Bryce Hopkins Leads the Way and Rich Barron Provides a Lift Versus Sacred Heart

In the absence of both Devin Carter and Corey Floyd Jr., Kim English had to hope he would get a lift out of someone other than Josh Oduro and Bryce Hopkins on Saturday afternoon against Sacred Heart.

Providence was without its best two-way player in Carter, and a versatile bench piece in Floyd — both out with injuries — and through 20 minutes English’s group was struggling. The Friars led Sacred Heart by just a point at intermission (31-30) after shooting 3-12 from beyond the arc and turning the ball over 11 times.

Hopkins was assertive in the opening half (14 points, 5 boards, 4 offensive rebounds, 1-1 from 3), Oduro contributed in spurts (7 points), and freshman Rich Barron buried a contested mid-range jumper and a three to provide a spark. Otherwise, it was a struggle. The trio of Jayden Pierre, Garwey Dual, and Ticket Gaines shot a combined 2-11 and 1-7 from deep.

Providence found its offense footing in the second half, with Barron serving as a revelation. He drilled three 3-pointers in the second half, including two around midway through the half when it was still a one-possession game.

On a team desperate for consistent scoring threats outside of the Carter/Hopkins/Oduro big three, Barron’s hot shooting day was a sight to behold. His final numbers were terrific (5-7 from the field, 4-6 from three, 14 points) but beyond the numbers it was the timeliness and confidence with which he knocked down shots in a game in which Providence struggled for the first 30 minutes.

Barron made it sound so simple after the game: “I’m just trying to get comfortable and create for my teammates, and if a shot comes to me I’ll shoot it.”

“His shot looked very effortless tonight,” Hopkins said of the freshman, who he noted that he knew from their days as prep stars in Chicago. “He was shooting with a lot of confidence. It looked good every time he shot the ball.”

While Barron was the headliner, the second half also served as a breakout for Pierre. The sophomore point guard was off to a sizzling start to the season before getting hurt in a practice in the Bahamas in November. He has seemed out of sorts for stretches since returning. That was the case in the first half against the Pioneers on Saturday, when he wrapped up the first half shooting 0-5 from the field.

Pierre was perfect in the second half, however, scoring 11 points on 4-4 shooting from the field, 3-3 from beyond the arc, and he did not turn the ball over once. He was an early catalyst in PC’s best win of the season over Wisconsin, and a return to form must happen in a hurry with Big East play kicking off Tuesday night against a national championship contender in Marquette. Despite some recent struggles, Pierre is still shooting 44% from 3 (12-27) and hasn’t missed a free throw (11-11).

“No Corey and no Devin, it wasn’t going to be as clean of a game as it should have been, or could have been if we were at full strength, but again, no one cares,” English said after the win. “It did present an incredible opportunity for some guys.” 

And while so much of the focus is on roster spots four through eight, Hopkins was a tone-setter in this one. The junior forward shot 10-16 from the field, 2-4 from three, and 4-5 at the free throw line in finishing with team highs of 26 points and 12 boards. Hopkins did serious damage on the offensive glass (6) and drew seven fouls.

With a 78-64 win against Sacred Heart on Saturday, one in which they shot 64% in the second half from the floor and 7-16 from long range, Providence closes out its non-conference schedule with a 9-2 mark.