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Bentil’s Career Night Wasted

Bentil Flustered

The last time Providence saw Marquette Ben Bentil was unstoppable. He scored 14 straight points for the Friars in the second half, finished with 28 points, grabbed nine rebounds, and made 10-10 at the free throw line.

PC trailed by double figures in that one, but by the time Bentil’s second half outburst was complete his Friars were comfortably ahead 58-50 and seemingly on their way to a 15-1 start.

Nothing has felt comfortable for Providence since.

Marquette ripped off an 8-0 run to tie the game, and despite trailing by three points with under two minutes to go on the road, a young Marquette team scored five of the game’s final six points to pull off a 65-64 upset.

Three things stand out from that game 35 days later, after PC fell to Marquette once again on Wednesday night.

1. Providence had the ball down a point in the closing seconds, but couldn’t get a shot off (sound familiar?).

2. The Friars were in control late, faltered, but there was little doubt that they were headed for the NCAA Tournament.

3. Bentil’s ridiculous second half had gone all but forgotten because it came in defeat.

Five weeks later Providence traveled to Marquette, where they hadn’t won in nine tries.

PC had the ball on the final possession of regulation with a chance to win it, and once again they didn’t get a shot off.

Unfathomable.

This time it was an errant Kris Dunn pass that Jalen Lindsey couldn’t handle with two seconds remaining.

The Friars were a possession away from starting 15-1 the last time these two teams met. That loss kicked off a ten game stretch in which the Friars have gone 4-6. After Wednesday’s double overtime loss they’re now 18-7 on the season and 6-6 in the Big East — good for a sixth place tie in the conference.

And while few will remember Bentil’s explosion against Marquette at the Dunk, even fewer will forget just how outstanding he was in Milwaukee.

Playing against perhaps the best 4/5 duo in the Big East, including a future lottery pick in 6’11 freshman Henry Ellenson, Bentil went off. Providence’s sophomore star set aside any thought of his injured ankle and scored a career high 42 points in 48 minutes. Bentil took 17 free throws, made six 3 pointers, and grabbed 12 rebounds.

Unfortunately, incomprehensibly, it wasn’t enough.

And there isn’t enough help for Bentil up front. He’s been asked to play out of position this year, and while an argument can be made that he’s benefitted from being covered by centers during his breakout season, it is becoming clear that there aren’t many power forwards who can contain him either.

He’d most likely take his chances against the Luke Fischers of the world if it meant playing with another big man who could either complement or spell him.

Bentil didn’t need too much help on this night. The Friars scrambled to fight their way into double overtime, but they didn’t do themselves any favors in the second half and overtime sessions.

They turned the ball over on nearly 20% of their possessions, with the most cringe-worthy coming when Lindsey stepped onto the floor when inbounding the ball, Kyron Cartwright dribbling the ball out of bounds 40 feet from the basket, and then when Cartwright threw a pass directly to Marquette that resulted in a layup in extra time.

Kris Dunn had four turnovers of his own before fouling out with 17 points in 39 minutes.

This night should have been about Bentil — his heart, his versatility, his willingness to give this program whatever it needs, and his production against a great frontcourt, but instead it is another wasted effort against a Marquette team that has swept Providence, despite going just 3-7 against the rest of the Big East.

The Friars needed this one. They’ve now lost four of their last five and begin a three game stretch on Saturday in which they host Georgetown and then travel to Xavier and Seton Hall.

Suddenly, the team that was comfortably in the NCAA Tournament when they first fell to Marquette has work to do a month later.

Twitter: @Kevin_Farrahar

Email: kevin.farrahar@friarbasketball.com

 

 

3 Comments

  1. Pingback: #pcbb Links of the Day 2/11/16 | pcbb1917.com – Providence College Basketball

  2. Jack

    February 11, 2016 at 4:55 pm

    They don’t play with conviction.They act,outside of Ben,like they don’t belong and the way they are playing they don’t,I can’t imagine why and how Dunn can miss so many free throws
    Does anybody remember Jimmy Walker?Now,there was a pure shooter.I think Dunn could be but lacks conviction.His lottery pick is dropping,too.Ben should go NBA now,he’s hot
    PC needs conviction;they have to believe they blong and play with intensity.

  3. Derec Lamemdola

    February 11, 2016 at 10:02 pm

    You Know Bentil IS NOT Going NBA About That I’m Going Say And Coach Coooley Going Over Respay For Saturday Derec Lamemdola Pleryas I’m Doing 300 Play For PC Crightion Game And NOT GOOOD LAST NIGHT What We Going To Do
    Undertsan DEREC LAMENDOLA HAS GOT TO NEW YORK THIS Year TUMMENTS PLERYS KNOW VILLNOVA REMBER LAST YRAR PLERYS KNOW MARQUEETE Eether ALLL Done YOU Will See In This Tuemment. iS
    Providence College

    Crightion

    ST Jons

    Xaver

    Seat Hall

    Gerorgwtown

    Wolrd You Think And Coach Ed Coooley Beeter SVE DEREC LAMENDOLA PLERYS DWON IN NEW YORK HE BEETER AND IM COMING DEREC LAMENDOLA Going New York This Year Plerys I Won’t GO THIS YEAR BECUSE DEREC. LAMeNDOLA MISS OUT LAST YEAR When The TKIKIS From NEW YROK
    Emall@Derecfriarafan@yahoo.com
    Cuferm Derec Lamemdola
    Emall:Friarabasketball.com

    Coach Coooley GO Win ALLL YOUR AAWAY GAMES HOME GAMES

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