Full Recap and Video Breakdown: Providence comes up short defensively, on the glass in their double overtime loss at Butler

"If you think you’re going to win an offensive game on the road in the Big East, you’re mistaken."

Hinkle Fieldhouse had been kind to Providence over the first decade of Butler’s tenure in the Big East.

The Friars were 7-3 on the road in Indy through the first ten matchups, and the reason was straightforward: Providence was typically the tougher team.

Now that record is a more even 7-6 after PC lost a third consecutive heartbreaker at Butler — this time in a 113-110 double overtime shootout.

The game was billed as two of the Big East’s top offenses going head-to-head but, like most games in this league, it was more likely to come down to physicality.

In previewing this one I’d written:

The first number that jumps out is Butler’s 39% shooting beyond the arc — that’s troubling for a Friar team that has struggled to contain teams from three.

This game could be won or lost on the glass, however. Providence will lean on Jamier Jones, Ryan Mela, and Duncan Powell to keep the 6’7, 235-pound (Michael) Ajayi from killing them on second chance points.

Providence had no answer for Ajayi.

The Gonzaga transfer went largely overlooked this offseason, but he’s impossible to ignore now. He physically punished the Friars with 28 points, 15 rebounds (six offensive) and 16 free throw attempts in 45 minutes.

The Friars responded countless times on the offensive end, but ultimately it was Butler’s toughness and execution in critical moments that was PC’s undoing.

The offensive glass killed the Friars on Saturday. Butler grabbed 21 of their misses, and there were a number of other possessions Providence couldn’t corral that went out of bounds.

The issue wasn’t just the number of offensive rebounds Butler grabbed, but the deflating nature of how and when they came — off missed free throws when PC pushed for separation in the second half, late game and overtime, and possessions in which Butler had three or four cracks at scoring:

The Friars dropped a game in which both Jason Edwards and Jaylin Sellers were cooking.

Edwards played his best game as a Friar, finishing with 32 points, six assists, and just one turnover in 32 minutes. He found open men early and came up clutch down the stretch, hitting 6-13 from beyond the arc along the way.

This was Edwards at his best offensively.

Sellers added 26 points on 4-6 shooting from three. The Friars also got a big first-half lift from Duncan Powell, who scored their first seven points after Butler jumped out to an early 7-0 lead.

“Same old for us,” PC head coach Kim English said following the heartbreaker. “(We) couldn’t secure rebounds, couldn’t secure loose balls, and when you don’t do that it’s hard to win.”

“If you think you’re going to win an offensive game on the road in the Big East, you’re mistaken. You’re not going to outscore teams in the Big East on the road.”

This one had a familiar feeling.

Last year, Providence lost in this building despite shooting 16-32 from three. This season they had 21 assists, made 14 threes, had 17 offensive rebounds, and turned the ball over just nine times, but it still wasn’t enough.

Their 45-41 halftime lead could have been double digits had the Friars paid closer attention to detail in the first half.

Back door cuts accounted for 12 of the Bulldogs’ points in the first half — while Butler also scored on a back cut with under two minutes left in regulation and again in the first overtime.

“You can’t get back cut if you’re not denying,” English said of the lapses.

This will be a tough watch in the film room:

And when Providence did come up with what looked to be the biggest stop of the second overtime session, an almost unthinkable sequence took place to seal their fate:

Providence had a few more chances to tie this one at the end of double overtime, but eventually they just couldn’t counter with one more score.

They got a wide-open look for Stefan Vaaks, but the hero from last week’s win over Rhode Island is suddenly in a 2-21 slump beyond the arc (1-11 versus Brown, 1-10 against Butler).

Unlike in the Penn State game (when Vaaks hit the biggest shot of the game despite struggling prior), he couldn’t convert.

PC had one final opportunity, but Sellers’ leaning three in the waning seconds missed as Hinkle went into delirium.

Twelves games into the season, Providence is 7-5 and continues to give up points in bunches. PC’s 134.6 Defensive Rating (points allowed per 100 possessions) was its worst mark of the season — topping the 125.3 against Colorado and Florida as well as their 130.0 versus Wisconsin.

For all of their offensive firepower — which was once again on display on Saturday — anything approaching average defensively would make the Friars a very tough out. Yet, with league play underway, they continue to be hounded by their lack of defensive execution and effort.