📅 Date & Time: Tuesday, November 19, 2024, at 7:00pm
📍 Venue: Amica Mutual Pavilion, Providence, RI
📺 Broadcast: FS2 with Scott Graham and Vin Parise (Fox Sports App); Radio with John Rooke and Joe Hassett on WPRO-99.7 FM/630 AM (The Varsity Network App & YouTube); FriarTV
🤑 Opening Line: Providence -21, Over/Under 135
🎟️Tickets: SeatGeek (enter promo code pcbb1917 for $20 off your first purchase)
Providence College Friars:
- Record: 4-0
- Recent Performances: Providence has won all 4 of their games so far this season but has only led at halftime in 1 of those games. There were some positive signs on offense last time out against Green Bay, but the Phoenix are one of the worst defensive teams in college basketball so far this season.
- Providence vs: This will be Providence’s first matchup ever with Delaware State. The Friars are 7-1 all-time against current members of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.
- Stat Leaders:
- Points/Game – Bensley Joseph, 12.0
- Rebounds/Game – Wesley Cardet, 6.5
- Assists/Game – Bensley Joseph, 3.3
- Minutes/Game – Corey Floyd, 30.3
Delaware State Hornets
- Record: 2-2
- Recent Performances: Delaware State is coming off back-to-back wins coming into this contest with Providence, but both have come against non-Division 1 opponents. The result against D1 teams is 0-2 with losses at Virginia Tech, 83-60, and at Columbia, 83-62.
- Stat Leaders:
- Points/Game – Martaz Robinson, 20.0
- Rebounds/Game – Martaz Robinson, 9.0
- Assists/Game – Corey Perkins, 4.8
- Minutes/Game – Martaz Robinson, 34.3
Game Preview:
Providence looks to complete their season opening 5-game homestand with another win before jetting off to the Bahamas to play in the Battle 4 Atlantis event next week. This would be the first 5-0 start for the Friars since the 2021-22 season, though 2 of those 5 wins came against high major opponents in Wisconsin and Northwestern. In order to actually get there the Friars need to get through the Hornets of Delaware State. Martaz Robinson, the 5th year senior from Baltimore, is their best player and was picked to the preseason MEAC First Team while Delaware State was picked for a tie of 5th place in the 8 team league. Robinson scored 30 points against Virginia Tech which accounted for exactly 50% of the Hornets’ scoring output. He was the only Delaware State player to scoring in double figures against the Hokies. Other notable players for the Hornets are point guard Robert Smith, a lefty, and big man Kaseem Watson (his twin brother, Kareem, is also on the team).
In terms of on paper and having watched some of Delaware State against Virginia Tech in their opener, the way Delaware State has played on offense fits right into what Providence wants their opponents to do which is shoot and make few 3’s and take a high percentage of mid-range shots. The Hornets have the 3rd highest share of Far Two’s (think mid-range jumpers) taken this season, per BartTorvick.com. They also are taking the lowest share of shots from 3-point range of anyone in D1 at 15.4%. As a contrast, Providence’s is taking the 11th most at 54%. The D1 average is 39.9%. Delaware State also mixed some 3-2 zone to start their game against Virginia Tech in with man-to-man after falling behind. Mixing their defenses is something I expect they will do against the Friars, too. This would be an excellent time for Providence to have a good shooting night from beyond the arc to shoot Delaware State right out of any zone they throw at the Friars.
Score Prediction: Providence 82, Delaware State 59
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