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Ben Bentil Turning It On

Bentil Xavier

Providence wouldn’t be 21-9 and playing for the second seed in the Big East Tournament on Saturday if not for Ben Bentil’s first half against Seton Hall.

The Friars were largely lifeless early on against the Pirates, breathing life into Kevin Willard’s combustible bunch by allowing them to connect on 54% of their shots from the field, while PC made just 25% of their own.

The Hall led by as many as 15 in the first half, and carried an eight-point lead into the halftime break, but that number could have been far worse if not for the work of Bentil on the offensive glass.

The freshman power forward grabbed four offensive rebounds in the first 20 minutes. The four offensive rebounds resulted in eight points for the Friars.

  • At 15:57 Bentil was fouled and made a pair of free throws. 8-5 Hall.
  • The 15:20 mark brought Bentil’s second offensive rebound, which he converted at the rim. 10-7 Hall.
  • With the game slipping away late in the first half, Bentil’s third offensive rebound led to two more free throws for the freshman. 36-25 at the 2:28 mark.
  • Bentil’s final offensive rebound came with 1:11 to play. It led to another two free throws in the books and Providence was back within single digits, 36-27.

Wednesday night was the third time this season in which Providence was teetering on falling out of a game on the road, only to rally for a second-half victory.

PC trailed by eight with 16 minutes to play against Butler before coming back, and 13 with 11 minutes left at Georgetown.

Recent history told them that if they stayed close enough against the Hall they could come back once again. Bentil allowed them to do so.

The Georgetown comeback was the beginning of the turnaround for Bentil. It also kicked off a month in which he has largely produced when not battling foul trouble.

Since the Feb. 4 comeback against Georgetown, Bentil has three double doubles (all on the road) in eight games, and added a 16 point effort at Xavier.

There were bumps over the last month: he fouled out and went scoreless in 16 minutes the first time the Friars played against Seton Hall and scored just two points before fouling out versus Villanova, but when given minutes he’s more than produced.

In fact, in all three games in which he’s played 30 minutes since Feb. 1, Bentil has recorded a double double.

For a Providence team that struggles from the outside, the continued emergence of Bentil on the offensive glass will be critical in the postseason.

The offensive output we saw against Seton Hall last night (21 points, 4-7 from the field, 12-12 at the line) was a glimpse into what he can one day become, but the sheer effort he played with in the first half could well be a difference maker in a close game in March.

Since the calendar turned to February, Bentil is averaging over 10 points and six rebounds, while shooting 51% from the field (25-49) and 88% at the free throw line (30-34). Bentil scored in double figures just twice through January (18 against Navy and 10 versus DePaul) but has turned a corner since then, scoring in double figures in four of the last eight games — and more importantly providing a rugged post presence.

Twitter: Kevin_Farrahar

Email: kevin.farrahar@friarbasketball.com

 

7 Comments

  1. Ken Begasse JR

    March 6, 2015 at 12:05 am

    This is what we knew he could do#gofriars

  2. John Walmsley

    March 6, 2015 at 12:07 am

    As long as he doesn’t make stupid fouls, he’s a force when playing !#

  3. Tom Short

    March 6, 2015 at 12:09 am

    Key guy for tourney time. March madness

  4. Ryan Dugan

    March 6, 2015 at 12:48 am

    Timing couldn’t be better! Go Big Ben this will free up Dunn and Henton to do their thing

  5. Sean Leonard

    March 6, 2015 at 12:57 am

    Great stroke for a guy with huge pipes.

  6. Derec Lamendola

    March 6, 2015 at 2:25 am

    LETS GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Are WE Going Have Coach Meeeding And Bcuase Derec Lamendola Need SEt Meeeding With Team ON Saturday And Can YOU POST POST POST POST POST POST POST POST POST POST All About Derec Lamendola ON Facebook ON Friarbasketball Page Tommmerrrow Afternoon Can YOU And Can POSTOST POST All About Merzadecz Austin Derec Lamendola Friarbasketball TO Tommmerrow Friarabasketball Page And All The Years And DEREC LAMENDOLA Going CRYING I DD LaDoante Henton This Senior Year Can I GO PC Locker Rooom ON Saturday IS Been Long Long Long Long Time And I Won’t Walk With LaDoante Henton ON CORT CAN Say Somthing ON Mkel Phone On Saturday And Whos PUMT This Buttler LAST Game NOT Providence Colllege Friars Mens Basketball GOT GO HARD BLED ON BULUER I Say DEREC LAMENDOLA GOING NEW YORK NCCCAA

  7. Brian Shortsleeve

    March 6, 2015 at 7:09 am

    Go get em!

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