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Previewing Creighton: A Special Night Ahead

Dunn passing creighton

Providence welcomes a hot Creighton team to the Dunkin Donuts Center on Wednesday night. Kris Dunn will be the headliner, as both he and Junior Lomomba will be celebrated beforehand as graduating seniors, but this is a game that both teams need desperately.

Greg McDermott’s group has rebounded from a down season in 2014-15 thanks in large part to the addition of Boston University transfer Mo Watson. The 5’9 Watson is Creighton’s leading scorer (he hung 32 on Xavier earlier this season) and leads the Big East in assists for a Blue Jay club that is 18-11 on the season and 9-7 in conference play (4th in the current standings). Watson has twice won Big East Player of the Week and was named NBC and CBS National Player of the week in mid-February.

Creighton dropped 100 points on St. John’s on Sunday afternoon, and for a Friar club that has struggled to score this is a dangerous opponent coming to town.

Watson is the headliner, but Creighton has versatile weapons. 7’0 senior Geoffrey Groselle is fourth in the nation in field goal percentage, and he was joined by 6’10 Toby Hegner in the starting lineup against St. John’s.

That type of size could present a problem for the undersized Friars. Hegner is a far different scorer than Groselle. He’s a stretch four who has made nearly 35% of his 3 pointers on the season.

Junior Isaiah Zierden is a 6’3 guard with a terrific shooting stroke. He’s made nearly 70 3 pointers this season and shoots free throws at 88%. He scored 31 points at DePaul on eight 3 point makes.

Cole Huff is another transfer who rebounds (24 boards in his last three games) and can explode offensively (28 vs. DePaul).

McDermott has a case for Big East Coach of the Year. His club was predicted by the league’s coaches to finish ninth in the ten team league, and could conceivably finish in a tie for third.

They are 14-0 when scoring 80 points this season.

This is a program that Providence has had success against since the Big East reconfigured. The Friars are 5-1 against Creighton since they joined the Big East, including a victory in the league’s title game in 2014.

The crowd at the Dunkin Donuts Center has been phenomenal all season and will be primed to send Dunn out in style.

Providence defeated Creighton in Omaha in mid-January as Dunn hit a shot at the buzzer to cap off a 20 point, eight assist night.

Dunn and Bentil (13 points) were the only Friars in double figures in scoring that night. In fact, Drew Edwards was the third leading scorer with just six points as Rodney Bullock was held scoreless and fellow starters Jalen Lindsey and Junior Lomomba combined for five.

Dunn has traditionally filled the stat sheet against Creighton. He took just five shots against them at the Dunk last year, but dominated with 12 assists and eight rebounds. Later that month he dominated the Blue Jays on the road with 21 points, eight rebounds and seven assists.

With wins against Creighton and on the road at St. John’s in their final two games the Friars should be in a solid position for their third straight NCAA Tournament appearance. A loss in either will put them in a position to have to do some damage in next week’s Big East Tournament.

With that sense of urgency combined with Dunn’s final home appearance it has the making of a special night in Providence.

Twitter: @Kevin_Farrahar

Email: kevin.farrahar@friarbasketball.com

One Comment

  1. Derec Lamemdola

    March 2, 2016 at 11:05 pm

    Who’s Redey For Yosur Providenxe Colllege Mens Basketballl Who’s Redey And And And So I Wont GO In That PC LOKCKER ROOOM Tonight I Haven’t Been iN PC Locker Rooms In Years I Wont Go Got Get In That Locker Room I Jus Won’t Say Somthing To The Team Get Them Redey GO I’m Show Providence College Mens Basketball Plays Are Wating For DEREC LAMENDOLA I Will Be Theey And I Will Be Lefong Soon In To Providence On MY Away Thery DEREC LAMENDOLA Has Plentie Time This The Spechel Night For Kris Dunn Derec Lamemdola And So I’m Redey GO I Got MY Plays All Redey GO And I Will Be Thery And Plerys Wate For For Me I Am About To Make IT Thing Omg IS AT 9:00 So IS SENIOR NIGHT DEREC DEREC DEREC LAMNDOLA WONTS GO NEW YORK THIS Year I Will Be Crying Tonight For MY Man Kris Dunn . 

    BIG East Tourmment

    Providence College
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