2015-16 Friars' Mens Basketball Thread: Dunn Guns for 3rd-straight NCAA Run

CouchsideSteve

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Gutted through a must-win game, after falling behind as much as 8 in the second half. It could have slipped away, but they crawled back. Bentil is amazing, and I'm seriously beginning to wonder whether he now jumps to the NBA in June. (I hope not, as both a fan of his and a fan of the program.)

Regardless, for as much as they've been plagued by awful shooting, Cartwright & Lindsey have been great these last two games, at a time the team has really needed a shot in the arm from the supporting cast. Dunn looked ~85% back to health, which is obviously huge as well. All told, one of the more gratifying Ws on the season.

Anyone else going to MSG for the regular season finale vs. St. John's on Saturday?
 

HomeRunBaker

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Encouraged to see this team get back on track with only Bullock reportedly the only player left really hurting from the illness passing through. Kris didn't look 100% but 100% better than he did a few days ago and still put up 17/6/6 with another game of a boatload of open shots created by him clanging off the rim (talking to you Jalen).

When Lindsey is active and engaged his length helps us so much around the basket on both ends. Bentil has been nothing short of phenomenal this season and tonight was no different. Get Creighton's bigs in foul trouble? Done. Take advantage of their foul trouble in the paint? Done. Step outside and knock down 3's when they overcompensate? Done.

Take care of business at MSG on Saturday then the conference tournament will determine our seeding. I still see us heading straight to the 8/9 game which naturally is the worst possible seed however with the parity this year it isn't as bad as other years. Gonna be a fun ride now that we're getting healthy.
 

PC Drunken Friar

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Gutsy 2nd half there. Take care of business at MSG and if it plays out right, the #4 seed in the BET. Win the game you are supposed to win there and maybe sneak into the 6 seed in the tournament.

Ill be at the game Saturday (first timer at MSG, looking forward to it).
 

CouchsideSteve

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Lindsey has 18pts with ~5min left in the first half. Not only is he shooting well, but he's showing a ton of energy on D. Great sign.

Oh, and Dunn looks healthy, and Friars up by 17 (!).
 

HomeRunBaker

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Lindsey has 18pts with ~5min left in the first half. Not only is he shooting well, but he's showing a ton of energy on D. Great sign.

Oh, and Dunn looks healthy, and Friars up by 17 (!).
Lindsey finished with 30 doubling his career high of 15 (vs Hartford?). Kris didn't have to do much but distribute, Ben knocked down shot after shot as has been the norm, and Jalen is the shooter who stepped up as the 3rd guy. That's our formula right there for NCAA wins.
 

shawnrbu

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Friars should be safely in the field of 68. Should be one of the 60 to earn a first round bye.

For the 3rd straight year, PC will be playing in the 4 vs. 5 matchup at 2:30 P.M. on a Thursday at MSG. The Friars won in the previous two years over St. John's. Butler will be the matchup this time. Butler is on the bubble, but will probably get in and can become a lock if the Bulldogs can beat the Friars for the first time in three tries this season.
 

moondog80

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Wow, Ben Bentil. He and Dunn the best Friars duo since Marvin and Ernie D?
 

HomeRunBaker

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Arguably best in the country. How many other college teams will have two players on the first 3 all-american teams?
 

PC Drunken Friar

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Arguably best in the country. How many other college teams will have two players on the first 3 all-american teams?
HRB, do you have any info on any possibility that Bentil might declare? He has been putting up monster numbers...I'm not sure if his game translates to the NBA, but he's gotta be getting some attention, now, right?
 

HomeRunBaker

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HRB, do you have any info on any possibility that Bentil might declare? He has been putting up monster numbers...I'm not sure if his game translates to the NBA, but he's gotta be getting some attention, now, right?
I will find out more next week.

A month ago I laughed at this suggestion as he's a tweener who can't really put the ball on the floor from the perimeter so he wouldn't be selected high enough to warrant coming out. Since then he's expanded his range, continues to score naturally in the paint and has become one of the if not the best big in the college game this year.

I still think he's best served returning and being a pre-season first team All-American and being a certain lottery pick assuming continued improvement. There is a big difference in both security and opportunity when you're the 10-12th pick opposed to the 25-35th.
 

moondog80

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I will find out more next week.

A month ago I laughed at this suggestion as he's a tweener who can't really put the ball on the floor from the perimeter so he wouldn't be selected high enough to warrant coming out. Since then he's expanded his range, continues to score naturally in the paint and has become one of the if not the best big in the college game this year.

I still think he's best served returning and being a pre-season first team All-American and being a certain lottery pick assuming continued improvement. There is a big difference in both security and opportunity when you're the 10-12th pick opposed to the 25-35th.
FWIW, I've heard from several different people who would know that Bentil is a very good student, seems that would make him a little more likely to stay.
 

