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Men's Hoops Hosts No. 4 Syracuse Saturday
Feb. 4, 2000 PROVIDENCE, R.I. - If there is any one team in the BIG EAST that the Friars have always struggled against, it is the Syracuse Orangemen. Tonight's game is the 43rd in the all-time series and the Friars are just 8-34 against the Orange in the first 42 contests. Despite that record, PC has won the last two meetings between the two schools with both wins coming at the Carrier Dome where PC is just 3-15. Last season, the two teams met just once with the Friars taking a 67-58 win on January 12th, 1999. In Providence, the Friars are 4-16 against the Orange and have lost four-in-a-row. PC's last home victory versus Syracuse came on January 25, 1994, a 96-82 victory. PC is just 1-3 versus Syracuse at neutral site games. In BIG EAST regular season games, Syracuse has won 31 of 37 meetings. STREAKS...The Friars come into tonight's game on a seven-game losing streak. The last time PC lost seven in a row was from 1/28/85 to 2/16/85...Five of PC's seven losses have come on the road...PC's current two-game win streak versus Syracuse is modest compared to the 21-game winning streak the Orange put together against the Friars in the 1980's. After splitting the first two meetings between the two schools, Syracuse ran off a 21-game winning streak against the Friars from February 3, 1980 through March 10. 1989. THE LAST TIME...The Friars played a team ranked fourth or higher in the national polls at the Providence Civic Center was last February 22nd when Connecticut visited the Civic Center. UConn won that game, 72-65...The last time the Friars defeated a team ranked that high at the Civic Center was on February 27, 1995 when the Friars upset fourth ranked Connecticut, 72-70...The last time the Friars defeated Syracuse when the Orange were ranked was last season when they were 18th overall...The previous year, Syracuse was ranked 15th when PC won at the Carrier Dome. BY THE NUMBERS...The Friars are coming off a three-game road swing over six days and now embark on a three-game home stand over eight days. Following tonight's game, the Friars host St. John's on Tuesday, February 8th (7:00 p.m.) and Rutgers on Saturday, February 12th (12 noon)...Junior forward Erron Maxey has been the lone Friar to score in double figures in each of the last six games. Maxey has been in double figures in 18 of PC's 21 games this season. PC AT SETON HALL...The Friars lost on Tuesday night at Seton Hall by an 82-67 score. Erron Maxey and David Murray led the Friars with 17 points each. Freshman guard Abdull Mills added 13 points off the bench. Karim Shabazz had six points with a team high nine rebounds in the game. Seton Hall had fhree players in double figures with Darius Lane leading the way with 25.
PROVIDENCE COLLEGE FRIARS (8-13/1-7) vs. PROBABLE STARTERS
OFF THE BENCH
Head Coach Tim Welsh
1999-2000 (8-13/1-7)...Friars win first BIG EAST season opener since 1989 beating Georgetown, 55-48... 1998-99 (16-14/9-9)...9-9 record in the BIG EAST is the best by a Friars' first year coach...First win as a Friars' head coach was upset of #23 Rhode Island, 87-63...Coached 100th career game against Brown University (12/5)...Upset #9 Purdue, 87-82...Won first BIG EAST game at #23/#23 Pittsburgh, 83-68...Upset #18 Syracuse, 67-58... 1997-98 (27-6/10-4)...Led Iona to the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Championship...Coached Iona to first NCAA appearance since 1985...MAAC Coach of the Year...Metropolitan Area's Division I Coach of the Year...Jack Bruen Award as New York State Coach of the Year...Team won school record 27 games... 1996-97 (22-8/11-3)...Led Iona to first place finish in MAAC...Made second consecutive NIT appearance...MAAC Coach of the Year...NABC District II Coach of the Year... 1995-96 (21-8/15-3)...Won first of three MAAC regular season titles...Took Iona to first NIT appearance since 1983...Winner of Peter A. Carlesimo Award as Metropolitan Area Division I Coach of the Year...
PROVIDENCE COLLEGE BASKETBALLPROVIDENCE...All-time record: 1119-708 (.612) - Second in New England...Home record: 666-216 (.755)...Civic Center record: 343-134 (.719).PROVIDENCE IN BIG EAST...129-201 in regular season and 143-219 overall in 21st season... Eighth all-time in wins and percentage. HOME COOKING...The Friars are 6-5 at home this season after going 10-5 at home during the 1998-99 season. Over the last seven-and-a-half seasons, PC is 88-36 (.710) at the Civic Center. The Friars are 46-8 (.852) in their last 54 non-conference home games in Providence dating back to the start of the 1992-93 season. CIVIC CENTER RECORD...PC owns a 343-134 (.721) record at the Providence Civic Center since the building opened in 1972. The Friars recorded their 300th win on January 8, 1996 against Canisius (91-63).
MONTH-BY-MONTH...
DAY-BY-DAY... FRIARS IN THE NBA....Providence College has seven former players and one coach on NBA rosters as of January 31st. They are:
Also, Atlanta Hawks coach Lenny Wilkens, is one of Providence College's all-time greatest players. Marty Conlon (Boston, LA Clippers) has also spent time in the NBA this season. THE CAPTAINS...Juniors John Linehan (Chester, Pa.) and Erron Maxey (Lake Elsinore, Calif.) will serve as the Friars' captains this season.
NEWEST FRIAR...The Friars have received a national letter-of-intent from Marcus Douthit. He is a 6-10, 215-pound forward/center from Syracuse, New York. He is currently playing at Notre Dame Prep in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. 50 GREATEST FROM RHODE ISLAND....Sports Illustrated named its 50 greatest athletes from 1900-1999 in the State of Rhode Island in its year end issue. 11 of the 50 had ties to Providence College with five being associated with PC basketball. The 11 are:
TRIPLE THE FUN...Since 1960, the record books show that Providence College has recorded six triple-doubles. Here's the list:
There have been just nine triple doubles in the 21 seasons of the BIG EAST. The last was done by St. John's Ron Artest (13 pts./12 rebs./11 asts.) versus St. John's on 1/9/99.
