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3 Up Versus Boston College

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The difference between this season’s Friars and last is their ability to absorb hits to the roster. The loss of Kris Dunn could well mean problems when teams are playing at their peak down the road, but Ed Cooley’s team saw Dunn go down, Brandon Austin and Rodney Bullock sit out due to suspension, and had three starters foul out (Kadeem Batts, Josh Fortune, Tyler Harris) and still managed to come back from three down with approximately 2:30 to play in overtime to topple BC.

On a night in which Batts and Harris struggled from the field, Cooley got key contributions from LaDontae Henton (15 points, 13 rebounds) and Lee Goldsbrough (a steal and go ahead free throws with a minute remaining in OT), and either would have been a fine choice for our “3 Up” segment for this game. Yet, the PC depth showed up again when watching the game for a second time this afternoon, and three players stood out above all, as their stock is on the rise.

The best of all three are captured in the video below.

1. Bryce Cotton. There’s not much more to add to what’s already been written. Cotton took the game into his hands and refused to let Providence lose on the opening night of his senior season with 28 points, six rebounds and four assists while stepping in last minute at point guard for the injured Dunn. It was one of the better big game performances at Providence in recent memory.

2. Josh Fortune. Not enough was said about Fortune’s production and newfound aggression. The numbers are beyond solid (15 points, 4-7 shooting, 3-6 from 3, 4-4 FTs, 0 turnovers in 29 minutes), but perhaps more encouraging is Fortune’s willingness to diversify his offense and put the ball on the deck. In two key instances in the second half he drove hard and drew contact, getting himself to the line. He also made a killer 3 during an 11-2 PC run midway through the 2nd that gave Providence the momentum they’d lost. Very encouraging night from Fortune.

3. Carson Desrosiers. He didn’t have the numbers of Henton, but Desrosiers had a huge impact in this game, specifically in the final six minutes. A year ago the Friars were all but doomed when Batts got into foul trouble, often forcing Cooley to bench him if he got an early foul, but Desrosiers more than filled in ably. He made both of his field goals, 3-4 from the free throw line, grabbed five rebounds, and had a steal and two blocks in 22 minutes off of the bench.

His three point play with 5:29 left gave PC a six point lead, and two minutes later he had a terrific block in which he recovered the ball and found a streaking Harris downcourt for two foul shots to give the Friars a 62-56 advantage with around 3:30 left. After an Oliver Hanlan three pointer on BC’s next possession brought the Eagles to within a score, Providence played through Desrosiers, who set a screen at the top of the key and then rolled into the paint where he got the ball and drew a foul. He made both free throws to cap a strong three minute stretch at the most critical time of the game to that point.

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