Friar Basketball

Here and There in Friartown

chukwublock

News, notes, and opinions on Friar basketball while waiting (and waiting, and waiting) for ESPN.com to do a story on how the Big East Conference is exceeding expectations so far this season. 

  • URI is a much better team this year but it might not make any difference. The Atlantic 10 conference is way down and the Rams’ opportunities for winning statement games are few and far between. The A10 already has 44 non conference losses and the conference will be very fortunate if they get more than one team in the NCAA tournament. If URI doesn’t finish first or second they will be NIT bound.
  • One of the reasons why Paschal Chukwu has not been getting more minutes from the Friars is that PC has been playing predominantly man to man defense. Until he puts on more weight he will continue to get pushed around when the Friars are in man to man so a big reason for the Friars to to start playing more zone is to get Chukwu more minutes on the floor. He has certainly deserved it.
  • Speaking of Paschal, just how good can he be? He is still learning the game but he already has many qualities that you just can’t teach a big man including soft hands, a nice shooting touch, a great passing ability, and the ability to run the floor like a small forward. If he continues to develop and put on more muscle, watch out! Many of these qualities were already on display last year when he was playing for Fairfield Prep:

  • Yes, the loss to Brown is very bad, but it is much better that it happened this year instead of last year. On this year’s Big East schedule the Friars may have as many as 12-14 games against Top 50 teams. Last year there were six at the most. Plenty of opportunity for the Friars to take care of business and raise their RPI during the regular season.
  • The block-charge rule has to be changed in college basketball. If I had my way nothing would be called unless it is totally obvious it is either a charge or a block. Either that, or move that charge/block circle out to where the NBA has it. Anything inside the circle cannot be called a charge.
  • Another thing that has to change is all the flopping that is going on. Let the refs review the play if they think there is a chance that a player flopped. If he did, charge him with a technical foul.
  • Wonder how Brice Kofane is doing for Monmouth? Through nine games he is averaging 6.8 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 2.3 blocked shots while playing 26 minutes per game. Monmouth is currently 2-0 in the Metro Atlantic Conference and 4-5 overall.
  • Still waiting on the ESPN.com article on how good the Big East is doing. Not holding my breath.
  • I was expecting more URI fans at the PC game on Wednesday but what really surprised me was how few Brown fans were at the game on Monday night. I know it was a 9:00 pm start but the game is in the same city for crying out loud. I hope the fans support Brown during their home games because the team really deserves it.
  • My bold prediction for the weekend. North Carolina takes down Kentucky tomorrow at Rupp Arena. Good thing I am not a gambling man.
  • When PC played Florida State earlier this year they had three seven footers on their roster including a 7’3 player and a 7’1 player. Now I am watching Monteverde Academy from Florida play on ESPN2 and they just brought into the game a 7’2 senior who has committed to play at Florida State. What is up with that? And now that I think of it the last time PC had a player taller than 7’0 before Paschal Chukwu was Karim Shabazz who was listed at 7’2…who transferred in from Florida State.

email Craig at Craig.Leighton@friarbasketball.com

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5 Comments

  1. Jeremy Nunes

    December 12, 2014 at 11:50 pm

    I love the here and there articles Craig! Keep me coming. I was surprised at the lack of URI fans, besides the student section, as well. The Brown loss is going to hurt come March no matter what we do. That loss basically means we have to win 1 more conference game than if we had beat Brown to get in the big dance. The Big East is going to be very very competitive this year. Not many gimmes on the schedule…..

  2. Derec Lamendola

    December 13, 2014 at 12:14 am

    Thery Got Win Mmenney Games This BIG East Connnfertnts LET’S GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO I Know We Can DO This Year And What You Tlaking About March All Rede IS December IS This Year Frist What You Talking About And Providence Collge Got Win Thery Are NOT Going Win 1 More Connfernts And What IS Evevy One Talking About Come ON We Got DO Somthing We Beeter Play Beeter Defftns Offtets Play Hard Play College Basket Balll YOU I Won’t Proviidence College Coach Cooley Win Meeeny IN Row IN This BIG East Connfters Saty WAKE Thia Year And I Wish All School Have Goood Exam Week Studdy Hard SO You Can Come Tommerrow Go Friars

  3. Craig Leighton

    December 13, 2014 at 12:15 am

    Thanks Jeremy, greatly appreciated. I added another item to the column so you may want to check it again in case it wasn’t there when you first read it. Thanks again!

  4. Jeremy Nunes

    December 13, 2014 at 12:47 am

    Good stuff. BTW, that was supposed to be keep em coming not keep me coming. Apple autocorrect is making me sound like a weirdo…

  5. Craig Leighton

    December 13, 2014 at 12:51 am

    lol

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