Sophomore Mike Rosario Leads the Scarlet Knights
The Providence Friars (9-6, 1-2) get a shot at Big East Redemption, as they prepare to take on the injury-riddled Rutgers Scarlet Knights (9-5, 0-2) at the Dunkin Donuts Center in Providence at 8 P.M. on January 9th.
After starting off the season 9-2, the schedule forced the Scarlet Knights to face some competition outside of New Jersey, where they have lost to North Carolina, Cincinnati, and West Virginia. Rutgers has been hurt by the loss of Gregory Echenique, as the sophomore forward is a big-time player, having muscle and the offensive ability to dominate the post against a weak post-team like the Friars. Echenique is in the process of applying for a medical redshirt, but it has to be determined that his injury (eye) requires him to sit out for the rest of the season or whether it is a team decision in order to try to be able to use him for the next three seasons..
With or without Echenique, sophomore Mike Rosario is the best player on the Scarlet Knights. Rosario, averaging 17.1 points per game, is a pure scorer with deep range. Rosario may have struggled against the Friars last season (4-17 shooting), but the way the Friar defense has been playing, it appears that Rosario will have the opportunity to get several good looks. The Friars also have to be concerned with seven-footer Hamady Ndaiye, as they have struggled against taller players this season. Lanky big men from the likes of Iona and Yale have found a way to hurt the Friars on the boards, so it is important to box him out and force him to go over the back.
A look at another important stat, Rutgers’ blocks 8.4 shots per game, with Ndaiye averaging over five blocks himself. Based off of stats, they do not pick up very many fouls and are very patient around the basket. Jamine Peterson struggled against the patience of the Louisville shot blockers, and was not able to draw many fouls despite driving hard to the basket on a few occasions. Against a good shot blocking team, it is important to use the proper fakes to get the defenders off their feet and to draw fouls. Rutgers lacks front-court depth so this could be a very valuable asset to the Friars to be able to get Rutgers into foul trouble early.
The Friars inability to score has hurt them in recent games. It forces them to become a defensive team as opposed to their offensive juggernaut they are supposed to be. In the second half against Louisville, Providence was out-rebounded 20-5 at one point, solely because their bad shots are becoming Louisville rebounds and eventually made baskets. You cannot be out-rebounded like that and expect to be able to win the game. Patience and ball movement are the key to any good offensive, not just throwing up the first semi-decent shot that is available.
Coach Keno Davis has also promised that lineup changes will be made for the future. Seeing as how Curry has been playing great recently, and Marshon Brooks and Bilal Dixon played excellent last game, it is hard to imagine they are headed to the dog house. So that leaves Brian McKenzie and Jamine Peterson as likely candidates for benching. Peterson may be the Friars leading scorer and rebounder, but he has struggled tremendously in Big East play and has had attitude problems with his fellow players and coaches. McKenzie just plays like your perfect 7th or 8th man, as he could come of the bench and hit some shots, or just give you some good defense. However to start in a crucial game and put up zero points on more than one occasion is unacceptable as a starter.
My Prediction:
The Friars have struggled recently, but their past successes against the Rutgers’ Scarlet Knights should prove to be the difference on Saturday night. Providence has the ability to play with the swagger necessarily to play tough with the big boys, they just need to be able to leave that effort on the court more often. Rutgers is not a very good team, but they do have the ability to beat the Friars if PC continues to play the way they have been recently. However, lets hope that the Friars come out with some fire and passion after being embarrassed the other night on the home court.
Providence - 86
Rutgers - 73
