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Seniors Answer the Call vs. Nova

Bullock vs. Nova

Providence led by four halfway through Wednesday’s 76-71 win over #3 Villanova, but it was hard to feel good about how they’d gotten there. Not after going cold following a decent start, not with Villanova bound to shoot better than 9-23 from the field and 0-7 from deep, and certainly not with Rodney Bullock and Kyron Cartwright combining for four points on 2-8 shooting.

Bullock, in particular, has been nowhere to be found since the calendar turned to February. In three games heading into this one he hadn’t made more than two shots from the field, and scored just 10 points combined in an ugly win over Georgetown and last weekend’s 17 point loss to DePaul.

Cartwright provided the spark early in the second half — knocking down a pair of 3-pointers and another jumper to push PC ahead 39-31 four minutes into the half.

The next seven minutes belonged to Bullock. It wasn’t just any Rodney Bullock, but an ultra-assertive senior who finished at the rim with authority and made the baskets that kept Villanova at bay.

When PC and Villanova met in Philadelphia last month, Providence led early before being steamrolled when Nova raised its game to another level — a level the Friars couldn’t match.

The Wildcats looked like they were heading back to that place midway through the second half.

Jay Wright’s future lottery pick Mikal Bridges keyed an 8-0 spurt that took just a 45 seconds. Suddenly, Providence’s 10 point lead had been sliced to two.

When it appeared as through Providence might crack, Bullock sent Villanova center Omari Spellman upward with an up-fake, took a dribble and threw down a vicious one handed dunk. Twenty seconds later Bullock buried a transition three. The lead was back to seven and the Dunk was alive.

After Villanova cut the lead to five on its next possession, PC’s seniors connected on the ensuing possession, with Cartwright finding Bullock backdoor for a layup.

Providence survived Villanova’s burst and would lead by five points or more until there were 30 seconds left in the game.

Bullock scored 12 points in the second half, making 5-7 from the field, with four rebounds, a steal, and blocking a shot in the final 20 minutes.

Fifteen of Cartwright’s 17 came after the break.

Managing Four Fouls

Cartwright played the final 11-12 minutes with four fouls. Alpha Diallo joined him with four later in the second half, forcing Ed Cooley to get creative with his lineups.

Cooley swapped Cartwright and Diallo in on offense with Maliek White and Drew Edwards seeing critical minutes on the defensive end late.

White provided an offensive lift by scoring on a key drive in the second half — a difficult scoop around the lengthy Bridges with about four and a half minutes to play.

Conversely, Villanova stars Jalen Brunson and Bridges both fouled out late in the second half. Diallo and Cartwright both avoided their fifth fouls and Diallo sealed the game at the free throw line.

Defensive Notes

Villanova is a terrific outside shooting and offensive rebound group.

Tonight they made 3-20 from beyond the arc and grabbed just four offensive rebounds.

Brunson is in the National Player of the Year conversation, but struggled with turnovers on Wednesday night. The junior point guard hadn’t turned the ball over more than three times in a game all season, but had seven on Wednesday night — matching his total from the past four games. Six of those turnovers came in the second half.

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