Providence game thread

[muskieman]

When:Saturday 4:00 PM Senior Day

WHERE: Cintas Center SOLD OUT

Television Broadcast: FS1 Connor Onion (play-by-play); Phil Martelli (analyst)
Radio: 55KRC

Ratings Xavier is No. 42 in KenPom and Providence is No. 96. Xavier is No. 47 in the NCAA NET Rankings and Providence is No. 96. Team Rankings has X at #38

Providence
*BrycProvidencee Hopkins and Jabri Abdur-Rahim are out for the season with injuries. The Friars have used 12 different starting lineups this season. Providence players have missed a combined 57 games this season due to injury and illness.
*The Xavier has registered a 15-12 mark all-time versus Providence, including a 01-3 record at Home
*In the first meeting this season, Xavier was 13-of-27 3-pointers and made 26 free throws in their defeat of the Friars, 91-82, on 1/12/25 in Providence. Providence scores 38.7% of its points from beyond the arc, which is the 30th-highest rate in the nation. The Friars are No. 4 in the Big East in three-point attempts per game (25.8) and three-point percentage (35.7%). The Friars had 5 players in double-figure in the first game against X, with Fernandez and Joseph leading their scorers with 15 each.
Freshman center Oswin Erhunmwunse (Benin City, Nigeria) scored 14 points and grabbed five rebounds versus Xavier on Feb. 12.
Junior guard Jayden Pierre (Elizabeth, N.J.) is averaging 12.6 points per game this season for the Friars.

Xavier
Musketeers have enjoyed leads of 14, 17, and 15 points in their last three home games. In the last game against the Friars X, four players were in double figures, with Maddox having 26 and Freemantle having 23. Maddox was 6-9 on point shots, and X shot 48.1% 13-27 from three-point land. Xavier needs to keep doing what it has been doing. Start fast, play good D do not turn over the ball, and lessen their passions. They need to turnover providence guard the three without letting Providence then drive the ball to the rim, which they did in the first game to keep it close

[muskieman]

The Senior Night ceremony at Cintas will start at 3:30.

Xavier will honor Zach Freemantle, Jerome Hunter, Dayvion McKnight, Dante Maddox Jr., Marcus Foster, Brad Colbert, and Bob Nunge

[connecticut72]

I feel for the Providence coach they have had a tough luck year but I wil show no mercy today. We need this big time. I love our chances. Xavier at home on senior day we should win. A special good bye to Freemantle. I think he was in the starting lineup when they opened Schmidt Fieldhouse. He will be missed.

[connecticut72]

Watching the Johnnies play and I am reminded of their $4 million roster. Tough for X to compete against that kind of NIL

[Kevin Reilly]

Freemantle needs to be stronger with the ball. Grab loose balls and rebounds with two hands. You can't dribble thru two guys.

[Kevin Reilly]

Freemantle is too casual . Go up with two hands. Outside of Hunter and Conwell we are not playing hard enough. Foster has disappeared the last 3 games.

[skyhops]

Not a fan of the lineups. Three perimeter players with Hughley and Foster? We have to figure out the zone and guard the perimeter. How is Hughley getting heavier as the season goes?

[Kevin Reilly]

Brutal first half. Outside of Conwell and Hunter the team played horribly. I hope they realize we are a bubble team at best. I know the students are gone but that was a lazy, uninterested , unmotivated first half. Providence is playing harder than us. We looked like a team that was not hungry. We had better WAKE UP.

[Kevin Reilly]

Skyhops... maybe White Castle. I know you are not a big fan of Hugley but we need his strength and Bulk if we make the tournament. We probably will play a 5 or 6 seed from the SEC in the first round.

[skyhops]

McKnight is playing like crap. Hunter deserves more time.