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Villanova Rolls Past PC

Bentil Diving Nova

Tuesday night was the first game Providence played as an AP Top 25 team in 11 years — and it’s one they’d just as soon forget.

The #25 Friars traveled to Villanova where the Wildcats ran out to a 9-0 lead to kick off a first half that saw PC turn the ball over nine times and trail by as many as 16 before Ed Cooley’s group closed on a 7-0 run prior to halftime.

A LaDontae Henton 3-pointer to kick off the second half completed a 10-0 Friar spurt that cut Villanova’s advantage to six, but Providence never threatened, thanks in large part to Darrun Hilliard who blew this game open by making four 3-point shots in a span of three and a half minutes.

By the time the fourth 3 splashed through Hilliard and Nova were up 18 with 13 minutes left to play and the rout was on.

Villanova cruised from there and won 89-61.

Hilliard and Ed Cooley have history. There was a time in which Hilliard was one of the best kept secrets in the Philadelphia area. While he waited for high major schools to offer he was being pursued most heavily by Cooley, who was the head coach of Fairfield at the time.

Villanova eventually offered and the rest is, unfortunately for PC, history.

After averaging less than five points per game as a freshman, a season in which he shot just 37%, Hillard gradually developed into one of the best players in the Big East. On Tuesday night he made his case for Big East Player of the Year, finishing with 24 points on 6-11 from 3-point range.

While Hilliard broke the game open with his outside shooting, he was mainly responsible for checking Henton, who attempted just two shots in the first half and appeared frustrated by how few open looks he saw.

This was the second year in a row that Providence was run off the floor at Villanova — last season PC lost 93-63 at The Pavilion. The Wildcats, with their multiple ball handlers, shooters and pressure defense are simply an awful match up for a Providence team that lacks proven guard play beyond Kris Dunn.

This was the rare game in which Dunn and Henton both struggled on the same night (combining to shoot 6-18 from the field) and as Cooley pointed out after PC’s win over Seton Hall, when their star duo is good the Friars are tough, when they aren’t this can be the result.

Now the hope in Friartown is that this is a one game aberration. PC hasn’t been thrashed like this since a 58-38 loss at Kentucky that Cooley later admitted damaged his team’s confidence and sent them into a three game tailspin that included losses to Boston College and Brown.

The Friars are in a different place now than when they lost to Kentucky in late-November, however. They’ve been through many more battles since then, and came out on top in difficult trips to Butler and Georgetown. This will not be 2004 all over again, but it is a sobering night for Friartown.

With the loss the Friars fall to 19-9 on the season and 9-6 in the Big East. They’ll head home looking for their 20th win of the season when they host Marquette on Sunday afternoon.

Twitter: Kevin_Farrahar

Email: kevin.farrahar@friarbasketball.com

37 Comments

  1. Jeremy Nunes

    February 25, 2015 at 2:12 am

  2. David Levesque

    February 25, 2015 at 2:16 am

    Cooley needs to start recruiting better. Outside of Dunn and Henton the players are very mediocre. Bentil misses layup to get it to 8 and Nova wins by 28! Need better Friars!!!

  3. Laura Maguire

    February 25, 2015 at 2:18 am

    Freshmen have to mature. They will get better.

  4. Michael O'Brien

    February 25, 2015 at 2:24 am

    We’re a good team. Nova is a VERY good team. Would love a third crack at them at MSG.

  5. Neil Primeau

    February 25, 2015 at 2:30 am

    Well that was ugly….take care of business vs SHall….xavier….butler….finish strong Friars.

  6. Mario Teixeira

    February 25, 2015 at 2:31 am

    You are a fool!

  7. Mario Teixeira

    February 25, 2015 at 2:32 am

    You mean marquette, hall & butler?

  8. Dan Rendine

    February 25, 2015 at 2:34 am

    Pretty embarrassing showing from PC tonight

  9. Patrick D. Murray

    February 25, 2015 at 2:34 am

    Booooooooo!!!!!

  10. Patrick D. Murray

    February 25, 2015 at 2:35 am

    Have some faith

  11. David Levesque

    February 25, 2015 at 2:42 am

    Who is good outside of Henton & Dunn?

  12. Neil Primeau

    February 25, 2015 at 2:43 am

    Yes Mario….forgot if they played xavier or marquette….hopefully they can take 2 of 3….all 3 would be huge.

  13. Scott Silvia

    February 25, 2015 at 2:48 am

    Henton was not Henton as a freshmen it takes time.

  14. Chris Primini

    February 25, 2015 at 2:55 am

    What was that Friar Nation? Yikes. Cooley get an X’s and O’s assistant to help you next year please!

  15. Chris Primini

    February 25, 2015 at 3:00 am

    not to be negative but “good” freshman are good players pretty much immediately. Look at Seton hall’s class if you want a similar school. Lindsey is really the one who has not developed. He may need a transfer ticket to lower D1. Bentil and Chewy are fine.

  16. Chris Primini

    February 25, 2015 at 3:02 am

    We can’t beat them unless we play lights out and they lay an egg. Even then it’s a reach.

  17. Brian Shortsleeve

    February 25, 2015 at 3:03 am

    Go get em!

