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Looking Back: Providence vs. Butler

Holt vs Butler Getty Images

Friarbasketball.com takes a look back at the beginning of a six game winning streak. 

Game: Providence vs. Butler, February 11, 2017

Where the Friars Stood: While their record wasn’t showing it at the time, the 14-11 Friars were playing better basketball as the calendar turned to February. Following a 79-78 win at Marquette, they hung tough at #4 Villanova (66-57), and just missed out on an RPI-boosting win at Seton Hall. The Hall beat PC by two in overtime behind a layup in the closing seconds. The Friars had possession in a tie game at the end of regulation, but could not convert.

Providence entered the final six games of the season knowing they had to go at least 5-1 to give themselves a shot at an NCAA Tournament bid. The opportunity would be there if they could kick off those six games with a win over Butler.

Creighton and Xavier were up next on the scheduled, and both were top 25 teams, but recently lost their leaders to injury.

Butler was a top 25 team in its own right (#22). The Bulldogs kicked off their season with November wins against Northwestern, Vanderbilt, and Arizona. Their December included victories over top 25 teams in Indiana and Cincinnati, and in early January they knocked off #1 Villanova.

Butler came to Providence limping a bit, however, having dropped two of their last three, including a home loss to Georgetown in which they surrendered 85 points.

The Result: Providence started slow, but scored 48 second half points on their way to a 71-65 win.

Two newcomers stood out in this one. Alpha Diallo made 5-7 from the field and scored 15 points, while Isaiah Jackson canned a pair of big 3-pointers late in the first half when PC’s offense stagnated.

That was perhaps the most encouraging part of the night, as the Friars were able to defeat Butler with Kyron Cartwright and Rodney Bullock combining to shoot 8-28 from the field (in fairness, both converted key and-1s and hit big 3s late).

Jackson finished a swooping left-handed layup with roughly five minutes to play, and stopped Andrew Chrabascz defensively with under two minutes left after PC’s smaller wings were unable to stop him earlier.

Jalen Lindsey continued to flash a seemingly newfound propensity to hit the glass. He grabbed 11 rebounds the last time out versus Seton Hall, and against Butler he came up with two traffic boards in the final 90 seconds. He also had a big offensive rebound late.

Twitter: @Kevin_Farrahar

Email: kevin.farrahar@friarbasketball.com

One Comment

  1. Derec Lamenxola

    September 18, 2017 at 1:27 pm

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