Friar Basketball

Friars Lack Focus, Fall to SJU

DunnSJU

Providence isn’t going to win many Big East games giving up 83 points. Or when they allow eight 3-pointers in the first half.

St. Johns came to the Dunkin Donuts Center 0-3 in Big East play, with eight days to prepare for this one, but this was about defensive intensity — or a lack thereof — for the Friars, who saw the Johnnies make 55% of their shots in the first half and 8-13 from deep.

Don’t let the record fool you, St. John’s is a senior-laiden team led by the top scoring guard in the league in D’Angelo Harrison (20 points, 4 assists) and one of the league’s more underrated players in Phil Greene (20 points).

The Red Storm bolted out to a 17 point advantage and saw the Friars close to within three after a Ben Bentil jumper with 8:17 to go, but St. John’s countered with an 8-1 run that included 3-pointers from both Harrison and Greene.

Those shots proved to be the knockout blow for the Friars, as St. John’s controlled the game from there and held on for an 83-70 victory.

“I couldn’t tell you the last time we gave up 10 threes,” Ed Cooley said afterwards. “I didn’t think we were urgent in certain situations.”

“You give up 10 threes and miss half your free throws, it’s going to be really, really hard to win games like that.”

Free throws were certainly a problem for the Friars in this one. They made just 14-25 from the free throw line and 6-21 from 3-point range, but Cooley was more focused on his team’s lack of desire not a lack of execution.

“I don’t think we’ve played well the last three Big East games, but we’ve found a way to win two of them,” Cooley said. “I need to do a better job of getting my team prepared. I didn’t think today was so much about St. John’s. I thought we played bad. I really did. When you give up 10 threes and only two guys shoot 3-point shots, that’s a lack of focus, that’s a lack of detail. It’s very, very disappointing.”

Providence got a lift from Ben Bentil (8 points, 10 rebounds), while Kris Dunn (17 points, 10 assists, 7 rebounds) and LaDontae Henton (22 points) were their typical solid selves offensively, but Cooley hammered home his group’s lack of focus and attention to detail in the post game.

“We knew we were going to face a desperate team. I don’t think they did anything to change the game — they made shots,” said Cooley. “We had 19 offensive rebounds and we missed a ton of layups. To me that’s concentration and focus.”

While St. John’s was the more desperate team, Providence crushed them on the glass, 44-29, but it wasn’t enough to overcome sluggish closeouts on defense and critical misses at the rim and the free throw line.

St. John’s shot 50% from the field and nearly 59% from 3-point territory.

With the loss Providence drops to 13-5 on the season (3-2 in Big East play), while St. John’s improves to 12-4 (1-3 in conference).

“I’m not a coach who’s going to get down after a loss. The tough stay tougher, you focus on your group and you get them prepared for the next game,” said Cooley. “Blame me. This is my loss, not the team’s. And I promise you I’ll correct that.”

Twitter: Kevin_Farrahar

10 Comments

  1. Michael Ambrosini

    January 15, 2015 at 3:21 am

    The Johnnies were the hungrier team in this game

  2. John Whetstone

    January 15, 2015 at 3:24 am

    And they satisfied their appetite.
    NEXT!

  3. Andrew Linscott

    January 15, 2015 at 3:27 am

    Hope they practice free throws tomorrow…

  4. Derec Lamendola

    January 15, 2015 at 3:41 am

    That Was NOT GOOD Game Tonighg NOT Goood ONE And This NOT Goood One And Provicence College Evvery Weeek Evvery Weeek Evveey Weeeekend Got Partkias PARTKIS Pertkis Peratkis Perastkos Peerktis Perkatis Work WORK Work Work Work Work Work Work Work HARD HARD HARD HARD HARD HARD IM Sover I DiNT Coms Daon I Was SO Late Tonight IS NOT Going Happin Ugen I Will Be Dwon Next Thursday When IS Providene College Wing Streek LETS GOOOOOOO iM AM SO ANGERY BAD Moood

  5. Thomas Walters Jr

    January 15, 2015 at 4:32 am

    Players and the crowd is getting better each game

  6. Thomas Walters Jr

    January 15, 2015 at 4:32 am

    Players and the crowd is getting better each game

  7. David Levesque

    January 15, 2015 at 12:18 pm

    Free throw shooting is very bad! Dunn had a lousy game.

  8. Ann Marie Maccarone

    January 15, 2015 at 12:29 pm

    Oh well

  9. Fred Pucillo

    January 15, 2015 at 1:30 pm

    Make some layups !!

  10. Steve Ruggieri

    January 15, 2015 at 2:46 pm

    Come on Cooley, do a better job preparing your team, especially considering the compensation package you managed to land!

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