  18. Scott Miranda

    February 25, 2015 at 3:08 am

    Can we get an inbound play please? Wth

  19. Derec Lamendola

    February 25, 2015 at 3:33 am

    LETS GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO What Happpppin What Happppin What Happpin What Happpppin What Happpin LET’S GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO NOW Derec Lamemdola IS ANGREANERY And Becusse IM AM SO Tickit OFFF . We Need Casron Back Becuasse I JUS Fwornd OUT Tonight LET Me Know That Tommmerrrow And I GOT JOB TO DO Tommmerrrow Providence Colllege Friars Mens Basketball GOT Work Work Wowrk Work Work Work Work Work Work Work Work Work Work Work HARD HARD HARD HARD HARD HARD HARD HARD HARD HARD Tommmerrrow IN Pasertkias Pkertikas Pkertikas Pkertikas Pkertiks Pkwrtikas Pkertikas And LStING TO Me Evveey One IS OUT OF TONIGHT And IM Coool IM Comm IM All SET And 20 Over All SUNDAY MARQEETTE IS NOT Doing Well And What Happpin Tonight Derec Lamendola GOT SET Meeeding SUNDAY ALL Team

  20. David Randall

    February 25, 2015 at 3:41 am

    Villanova jump traps u in corners or by surprise, with or leangth at guards something we should do!!! Villanova leans on you to prevent u from getting ball!!!! FOULS!!! That will be called in ncaa tournament. Wich is why they fall on there face in tournament!!!!

  21. Kevin Ebert

    February 25, 2015 at 3:55 am

    Wow, Friars not even playing the same game. #needoffense

  22. David Randall

    February 25, 2015 at 4:12 am

    I hope so, but lindsey looks so scared, hes the shooter!!! He needs to improve big time!!! Caus a couple 3s a game would help alot

  23. David Randall

    February 25, 2015 at 4:25 am

    There all 4 star players, lindsey was a very good shooter in high school!! Its all in his head now!!! I think these freshmen will be fine!!

  24. Joshua Michael Corrente

    February 25, 2015 at 10:08 am

    turnovers, turnovers- ya can’t play out of control, if you want to beat good teams… I thought this after the Seton Hall win about this young Friar group- They play very tough defense but they don’t seem to (yet) have a controlled timing on their fast break- and not a good enough sense of what a good shot is (yet) to outsmart teams that have as much (or more) talent as they do…..(Let’s go Friars, get the next one).

  25. Nancy Noon Cronin

    February 25, 2015 at 12:23 pm

    Don’t give up! You are a good team, and you have a great coach.

  26. Jack Durkan

    February 25, 2015 at 3:42 pm

    Defense determined this loss again. PC must improve defense to match V. V destroyed the PC offense and with numerous turnovers created their own offense against a less effective defense by PC. PC cannot play against V, St Johns and other good teams with their weaker defensive play. The next 3 games should all be wins with improved defense and all players available. Good luck PC and beat Marquette the way you got beat by Nova.

  27. Terry Brenan

    February 25, 2015 at 6:35 pm

    That was a top 10 team. On the road. On senior night. A lot of fair weather comments on here. Friar program improving every year, Lindsey has had one injury/illness or another all year. And he’s a freshman. Give him a break. As a team we’re not yet on Nova’s level. So what. Only 4 or 5 teams in the country are. Friar program has tons of momentum thanks to Ed Cooley. Go Friars! Let’s get that 2 seed in the Big East tourney!

  28. Terry Brenan

    February 25, 2015 at 7:12 pm

    Name the last Friar freshman (before Cooley) to have a major impact on games. Shammgod (19 years ago)? I would not trade for Seton Hall’s program. We’re not Kentucky, let’s have some realistic expectations of our freshman (esp freshman like Lindsey who has battled through injuries all season).

  29. John Cappuccilli

    February 25, 2015 at 8:23 pm

    I have no problems with the new recruits. They need time to gel and find their role. With Carson out last night a couple were forced into action. Good learning last night. They’ll be fine. Recruiting isn’t an issue.

  30. John Cappuccilli

    February 25, 2015 at 8:27 pm

    Reminds me of when the Pats started the year 2-2. Brady was done, Belichick should be fired etc. Calm down people. Last night was a lesson this team and coach won’t take for granted. They are still a quality team and a tough out come tourney time. Keep the faith!

  31. David Levesque

    February 25, 2015 at 8:48 pm

    Recruiting is average at best. As Joe Hassett said on the radio. It’s tough when the opposition only has to guard 3 of your 5 starters because 2 of the guys on the floor can’t shoot. Recruit a lockdown shooter will ya Ed!

  32. Frank Landry

    February 25, 2015 at 9:15 pm

    Brother’s take a breath. Villanova is a 1 seed and a veteran team. A bad match-up for the friars. I still believe the friars will now win the next 3 and be the 2 seed at the tourney. Next year’s recruiting class is pretty
    Good. If Kris Dunn comes back the sky is the limit. Coach Cooley
    Is fine. Exhale and Relax.
    2 year in a row in big dance.

  33. Terry Brenan

    February 25, 2015 at 9:45 pm

    What are some of you talking about? In 4 seasons, Cooley has recruited 6 top 100 players ( including a McDonald’s all american), and Henton was not a top 100 recruit and Bentil was like #105. Absolutely unprecedented recruiting success in probably the last 5 decades of PC hoops. In the 15 years before Cooley, PC recruited probably 2 top 100 players (and made only 3 NCAA tourneys, in 15 years). Cooley has done an outstanding job of recruiting, way above average. There have been injuries, an expulsion, a transfer, and more injuries. I would guess some of the comments on this post are from UConn fans.

  34. Jeff Hoyle

    February 25, 2015 at 10:01 pm

    Dislike button.

  35. Ken Begasse JR

    February 25, 2015 at 11:06 pm

    Embarrassed and Harassed all day

  36. Terry Brenan

    February 26, 2015 at 12:22 am

    Absolutely do not want a third crack at them, unless we manage to land in the other bracket and meet them in the championship game.

  37. David Levesque

    February 26, 2015 at 6:12 pm

    Cooley has also recruited the following LEMONS! Kiwi Gardner, Ian Baker, Brandon Austin, Rodney Bullock along with Cartwright this year. On yeah transfer Junior Lomamba not much game.

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