Preview Providence at (7) Louisville : Bobby E’s Breakdown

Date: Wednesday, February 18th
Time: 7:30 p.m. EST
Site: Freedom Hall (18,865) in Louisville, KY
Series History: UofL leads 7-4 (4-0 in L’ville, 3-2 @Providence, 0-2 neutral)
Last Meeting: UofL 80, Providence 72 (Feb. 16, 2008 in Providence, RI)
National Rankings: UL No. 7 AP, ESPN/USA Today (Feb. 16)
Officials: Jim Burr, Ed Hightower, Bryan Kersey

With Connecticut’s loss to Pittsburgh on Big Monday night, the Cardinals are back atop the BIG EAST, smack dab in the middle of a four team tie with Uconn, Pitt and Marquette.  Louisville has the most favorable route to the BIG EAST regular season crown, as UConn and Pitt will meet once more to end the season, and Louisville gets Marquette (the only ranked team left on UofL’s schedule) March 1st at home.  But that is much further than one should look, as coming up Wednesday night, Keno Davis and the Providence Friars will roll into the Hall of Freedom and look to strengthen their tournament resume with a big road win over the Cardinals.

Louisville, now 19-5 overall and 10-2 in BIG EAST play will look to defeat the Friars for the seventh consecutive time. They have not fell to the Friars since a 57-51 setback on November 30, 1977. Rick Pitino is 3-0 all-time versus his former squad, one he guided to the 1987 NCAA Final Four. Louisville is one victory away from reaching 20 for the seventh straight season. Coach Rick Pitino has won at least 20 games in a season on 17 occasions, ranking him tied for sixth among active coaches in 20-win seasons. The Cardinals have won at least 19 games in 35 of the last 39 years, and is seeking its 35th NCAA Tournament appearance this year.  

Providence at 16-9 overall and 8-5 in the BIG EAST is looking for a win that may punch their ticket to the Big Dance come next month. After starting 6-2 in conference, the Friars lost three strait before winning their last two against USF and Rutgers. Providence is an experienced squad with eight seniors on the roster versus only one freshman, Bilal Dixon, who sees no action. Senior Geoff McDermott has started all 114 games of his college career and had 12 rebounds on Saturday against Rutgers to lead the Friars for the 16th time this season. Senior forward Randall Hanke leads the BIG EAST in field goal percentage, shooting 69.1 percent from the floor (94-136).

Providence is the only team in the country with five members of the 1,000 point club on its roster (North Carolina and Marquette each have four). Forward Randall Hanke (1,025) went over the 1,000-point mark at West Virginia and guard Sharaud Curry (1,012) did it Tuesday night at South Florida, joining Geoff McDermott (1,056), Weyinmi Efejuku (WAY-ME F-A-Juke-Oo) (1,325) and Jeff Xavier (1,361) to make Providence the only team in the country with five 1,000-point scorers (Jeff Xavier got his at two schools). We’ve got so many guys getting 1,000 I can’t even keep track,” quipped PC coach Keno Davis. Said Curry: “It’s a great accomplishment. Any time you reach a milestone like that at a school that has such a great tradition like Providence College, it’s always great.” Curry is the 42nd PC player with 1,000 points in his career.

Providence has seven players averaging eight points or better, led by Weyinmi Efejuku’s 13.7 a contest. The Friars can also shoot the long ball, as four players have buried at least 29 three point goals. Providence is among the national leaders in scoring offense (79.2 ppg), ranking third in the BIG EAST and 20th in the NCAA. When Geoff McDermott pulls down his next two rebounds he will become just the sixth Friar all-time to register 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds. Marvin Barnes, Jim Hadnot, John Thompson, Michael Smith and Ryan Gomes are the other Friars to score 1,000 points and grab 1,000 rebounds. He currently has 454 assists. He will become the fi rst Friar ever to register 1,000 points, 1,000 rebounds and 450 assists in a career. McDermott is also sixth among all active D-I players for most career rebounds. Washington’s Jon Brockman is first with 1,154, followed by UNC’s Tyler Hansbrough (1,096), Santa Clara’s John Bryant (1,044), UConn’s Jeff Adrien (1,014), Saint Mary’s Diamon Simpson (1,002) and then McDermott.

Providence is also moving the ball well. The Friars are averaging 15.5 assists per game this season. In the Friars’ most recent win over Rutgers on February 14, the team registered 18 assists. On January 28, the Friars dished out 22 assists versus Syracuse, matching their highest total on the year (22 versus Sacred Heart). Providence is 11-1 in games in which the team records 18 or more assists in a game this season, and the Friars have recorded 20 or more assists four times on the year. Head Coach Keno Davis is 44-14 in his second season overall and first at Providence.

Bobby E’s Gamebreaker: DEFENSIVE INTENSITY!!!

The Friars can score, and score some more. Louisville needs to come out and use their defensive pressure to get some quick points off turnovers so they don’t allow Providence to hang close throughout. This is another game Louisville should win easily, but if they slack defensively Providence will match them bucket for bucket.

The game will be televised on ESPN2 with Dave O’Brien (play-by-play) and Doris Burke (color) calling the action (so be sure to keep your sets on mute).  You can also hear the game broadcast on WKRD (790 AM, 101.7 FM) by Paul Rogers (play-by-play) and Doug Ormay (color) or on SIRIUS satellite ch. 127.