Hopeful Providence prepares to host Big East foe DePaul
Providence coach Kim English hopes that, finally, his team has another win it can build off in Big East play.
After making an improbable comeback to beat Butler 97-87 in double overtime on Wednesday, the Friars (10-13, 3-9 Big East) go for back-to-back home wins on Saturday against DePaul.
It was a win that Providence surely needed. A career-high 36-point, six-rebound performance from Jaylin Sellers led the way as the Friars came back from a seven-point deficit in the second half and ultimately snapped a four-game losing skid.
"We've had some very, very tough locker rooms after games this season. I'm not sure I've had the words to say to the guys a lot of the time with the ways we've lost," English said after Wednesday's game. "It feels good to be on the other side of it for them, a lot more than me."
Providence was 0-4 in overtime games before Wednesday. Incredibly, both of the Friars' meetings with Butler needed two extra periods.
DePaul (12-11, 4-8) has dropped three in a row, but a solid defensive effort Tuesday in a 68-56 loss to No. 22 St. John's was admirable.
DePaul's opponents have scored less than 70 points per game four times in Big East play, with the Johnnies netting a season-low 29 in the first half earlier this week.
"This is a tough, tough business for all of us," DePaul coach Chris Holtmann said. "So, if you're not tough and tough-minded, you're going to struggle. I think we got a group that (is) going to respond well."
The Friars, who have averaged a conference-best 87 per game, will play DePaul in two of their next four games.
DePaul has gotten strong play out of Layden Blocker recently, as he has scored in double figures in each of the last seven games. Providence freshman Stefan Vaaks has done the same in every game this season.
Blocker scored 13 points with five rebounds, two assists and two blocks against St. John's.