A Game of Runs: PC Takes Care of DePaul in OT Win

Friar Family,

Being considered an underdog to DePaul, whether on the road or worse in overall record, just didn’t feel right on Tuesday night. And the Friars, to their credit, seemed to take it personally coming out of the gate. Up 15-5 with about eight minutes gone by in the first, little did we know when this game began it would include large point swings and counterpunches fit for a heavyweight fight.

Bensley Joseph was everything Kim English mentioned in our recent podcast with him: high motor, grit and activity levels off the charts. Joseph willed in a couple of floaters early in the second half, and to me those shots define him as a player — it’s not always the most technical, but he certainly gets it done.

On DePaul’s side, David Skogman was a problem. His high release and ability to square up and shoot quickly from three was impressive. He’s currently shooting 48.5% from three this season. I’m sure to the Friars he felt like a cheat code. Without Skogman, Isaiah Rivera, Conor Enright and CJ Gunn were 5-23 from the field. And Jacob Meyer, really until eight minutes were left to go in the game, was a non-factor as well.

That sounds like the best-case scenario for the Friars right? Well, as the Friars faded in the first half and started to turn the ball over, DePaul capitalized and took a three-point lead into halftime.

Providence certainly fought back in the second half, led by Joseph, Bryce Hopkins and the Big O! Oswin Erhunmwunse’s ability to roll to the basket has always been there, but it was really his resilience after having to come out with what looked like an injury to his lower body, and then returning dunking on any and everyone and finishing at 5-7 from the field that stood out. Oswin also seemed more in-tune on the defensive side as well, his timing and positioning were much crisper and it showed.

Meyer, as I mentioned, was not able to get into rhythm until when it counted. With a big three at the 7:30 mark and then a made layup and another made layup at 56-48 — it felt like the game was slipping away. And then Jabri Abdur-Rahim came up clutch with a big three to bring it back to five points.

I posted on X last night that I felt Abdur-Rahim and Wesley Cardet took a step back last night. Abdur-Rahim did make the three-point field goal to keep us in the game and then created the jump-ball situation that kept the possession arrow with the Friars late in the game. I do, however, think he is capable of much more than 1-3 from the field. When Abdur-Rahim comes into games and takes what seems to be off-balance threes off of one dribble, I can’t help but think we could be utilizing his skillset better.

Stepping into a three-point shot from a pass from the post, or lining up from the corner after the ball has been swung around the perimeter to me seems to be a much easier course to get him going. Also — the pump fake! Loved Abdur-Rahim’s game in the BYU matchup, and I think it’s clear when PC can get him comfortable he can be really effective.

In terms of Cardet, it seems he is doing his best to embrace a new role and system, but he is best finishing in transition and with the ball in his hands trying to create. There remains some work to do to get Cardet going offensively, rather than just featuring him out on the perimeter.

Lastly, it is certainly great to have Bryce Hopkins back. His three-point shot looks more comfortable and his ability to create down low hasn’t lost an ounce of feel. How poetic would it have been if he could have put in that final shot in regulation just down the street from where he went to high school?

In the end the Friars took care of business in OT with some solid free throw shooting and quality defense. It wasn’t pretty but to avoid being the team that loss a Big East game to DePaul for the first time in almost two years was priceless.