HomeRunBaker

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FWIW, I've heard from several different people who would know that Bentil is a very good student, seems that would make him a little more likely to stay.
I know that's what I'm hoping. He is young and impressionable being new to this country (5th year?) while really looking up to Kris who also valued his degree which he will receive this spring.

The only caveat would be if Cooley pursues one of the bigger jobs that will open up next month. Hearing whispers that he is looking for that next step up in both stature and pay once this season ends. If Dunn AND Cooley leave that changes everything for Bentil.

I'll also add.....IF Cooley does move on I'll predict he's taking Lomomba with his as a 5th year grad student. Something doesn't sit right with me as Junior went through Senior Night when he still has another year of eligibility. If is walks like a duck and quacks like a duck.....
 

moondog80

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I know that's what I'm hoping. He is young and impressionable being new to this country (5th year?) while really looking up to Kris who also valued his degree which he will receive this spring.

The only caveat would be if Cooley pursues one of the bigger jobs that will open up next month. Hearing whispers that he is looking for that next step up in both stature and pay once this season ends. If Dunn AND Cooley leave that changes everything for Bentil.

I'll also add.....IF Cooley does move on I'll predict he's taking Lomomba with his as a 5th year grad student. Something doesn't sit right with me as Junior went through Senior Night when he still has another year of eligibility. If is walks like a duck and quacks like a duck.....
I hadn't heard that about Cooley. The word has always been that he wouldn't take just a one-step-above job like Gillen or Barnes, it would have to be a real elite program to get him to leave.
 

HomeRunBaker

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I hadn't heard that about Cooley. The word has always been that he wouldn't take just a one-step-above job like Gillen or Barnes, it would have to be a real elite program to get him to leave.
That is what I always heard and assumed as well knowing how close he is to the city of Providence. I'm only reporting it as a whisper right now from what I'm hearing.
 

PC Drunken Friar

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That is what I always heard and assumed as well knowing how close he is to the city of Providence. I'm only reporting it as a whisper right now from what I'm hearing.
I won't fault him if he leaves for a whole lot of money. I'd instantly be a fan of whatever school he goes to, this side of Duke. I can't even imagine how well he would do recruiting with an unlimited budget and the reputation of a national powerhouse.
 

moondog80

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Maybe there are some other issues, but he's being paid well (are there 25 programs out there paying 2 mil per year?) and they just approved a huge athletic center that's mostly for the basketball team, so he can't be unhappy with the commitment to the program. More power to him, but I'd be disappointed if he left.
 

HomeRunBaker

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Maybe there are some other issues, but he's being paid well (are there 25 programs out there paying 2 mil per year?) and they just approved a huge athletic center that's mostly for the basketball team, so he can't be unhappy with the commitment to the program. More power to him, but I'd be disappointed if he left.
I don't think it's so much about issues as it is to become among the best or THE best in your profession. Much like the Lomomba "tell" you can say the fact that Cooley has dedicated much of his summers to USA basketball is a tell that he yearns to reach the top of his profession.

No doubt there is risk and I'd hate it too but to reach the apex there is going to be necessary risks one must take. He's earned whatever comes his way that much I will say. The top jobs that will come open this spring like will pay in excess of $3m annually.
 

shawnrbu

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We got a fantastic Big East semifinals lined up tomorrow with Villanova vs. PC at 7 and Xavier vs. Seton Hall in the nightcap. All 4 of these teams are legit and capable of making a deep run in March. Should be a great night of basketball at MSG. Anyone here going?
 

Mloaf71

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Been at MSG all week so far. Pumped for tomorrow. PC fans took over Jack Dempseys third floor today. Hope for the same tomorrow!
 

jodyreeddudley78

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These are the best four teams in the Big East. And the lower seeds (SHU and PC) present huge match up problems against the two higher seeds. Both match ups were split during the regular season. A final match up of PC/SHU isn't a crazy thought at all.
 

Mloaf71

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Shawn and HRB: from the 200s it looks OK to me. Other guys hitting shots. Dunn and Bentil's points will come. Interested in your thoughts!
 

shawnrbu

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Shocked that PC has taken six more 3's than Nova. It's nice to see some of the supporting cast contributing on offense (Bullock, Lamomba and Edwards). I want the game in Dunn and Bentil's hands. Think they need a huge 2nd Half. Would like to see Dunn pick up the pace and hopefully facilitate some easy buckets in transition.
 

NoLastCall125

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It feels like they should be down by 100 points, but they're still in this. Refs chippy to non-existant fouls on PC are giving me flashbacks to the phantom foul call that cost them the game against Villanova last year. Hopefully Big Ben and Dunn show up in the second half strong.
 

HomeRunBaker

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Shawn and HRB: from the 200s it looks OK to me. Other guys hitting shots. Dunn and Bentil's points will come. Interested in your thoughts!
We are in great shape! Down 5 at the half with Ben and Kris a combined 1-8! Love it!! Kris is still using his manipulation of the defense with his jab step to get open 3's for others and we need to keep knocking them down.
 

shawnrbu

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Jay Wright complained about the refs in his halftime interview with Molly McGrath. The Friars had 2 fouls called on them in the first 13 seconds of the half. Big shock.
 

