Post by dex on Mar 1, 2017 11:45:37 GMT -5
FRIARS JOURNAL
Home crowd provides a lift
By Kevin McNamara Journal Sports Writer
PROVIDENCE — While the season’s final home game took place well shy of a sellout crowd, the impact of strong crowds all year has helped the Friars as they contend for another NCAA Tournament berth.
PC averaged 10,732 fans in its first eight Big East home games with three sellouts. The 13,216 who helped the Friars rally to a win over Marquette marked the fourth-largest announced crowd in Dunkin’ Donuts Center history.
PC coach Ed Cooley says that sustained years of winning has helped. Strong marketing has also helped the strong attendance figures.
“I think that’s one thing that’s not talked about enough,” Cooley said. “I think the Dunkin’ Donuts Center has been one of the better venues in college basketball. The [Marquette game] was one of the better crowds I’ve ever been a part of.”
Cooley mentioned wins over URI, Butler and Xavier, plus a close loss to Villanova, as examples of when the home crowd played a key role.
“We have an educated fan base. They know when to cheer to get you going. They willed us to some wins in that building,” he said.
Without All-American Kris Dunn, PC’s attendance declined this season. PC averaged 9,703 for home games in 2015-16 and 8,398 this season.
Confidence growing
After being picked ninth by the Big East coaches in the preseason, the Friars entered Tuesday’s game with a chance to finish as high as third. PC’s season turned for the better thanks to a four-game winning streak against Butler, Xavier, Creighton and Marquette, and the prospect of carrying a six-game win streak into the Big East Tournament is sparking excitement.
“How we finish off this regular season is important,” said junior Jalen Lindsey. “We’re playing for something so we’ll be prepared to play DePaul and St. John’s. I think the league is really deep but we’ve shown we can be really good, too. You never know what can happen in our conference.”
Cooley said “our destiny is in our own hands,” and added that he’s seen his team’s confidence grow with the recent victories and also a clear definition of roles.
“I still think we have another level in us if we keep paying attention to detail, make our free throws and layups, and cut back on turnovers,” he said. “If we do all that, hopefully we can have a little more success.”
On a roll
The Friars will not place anyone on the All-Big East team next week but both Rodney Bullock and Kyron Cartwright should contend for second- and third-team selections.
Cartwright has sparked the team all season and leads the Big East in assists (6.2) by a wide margin. He continues a trend that began with Vincent Council and continued with Bryce Cotton and Dunn as PC guards who have led the conference in assists.
Bullock is playing his best basketball right now. He had three straight double-doubles going into Tuesday night. The last PC player with three consecutive double-doubles was Kadeem Batts in 2013. The last PC player to string together four double-doubles in a row was MarShon Brooks in 2010.
What’s been the difference for Bullock?
“His sense of urgency and his preparation,” Cooley said. “His look [vs. Marquette] was a look I’ve never seen from Rodney. It was ‘OK, what do I need to do for us to win?’ Hopefully, he continues to have that look.”
Bullock had two clutch offensive rebound tip-ins against Marquette. That’s a stat that he’s lagged in this season and a good sign coming down the stretch.
“He’s a four-year player so he’s been there and done it before,” Cooley said. “It’s only his second year playing [it] but we recruited him to play a stretch-four position and I think he’s done really well so far. He’s an inside, outside guy.”
Home crowd provides a lift
By Kevin McNamara Journal Sports Writer
PROVIDENCE — While the season’s final home game took place well shy of a sellout crowd, the impact of strong crowds all year has helped the Friars as they contend for another NCAA Tournament berth.
PC averaged 10,732 fans in its first eight Big East home games with three sellouts. The 13,216 who helped the Friars rally to a win over Marquette marked the fourth-largest announced crowd in Dunkin’ Donuts Center history.
PC coach Ed Cooley says that sustained years of winning has helped. Strong marketing has also helped the strong attendance figures.
“I think that’s one thing that’s not talked about enough,” Cooley said. “I think the Dunkin’ Donuts Center has been one of the better venues in college basketball. The [Marquette game] was one of the better crowds I’ve ever been a part of.”
Cooley mentioned wins over URI, Butler and Xavier, plus a close loss to Villanova, as examples of when the home crowd played a key role.
“We have an educated fan base. They know when to cheer to get you going. They willed us to some wins in that building,” he said.
Without All-American Kris Dunn, PC’s attendance declined this season. PC averaged 9,703 for home games in 2015-16 and 8,398 this season.
Confidence growing
After being picked ninth by the Big East coaches in the preseason, the Friars entered Tuesday’s game with a chance to finish as high as third. PC’s season turned for the better thanks to a four-game winning streak against Butler, Xavier, Creighton and Marquette, and the prospect of carrying a six-game win streak into the Big East Tournament is sparking excitement.
“How we finish off this regular season is important,” said junior Jalen Lindsey. “We’re playing for something so we’ll be prepared to play DePaul and St. John’s. I think the league is really deep but we’ve shown we can be really good, too. You never know what can happen in our conference.”
Cooley said “our destiny is in our own hands,” and added that he’s seen his team’s confidence grow with the recent victories and also a clear definition of roles.
“I still think we have another level in us if we keep paying attention to detail, make our free throws and layups, and cut back on turnovers,” he said. “If we do all that, hopefully we can have a little more success.”
On a roll
The Friars will not place anyone on the All-Big East team next week but both Rodney Bullock and Kyron Cartwright should contend for second- and third-team selections.
Cartwright has sparked the team all season and leads the Big East in assists (6.2) by a wide margin. He continues a trend that began with Vincent Council and continued with Bryce Cotton and Dunn as PC guards who have led the conference in assists.
Bullock is playing his best basketball right now. He had three straight double-doubles going into Tuesday night. The last PC player with three consecutive double-doubles was Kadeem Batts in 2013. The last PC player to string together four double-doubles in a row was MarShon Brooks in 2010.
What’s been the difference for Bullock?
“His sense of urgency and his preparation,” Cooley said. “His look [vs. Marquette] was a look I’ve never seen from Rodney. It was ‘OK, what do I need to do for us to win?’ Hopefully, he continues to have that look.”
Bullock had two clutch offensive rebound tip-ins against Marquette. That’s a stat that he’s lagged in this season and a good sign coming down the stretch.
“He’s a four-year player so he’s been there and done it before,” Cooley said. “It’s only his second year playing [it] but we recruited him to play a stretch-four position and I think he’s done really well so far. He’s an inside, outside guy.”