Behind Blazing Shooting, Providence Rallies for a Win Over Butler in the Big East Tournament

Photo courtesy of the Big East Conference

Thanks to huge offensive nights from Stefan Vaaks, Ryan Mela, and Jaylin Sellers, Providence came back from deficits of 15-2 and 27-11, to rally for a 91-81 victory over Butler in the first round of the Big East Tournament.

And now they’ll face St. John’s in the quarterfinals on Thursday afternoon.

Because of course they are facing St. John’s after how this wild season has unfolded.

More on that in a minute.

Providence showed all sorts of toughness on Wednesday night against Butler. Kim English’s tenure is set to end at some point this March, according to multiple reports, and when the Friars surrendered a 15-0 run in the early going it was fair to wonder if the noise had gotten to them.

Sellers was missing shots he typically makes in those early minutes, and they were getting beaten up inside, but the Friars steadied themselves and trailed by just two at halftime.

At the break, Mela already had 11 points, four rebounds, and three assists, while Vaaks rounded back into form following a bout with the flu by making 5-9 from the field, and 4-6 beyond the arc in the opening 20 minutes.

This may have been the best game both Mela and Vaaks played in a Friar uniform. Mela was sterling throughout, finishing with a career-high 23 points on 10-14 shooting (including 2-4 from three), nine rebounds, and five assists.

Mela dramatically reworked his stroke at the free-throw line this season, while over the last four games he is shooting 9-15 from long distance. The sophomore forward is really emerging after spending the first few weeks of the season deferring offensively.

“Every day, every game,” Mela said when asked about the coaching staff urging him to stay aggressive and look for his shot. “It gives me a lot of confidence to go out there, be aggressive, and play my game.”

Meanwhile, Vaaks grabbed all the headlines by tying a Big East record with eight made 3-pointers. Vaaks finished with 28 points on 8-13 from three, while Sellers scored 19 of his 23 points in the second half.

The Friars’ defense in the second half is deserving of praise. Butler shot 40% over the final 20 minutes, while Michael Ajayi struggled after a dominating first half.

Ajayi was simply killing PC inside with 16 points, eight rebounds, and three assists in the first half, but shot just 1-8 in the second and grabbed just three boards.

Providence outscored Butler, 51-39, in the second half. English’s group shot 60% from both the field and beyond the arc in the second.

Corey Floyd Jr. returned from a hamstring injury to play 11 minutes. He had two steals during a critical surge. Neither Jason Edwards nor Duncan Powell played.

“Our guys showed great resolve, great togetherness, great fight to find a way to win and to live another day,” English said.

With the win, the Friars earn a return date with St. John’s. Providence defeated the Johnnies at MSG on Jan. 3, taking a stirring 77-71 victory before falling in the rematch, 79-69, after six players were ejected following Duncan Powell’s hard foul of former Friar Bryce Hopkins.

Of course, Rick Pitino’s crew is led by Big East Player of the Year Zuby Ejiofor — the only power conference player to rank top 10 in his conference and lead his team in points, rebounds, assists, and blocks. He averaged 16.0 points, 7.1 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.0 blocks per game for the Red Storm.

Ejiofor dominated Providence in the first matchup with 33 points and 15 rebounds, but he turned the ball over seven times in that one, while missing nine of his 23 free throw attempts. He was far more human in Providence, finishing with 14 points, four rebounds, and three assists.

Hopkins, like Sellers, was named 2nd Team All-Big East after averaging 13.3 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game.

Hopkins said he “had a feeling” St. John’s and Providence would see each other this week, as he told The New York Post.

“It’s going to be very aggressive, high emotions all over the place,” he said. “They’re going to come with their best shot again. I’m sure it’s going to be a tough, physical game again. That’s what the coach likes over there. Whatever the case may be, we’ll be ready for that.”

Hopkins seemed to downplay any bad blood, noting that the Friars he played with are “all good guys” and thanking Oswin Erhunmwunse for separating him from the skirmish in Providence.

That won’t stop a flurry of headlines and the endless replays of Powell’s flagrant foul that are sure to come in the next 16 hours.

At the end of a chaotic three-year stretch in Friartown, one filled with never-ending headlines, it’s fitting that it comes down to Providence and St. John’s on Thursday afternoon.

“I think it’s going to be a highly competitive game. It’s going to be a high-energy game,” Sellers said. “It’s going to be our third time seeing them. I know they are going to bring their best, and we’ll make sure our guys bring ours.”