PC Drunken Friar

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Unless a miracle happens, PC is looking at anywhere from a 7-10 seed (tho a 7 is highly unlikely). This team is what it is. A two man team that needs both to be firing on all cylinders. Sometimes, even that isn't enough. They also need to knock down some threes.

All that said, I'll enjoy they NCAAs. This team can make a run if things fall right. If not, I'm not expecting it to happen, so Ill be happy if they win one game.
 

pdaj

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I'll be happy with 1 win, also -- anything more that that would be gravy. We haven't had any luck with 1st-game draws in a bit; perhaps we're due. I will say this, as well. The way this team played on the road this year ... I think they have the toughness to gut out 2-3 wins with the right match ups. Dunn/Bentil and Co. would have to "flip the switch" to do it, but it wouldn't shock me.
 

shawnrbu

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It is likely that PC is placed in a pod with Kansas, UNC, Virginia or Oregon. Are any of those teams more favorable or particularly unfavorable for a small team like PC?
 

HomeRunBaker

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I have a lot of personal interests in this selection show.

* Where are we seeded? (92% 8/9, 8% 7/10)
* Day/Time of game? (so I can plan my week)
* Who is our 1st round opponent?
* Who is #1 (2?) seed in our bracket?
* Which teams are being shipped to The Dunk?
 

PC Drunken Friar

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Anyone know anything about USC? From the little I've been able to research, tehy are a run-and-gun, uptempo offense that is lacking in defense. That might be a good match-up for PC. Game looks to be the late game Thursday.
 

moondog80

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Anyone know anything about USC? From the little I've been able to research, tehy are a run-and-gun, uptempo offense that is lacking in defense. That might be a good match-up for PC. Game looks to be the late game Thursday.
Gonna make for a pretty lousy atmosphere at the 9:20 first round game Thursday at the Dunk.
 

HomeRunBaker

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Anyone know anything about USC? From the little I've been able to research, tehy are a run-and-gun, uptempo offense that is lacking in defense. That might be a good match-up for PC. Game looks to be the late game Thursday.
It's difficult to determine on paper how these teams matchup. I see a case for both sides.

Providence - USC's uptempo style plays right into our hands eliminating the bogged down halfcourt game where teams can smother Dunn 25 feet from the basket with two defenders as has been the scouting report throughout the conference schedule. With Dunn in the open court with Bentil beating the USC bigs into the low block we should be unstoppable offensively.

USC - Exploit the Friars in transition and utiltized their FOUR excellent 3-point shooters in the secondary break. PC hasn't seen a team who spaces the floor like this in transition and aren't accustomed to picking up 3-point shooters all over the floor in transition. Take advantage of Bullock and Fazekas in the paint with their size. USC will have the 3 tallest/longest players in the game rotating in their frontcourt.
 

mcaqua

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Didn't know this thread existed. Seton Hall fan, but a bigger old school BE fan. Would love nothing more than for all 5 of the conference representatives to raise hell. Best of luck this week.
 

MillarTime

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Didn't know this thread existed. Seton Hall fan, but a bigger old school BE fan. Would love nothing more than for all 5 of the conference representatives to raise hell. Best of luck this week.
Here here! Congrats on the BE tourney win.
 

pdaj

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Didn't know this thread existed. Seton Hall fan, but a bigger old school BE fan. Would love nothing more than for all 5 of the conference representatives to raise hell. Best of luck this week.
Here here! Congrats on the BE tourney win.
+1! Loved watching the Hall play down the stretch this year. They've proven to be a really talented, gritty team. Best of luck in the tourney!
 

RG33

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Wow. Got lucky, but we'll take it! We're on to UNC. . . . .
 

Mloaf71

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That win felt like a championship, I had given up hope but they battled. UNC didn't look good tonight but PC will need to tighten up a lot!
 

CouchsideSteve

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Wow. Got lucky, but we'll take it! We're on to UNC. . . . .
Complaining about officiating is never a flattering look, but I'd like to think this was just some balancing of karma. Several of the fouls against PC down the stretch were really questionable, including the last one against Cartwright where it was clear the USC guard dribbled the ball off his leg before contact was initiated. Then, contrast that with Bentil getting hacked on the second to last possession... and I think PC would have a very legitimate right to gripe, were the end result different.

No doubt it was lucky in context of the circumstances, so you're totally correct on that. I just think there is a lot of craziness about that game that will be lost to history -- including huge, clutch 3s by Cartwright, Bullock & Dunn -- and ultimately, the unevenness of officiating was as significant as USC's failure to execute.

Anyways, what an exhilarating win!
 

CoRP

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Nice job Friars. Wish Seton Hall could have represented the Big East as well as your guys did.