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PC Fights, Falls at Kentucky

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Providence started 7-10 from the field and led for over 10 minutes in the first half. That’s the good news.

The bad? The Friars managed to make just four of their next 29 shots in their 58-38 loss to Kentucky in Lexington on Sunday afternoon. That’s life when playing the defensive monster that is Kentucky — a team that has twice blocked more shots than their opponents made in a game this season.

Still, Providence had this one where Ed Cooley wanted it. After a Paschal Chukwu turnaround Providence trailed by just six with 11:03 remaining in the second half, but when Ben Bentil’s layup attempt on the next possession was blocked by Alex Poythress and converted into an easy score on the other end the momentum shifted. The block kicked off a 9-0 run that suddenly turned a 35-29 game into a 44-29 advantage with 8:18 to play.

“If you would have told me yesterday that we’d come in here and hold this team to 58 points I would have told you we would have won the game,” Ed Cooley said.

Cooley was proud of his team’s ability to execute their game plan for a large portion of this one, but conceded that Kentucky’s star power on the defensive end eventually did the Friars in.

For the second year in a row Willie Cauley-Stein was a nightmare for a PC forward. Last season he shut down big man Kadeem Batts and he was equally tough on LaDontae Henton, holding the Providence senior to 1-8 shooting. Cooley called Cauley-Stein “one of the best defensive players I’ve seen in a really long time” but both Cooley and Kentucky coach John Calipari said point guard Tyler Ulis was the difference.

Calipari thought his team was sluggish prior to Ullis providing them with a surge, “Tyler Ulis changed the game. Very rarely do you see a guy walk in and just change the game like that,” said Calipari.

Ulis and Andrew Harrison hounded hobbled PC point guard Kris Dunn into 10 turnovers and completely disrupted the rhythm of a Providence offense that was in control during a 12-2 run in the first half.

Kentucky held Providence to just 28% shooting on the day and did what probably only they could do — holding Dunn and Henton to 2-15 shooting combined.

Cooley was particularly pleased with the effort Providence got out of Carson Desrosiers, who knocked down a pair of three pointers, and the poise shown by 7’2 freshman Paschal Chukwu who finished with 7 points and made all three shots he attempted.

The big news heading into the game was the return of Dunn and freshman Jalen Lindsey from ankle injuries. Dunn was seen wincing throughout this one, with Cooley noting that his inability to practice since prior to the Notre Dame game had an impact on his afternoon.

Harris and Desrosiers led Providence with 10 points apiece.

The loss is Providence’s first of the season and bumps their record to 6-1. The Friars are off until Friday when they travel to Boston College.

 

 

 

12 Comments

  1. David Randall

    November 30, 2014 at 10:51 pm

    Kentucky is a great defensive team… hopefully the friers learned alot. Now its off to B.C. which will be a nice win!!!

  2. Eric Broomfield

    November 30, 2014 at 11:46 pm

    Great game plan spoiled by poor ball handling

  3. Jack Durkan

    November 30, 2014 at 11:50 pm

    Des played great. Difficult game for a great player, Kris Dunn that people will talking about by years end as a great player….too much after injuries and rustiness. Lessons learned by all.

  4. Carol Palladino Fortin

    December 1, 2014 at 12:06 am

    To the film room. It would be nice if comments were spelled correctly and the use of appropriate English.

  5. Cheryl Ann DeLoreto

    December 1, 2014 at 12:59 am

    Great attempt….. Still love my FRIARS….. Off to BC….victory will be awaiting….. GO PC.

  6. Frank Landry

    December 1, 2014 at 1:56 am

    Kris Dunn needs to get healthy
    He shouldn’t of played.

  7. Ray Miller

    December 1, 2014 at 2:05 am

    Guards seriously outmatched…..no offense and too many turnovers from backcourt…..other teams will watch this film and pressure Dunn and our offense will sputter……backcourt needs to initiate plays earlier rather than wasting 25 seconds each possession dribbling…..only bad things can happen when dribbling that long and we saw it today with the zillion backcourt turnovers……still a long way to go for the Friars but each game the freshman are getting better.

  8. Derec Lamendola

    December 1, 2014 at 3:01 am

    LETS GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO What’s WONRG About Today I Was Tickit Off What’s Was Going ON Today I HAVE Stay UP All Night DO All This For YOU And Prvoidence College Friars HAS Win Streek And Come Guyas And LET’S GET Going Hear Are We AT BOSTON College Tonight IM SO Amgery Come Guyas Get With IT Hear

  9. Michael Trenn

    December 1, 2014 at 3:26 am

    I am sure this game will be a learning experience. Remember, this is a young team, at least at G. By the time of the Big East Tournament, they will not make those mistakes. Big Picture, Big Picture!

  10. John Cappuccilli

    December 1, 2014 at 2:14 pm

    Dunn is a fragile body.

  11. Ray Miller

    December 1, 2014 at 4:27 pm

    Overrated big time…..a BAD shooter and doesn’t bring the energy to the team a PG is suppose to….missed like 4 layups yesterday which unfortunately is normal for him….and had lots of turnovers….every time he is on the floor against a good team, PC loses its advantage……no choice but to play him but his stats are against cupcakes and good to great teams destroy him ALL THE TIME…..don’t see any improvement in his game since he got here….disappointed.

  12. John Cappuccilli

    December 1, 2014 at 6:43 pm

    I didn’t say all that Ray. I think much of what you don’t like about him comes from him being hurt and not being durable. I think he’s a good player but he’s an injury prone player. And if you can’t practice how do you think you’re going to do against top level teams like Kentucky. I don’t see him being able to hold up for the entire season.

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