrix, which updated yesterday at 6:45pm, has PC’s average seed as an 11 but they are only in 46 of 87 brackets.

http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/bracketology/team-comparison/PROV/PROV
Continue reading #pcbb Bracketology Update 2/20/14

#pcbb Recruit Profile: Mamadou Diarra 2015 PF

A new name on the recruiting trail for Friar fans is 6’9 Mamadou Diarra (2015 PF). He recently transferred to Putnam Science Academy in CT. PSA is a New England prep program on the rise. They previously sported PC recruit Dayshon Smith who is a freshman at Dayton this season. Prior to arriving at PSA, Diarra played at Believe Prep in SC, a school with some PC ties. Believe Prep has a couple 2015 PC recruits in Jared Wilson-Frame and Trae Jefferson and it is also where God Shammgod’s son played a post-grad year before moving on to Division II Fairmont State.

Diarra took an unofficial visit to Providence on Tuesday and took in the double OT thriller against Villanova at the Dunk.

According to Associate Head Coach at PSA, Josh Scraba, Diarra “is an explosive athlete that plays above the rim. [He’s an] active shot blocker and a very good rebounder [and has] good touch with range stretching to 15 feet. [He] prides himself on the defensive end and is very physical.” Diarra reportedly has a 7’2 wingspan.

On the AAU circuit, Diarra plays for Jay David and the NYC Jayhawks. Coach Jay also had high praise of Diarra describing him as “very athletic and long…he has a high ceiling.” Coach Jay also mentioned that he has “a serious feel for the ball. [He] chases rebounds outside of his area.” He finished by saying “he’s a great kid with a great head on his shoulders.” That sounds like the kind of guy Cooley would love.

Currently, Diarra has no official offers but he does have interest from Providence, Boston University, Quinnipiac, Manhattan and George Mason. Depending on how things go this season and next in terms of his recruiting, Diarra may opt to take a post-grad year but if he is able to harness his potential and polish his game this Spring and Summer, the offers may come pouring in for someone with his athletic ability, size, motor and high ceiling. This appears to be a classic case of Ed Cooley and his staff getting in on the ground floor of a kid who may very well be on high major radars in 6 months. The kid just needs to play more basketball and is getting that chance at PSA. The NYC Jayhawks also plan on playing in events with good exposure for their players including the Pittsburgh Jam Fest in April. Diarra appears on the verge of turning the interest into offers.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=914ltiuzckY&feature=youtu.be