Ponds is a game-time decision according to sauces
Our Picks
By Kevin McNamara
Journal Sports Writer
Posted at 6:22 PM
PROVIDENCE — The legacy of a group of seniors that’s known nothing but winning in their Providence College basketball careers is hanging in the balance.
The Friars wrap up the regular season on Saturday against St. John’s in the final home game for seniors Rodney Bullock, Kyron Cartwright, Jalen Lindsey and Tom Planek. This is a group that’s both thrilled and frustrated PC fans over the years, especially this up-and-down season that’s about to enter a final chapter. The seniors will be honored in a pre-game ceremony.
“I don’t know if there’s ever been a recruiting class at Providence go to four straight NCAA Tournaments,” said PC coach Ed Cooley. “They have three and want a fourth. We’re getting there.”
This class has some impressive credentials. Over the last four seasons, the Friars are 84-47 (.641) with those three NCAA tourney berths. Included was the program’s first win in the tournament in 20 years.
“Senior Day means a lot,” said Lindsey. “Friartown has given me so much in my four years here. I can’t thank them enough, the school and the fans.
“It’ll be sad knowing it’s my last time playing in the Dunkin’ Donuts Center.”
Lindsey, Cartwright and Planek all entered PC together back in the fall of 2014. Bullock arrived the year before, but was suspended as a freshman and then suffered a knee injury that kept him out of the 2014-15 season. The Class of 2014 earned top-25 status from most of the prep recruiting services but the group initially included center Paschal Chukwu, forward Ben Bentil and guard Tyree Chambers.
Chukwu and Lindsey were consensus national top-100 recruits. Bentil’s ranking hovered just outside 100 and Cartwright was a late spring pickup who had originally signed with Loyola-Marymount.
While plenty of winning arrived right away, the class began breaking up quickly. Chukwu transferred after one year to Syracuse and is averaging 5.4 points and 6.9 rebounds. Bentil exploded ias a sophomore to become an All-Big East forward and jumped to the pros. He’s played in just three NBA games and has bounced around pro leagues in China and Spain the last two seasons. (Chambers transferred to Division II LeMoyne where he averages 4.1 points).
Bullock, Cartwright and Lindsey stuck with the Friars and are fighting through what can only be called an odd senior season. All three have seen their scoring averages dip. Cartwright was dogged for weeks by a lingering ankle injury and he and Bullock dealt with a touch of the flu. Lindsey suffered a minor concussion three weeks ago and has struggled with his shot ever since.
When the trio plays well at the same time, the Friars can beat teams like Big East-leading Villanova and Xavier. When one or two fail to show up, the team is less than ordinary.
“All three have had very inconsistent years and that’s both the good and bad of why we’re on the cusp right now,” Cooley said. “When they’re good, we’re good and we certainly need them every game.”
The Friars need to differentiate themselves from a pack of teams that will look very similar by the time the Selection Committee convenes next Wednesday. While a final regular-season win is crucial, a victory in a Big East quarterfinal game next Thursday could sew up a bid. Seeding in the conference tournament is up in the air as none of the 10 seeds is secured going into the final five games.
Among the NCAA bubble teams that Friar fans should be rooting against this weekend are Texas A&M (19-11, 8-9, RPI 24) and Alabama (17-13, 8-9, 58) in the SEC; Baylor (17-12, 8-9, 55), Oklahoma (17-12, 7-10, 37) and Texas (17-13, 7-10, 59) in the Big 12; Florida State (19-10, 8-9, 46) and Syracuse (18-12, 7-10, 49) in the ACC