Unfortunately the game ended up about how I thought it would. What I didn’t see coming was that Kris Dunn would have 10 turnovers. Tyler Harris and Carson Desrosiers led the Friars with 10 points each on the afternoon and an argument could be made that they were the two best Friars on the floor Sunday for Providence. Harris added 6 rebounds and Desrosiers had 4 boards while neither player looked intimidated.
LaDontae Henton struggled all afternoon to get any open looks as Kentucky matched him up with long-armed 7-footers the entire day. After a first half that saw the Friars get out to as large as a 4 point lead and maintain a lead for a solid stretch of the first 20 minutes, Providence really struggled in the second 20 minute stanza. The Friars shot 46.7% from the field in the first half and only trailed by 4 at the half. In the second half the Friars shot just 16.7% while Kentucky shot 48.3%.
In the end this is a learning experience for Ed Cooley’s team which is counting on a number of young players to contribute this season. Kris Dunn was clearly not 100% healthy and I’m sure he will welcome the 4 days between now and the Friars next game on Friday at Boston College.
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