As Bracketology heats up and phrases like “Quadrant 1” and “Top 150 Wins” are thrown out incessantly, it’s important to note that the picture is still incomplete. For the players and coaches, they must only focus on collecting the next win, and that opportunity for the Providence Friars is on Saturday vs. DePaul at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center. The game can be seen on Yurview New England Channel 4 or 1004 at 4:00pm.
Ed Cooley has his team in an excellent position with seven games left in the regular season. The Friars are sitting at 7-4 in conference play, and have their first opportunity to sweep a Big East opponent. They beat the Blue Demons earlier this season in Chicago, when both coaches were mic’d up and PC used a 22-0 run to get back into the game.
Friars face DePaul on Saturday at 4 pm at the Dunk on @FS1 – Conference play you get a lot of close games, we have been working on it a lot lately to prepare for those. Ed Cooley #GoFriars pic.twitter.com/eqRYy2v5zF
— PC Men’s Basketball (@PCFriarsmbb) February 8, 2018
There is still plenty of work to do, however. As the coach noted on the Ed Cooley Show, being in third place at this point of the season means nothing – they have eight opportunities left, including their Big East Tournament opener.
While a home win against DePaul would do little for their overall postseason resume, a loss would would be a tough blow for a team trying to stay in the top half of the league, especially with a game vs Villanova on tap. At this point of the season, any conference game is going to be a fight, especially in the #1 rated league in the country. On Tuesday, the Friars had to make a 9-0 run to close a game they could have easily lost at home to 3-win Georgetown.
Get a behind-the-scenes look at last night's win including some locker room footage.#GoFriars🏀 pic.twitter.com/kV3bc9SWQl
— PC Men's Basketball (@PCFriarsmbb) February 7, 2018
It’s easy to look past DePaul and forward to a raucous Dunkin’ Donuts Center atmosphere on Wednesday night against the Wildcats. First though, the Friars must use that home crowd to get to 8-4 in Big East play on Saturday.
DePaul vs Providence can be seen on Yurview New England Channel 4 or 1004 at 4:00pm on Saturday February 10th.
