2K Classic Game Notes & Preview: Providence (3-1) vs Belmont (4-1) 11/22/17

Where: Dunkin’ Donuts Center – Providence, RI

When: 7:00pm EST

How: FS1 (Brian Custer & Donny Marshall)/Fox Sports GO (Where Available)/WEEI 103.7 FM and Friars.com (John Rooke and Joe Hassett)/FriarTV

Tickets: SeatGeek

Game Notes

• Providence and Belmont will meet for the first time ever on Wednesday night. The only team Providence has ever played in the current Ohio Valley Conference is Austin Peay.
• This game is part of the 2017 2K Classic benefiting the Wounded Warrior Project. Providence defeated Houston Baptist on November 10th on campus at Alumni Hall, Washington on November 16th and Saint Louis on November 17th, both at Madison Square Garden. The Friars won the bracketed portion at MSG. Kyron Cartwright was named the tournament MVP and Rodney Bullock was named to the All-Tournament team. This was the fifth straight season Providence has played in the championship game of their in-season tournament.
• Providence is 95-62 all-time when playing in-season tournaments like the 2K Classic, which includes a 19-8 record under Ed Cooley.
• Providence is 4-0 all-time against teams from the Ohio Valley Conference conference with all four games being played against Austin Peay.
• Belmont is 4-1 this season with their lone loss coming at Washington in the season opener. Since that loss the Bruins have beaten Vanderbilt, Middle Tennessee, Houston Baptist and Seattle. Belmont is coached by Rick Byrd who is in his 32nd season at the helm. The Bruins are led in scoring by senior Amanze Egekeze who is averaging 19.8 points/game. They are led in rebounding by junior Dylan Windler who is averaging 12.0 rebounds/game.
• The Friars beat Saint Louis, 90-63, in their last time out on Friday night in the finals of the 2K Classic at MSG. Providence shot lights out from 3-point range — a school record 90% — and their balanced attack overwhelmed the Billikens. The Friars improved to 3-1 on the season with this win.
• Providence senior guard Kyron Cartwright continues his drive up the all-time assist record list at Providence. Cartwright has 32 assists already through 4 games. He has 482 in his career, which places him 10th all-time at Providence.
• Opening Line: Providence -11 vs. Belmont 11/22/17

Game Preview

Providence and Belmont will meet for the first time ever on Wednesday night. The Friars are currently 3-0 in 2K Classic play, while the Bruins are 2-1. Belmont was again picked to finish first in the Ohio Valley conference after winning it last season. Rick Byrd, who took over the program in 1986 when Belmont was an NAIA school, is the reigning OVC Coach of the Year. Belmont has been winning games this season largely on the back of their 3-point shooting. They have scored 40.9% of their points through 5 games from beyond the arc. That’s the 30th highest 3-point scoring distribution number in the nation, per Kenpom.com. The Friars aren’t scoring quite as much from downtown — 28.6%, ranking 215th — but they are currently ranked atop all of college basketball with a 54.4% shooting mark from 3-point range. That number is undoubtedly helped by their 9/10 performance against Saint Louis that obliterated a school record of 73.7% set in February 2001 against Georgetown.

54.7% of Belmont’s half court shot attempts have been jump shots and they certainly haven’t been shy launching from outside. They have averaged 30 3-point attempts/game through their first 5 games, making an average of 11. Providence, on the other hand, has averaged 14.3 3-point attempts/game, making 7.8. The most dangerous shooters for Belmont are senior Amanze Egekeze, Kevin McClain and Nick Hopkins, plus Austin Luke went 8/10 himself from downtown in their last game against Seattle. Hopkins is especially gunning for triples as he’s taken 31 total shots on the season with 26 coming from behind the 3-point line.

Providence’s depth has been a big factor early in the season with the Friars getting 34.5 points/game from non-starters. Belmont relies on four main guys in terms of minutes and really three players for scoring and their bench has been largely unproductive in terms of scoring aside from two individual performances off the bench in two separate games. Belmont’s defense doesn’t produce a lot of turnovers and they foul quite a bit. Providence’s depth and advantage inside could lead to the Friars overwhelming Belmont’s smaller and less deep team in this game.

Listen to the Providence Friarcast where Brendan McGair, Chris Grenham and me preview this game:

The probable starters according to the game notes are:

Providence

• Kyron Cartwright – #24 – Senior
• Alpha Diallo – #11 – Sophomore
• Isaiah Jackson – #44 – Junior
• Rodney Bullock – #5 – Senior
• Kalif Young – #13 – Sophomore

Belmont

• Austin Luke – #1 – Senior
• Kevin McClain – #11 – Junior
• Dylan Windler – #3 – Junior
• Amanze Egekeze – #32 – Senior
• Mack Mercer – #25 – Junior

The keys to victory for Providence defend the 3-point line. That’s really the main key. There are smaller things like making sure they communicate on defense to now allow open shooters due to poor or late rotations, but if Providence wins this game it will be because they either outshot Belmont to the tune of 90% again from downtown or the Friars forced Belmont to take tough 2’s instead of the 3-point shots they want. Providence also has an advantage inside with Kalif Young and Nate Watson being bigger and beefier than anyone that plays consistent minutes for the Bruins. If they can keep up their offensive output while also crashing the glass better it could be a long night for Belmont.

Prediction: Providence 80 Belmont 71

Follow me on Twitter @pcbb1917

About Author

Mike Hopkins

See author's posts