Game Notes & Preview: (23) Providence (6-1) vs. Hartford (3-4) 12/2/15

Where: Dunkin’ Donuts Center – Providence, RI

When: 7:00pm EST

How: FSN (Don Orsillo & Tarik Turner)/WEEI 103.7 FM and Friars.com (John Rooke and Joe Hassett)/FriarTV

Game Notes

• Providence and Hartford have never met on the hardwood.
• Providence is 53-6 all time against the America East conference. The last game Providence played against a team from the America East was on December 13, 2014 when the Friars defeated Stony Brook, 79-61 at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center. Hartford is 0-14 all-time against teams from the Big East.
• Hartford is 3-4 on the season. The Hawks won their season opener against Central Connecticut State but then lost two straight against Saint Louis and Louisville. They followed that with a two game winning streak against Saint Peter’s and Niagara but have lost their last two against North Florida and St. Francis (Brooklyn). The Hawks are led in scoring and rebounding by senior Cleveland “Pancake” Thomas who is averaging 13.5 points/game and 6.0 rebounds/game. Thomas is unlikely to play after missing the prior 3 games with a bone bruise. The next leading scorer is freshman George Blagojevic at 13.4 points/game.
• Providence is returning from being in California for almost a week as they competed in the 2015 Wooden Legacy Tournament. The Friars went 3-1 in that tournament, losing to Michigan State — then ranked 3rd nationally — in the championship game on Sunday. Providence defeated Evansville on Thanksgiving and then 11th-ranked Arizona on Friday to get to the championship game. Ben Bentil and Kris Dunn were named to the All-Tournament team.
• The Friars made their season debut in the top 25 of both polls this week. Providence is ranked 23rd in the AP Poll and 24th in the USA Today Coaches’ Poll.
• Opening Line: TBA

Game Preview

Providence is off to an excellent start through at 6-1 through action in November. The Friars will need to keep their focus sharp and avoid any letdown from their great showing on ESPN networks over the Thanksgiving weekend in the Wooden Legacy Tournament. Hartford comes to the Dunkin’ Donuts Center at 3-4 on the season and this game is the only thing between a much anticipated in-state rivalry game between the Friars and Rhode Island. Hartford’s lackluster ranking, record and the fact that a rivalry game is a few days away read like the definition of a trap game. Ed Cooley will have to keep his team focused and ready to play against Hartford. The Hawks have shot the ball well from beyond the arc in their 3 wins at 45% with an average of 10.3 made 3-pointers. Hartford will be without two regular starters in John Carroll (out for the season with torn ACL) and Cleveland “Pancake” Thomas (day-to-day with bone bruise) but the Hawks have some dynamic young players in J.R. Lynch and George Blagojevic. Lynch scored a career-high 20 points in Hartford’s last game and Blagojevic was just named America East’s Rookie of the Week for averaging 19.7 points/game and 5.3 rebounds/game last week for the Hawks.

The probable starters according to the game notes and prior box scores are:

Providence

• Kris Dunn – #3 – Junior
• Junior Lomomba – #32 – Junior
• Ryan Fazekas – #35 – Freshman
• Rodney Bullock – #5 – Sophomore
• Ben Bentil – #0 – Sophomore

Hartford

• J.R. Lynch – #13 – Freshman
• Justin Graham – #2 – Junior
• Taylor Dyson – #11 – Senior
• Jack Hobbs – #21 – Sophomore
• George Blagojevic – #4 – Freshman

The key to victory will be for Providence to keep their energy level and focus up to avoid any hangover from the California trip. They also cannot look ahead to Saturday’s rivalry game against Rhode Island. If Providence plays up to their ability they win this game comfortably. If they come out slow and let Hartford feel like they can hang around then the positive outcome could be in danger. Defending the 3-point line and cleaning the glass should allow Providence to roll to a comfortable victory against the Hawks.

Prediction: Providence 85 Hartford 67

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Mike Hopkins

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