NAIL BITERS...The Friars saw their record go to 1-4 in "close" games after the January 8th loss at Boston College (62-67). The Friars' lone win in a "close" one came in overtime against Massachusetts (12/30/99) by a 61-60 margin. PC's other "close losses have come at North Carolina State (60-64), versus Central Connecticut (50-54) and versus Fordham (67-71). PC was 3-6 last year in "close" games. "Close" games are games decided by five or less points. FRIARS IN NON-CONFERENCE GAMES...With the loss to Fordham on January 2nd, PC finished the 1999-2000 non-conference schedule with a 7-6 record. The last time PC lost six non-conference games was in the 1984-85 season when that team was also 7-6. BIG EAST OPENERS...The Friars win over Georgetown on January 5th (55-48) snapped a nine-game PC losing streak in BIG EAST season openers. The last time that PC opened the BIG EAST schedule with a win was on December 21, 1989 when they defeated Boston College, 85-66 in Providence. The Friars are now 4-17 all-time in BIG EAST season openers and 9-12 in BIG EAST season home openers. FRIARS VERSUS 1999-00 FOES...
OUT OF ACTION...Junior guard John Linehan is back on the sidelines after re-aggravating a groin injury that has plagued him all season. Linehan's injury problems started on October 25th when he underwent surgery for a sports hernia. Following two more surgeries for a blood clot and an infection, PC's superpest missed the Friars' first five games. He returned on November 30th versus Boston University and played in four games before getting hurt against Central Connecticut. The Chester, Pa. native missed the Arkansas and Long Island games before returning against Massachusetts. He played in that game and against Fordham before going out of the lineup late in the second half. He also has a fractured bone in his left wrist that is now in a cast. He has missed the last eight games and is out indefinitely. To date, Lenihan has played in six games and is averaging 5.2 ppg with 3.0 rpg, 3.5 assists and 2.8 steals per game. STREAK SNAPPED...The overtime loss at West Virginia snapped the Friars' three-game winning streak in overtime games. Providence won earlier in the year versus Massachusetts, 61-60, at the Providence Civic Center. PC also won twice last year defeating West Virginia and Villanova in the extra stanza. PC's last loss in overtime occurred in the 1997 NCAA Tournament when the Friars fell to Arizona in the Elite Eight game, 96-92. FREE THROW MARK...The Friars turned in a season-best effort from the charity stripe versus West Virginia on Sunday afternoon. PC sank 17-of-19 free throws for a season hight 89.5% shooting mark from the line. PC's previous best was just 80.0% (12-of-15 versus URI and 8-10 at Boston College). Erron Maxey (6-6), Jamaal Camah (4-4) and Abdul Mills (2-2) were all perfect from the line for the Friars who came into the game shooting just 60.2% from the foul line. HIGHS AND LOWS...The 43 points scored by the Friars in the 54-43 loss to Holy Cross (11/20/99) is the fewest points the Friars have scored in a game since December 27, 1982 when they lost by an identical 54-43 score to the University of Hawaii in the Rainbow Classic. Just one week later, the Friars set the school's single game scoring mark with 120 points versus American University - Puerto Rico. FRIARS FOR THREE...The Friars hit on a season high 11 three-pointers in the victory over American-Puerto Rico. They then followed that with a 10-for-20 performance versus Boston University. FOR THE RECORDS...The Friars' 120-point outburst against American University of Puerto Rico set the single game mark for points in a game. The previous mark was 118 and was set on January 20th, 1973 in a 118-88 win over Western Kentucky. PC's 50 field goals versus American also set a school mark. The previous best of 48 was done four times with the last one coming on December 18, 1976 versus Brown University. ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM...Junior forward Erron Maxey was chosen to the All-Tournament team at the Puerto Rico Shootout. In three games, Maxey scored 61 points (20.3 ppg) and had 22 rebounds (7.3 rpg). The Friars' team captain set personal bests with 12 field goals and 25 points in the win over American University. MAXEY-MUM EFFORT....Junior forward Erron Maxey continued his strong, consistent play this season with 17 points at Seton Hall on February 1st. Over the past six games, the 6-6 forward has been in double figures each game averaging 15.8 points per game and 6.8 rebounds. He has scored in double figures for the Friars in 18 of PC's 21 games this season. For the year, Maxey has recorded five double-doubles and he now has ten for his career. Maxey has also recorded career highs this season for points (25 versus American-Puerto Rico) and rebounds (18 versus Brown). Maxey has led the Friars in scoring in 12 of 21 games and in rebounding in 11 of 21 games. He leads the team in scoring with 15.6 ppg and is second in rebounds with 7.9 boards per game. His five double-doubles rank him fourth among BIG EAST players MAXEY DOUBLE-DOUBLES:
SHAZZAM SHABAZZ...Karim Shabazz was held to just six points at Seton Hall on February 1st, but led the team with nine rebounds. Prior to that he had put together back-to-back solid games for Providence. On January 30th at West Virginia, Shabazz turned in his fourth double-double of the season with 14 points and 11 rebounds. At Connecticut on January 27th, the Friars' 7-2 center led the team with 17 points and added six rebounds. He has scored in double figures in eight of his first 12 games since becoming eligible on December 23rd. Shabazz is averaging 13.6 ppg and 8.8 rebounds. SHABAZZ DOUBLE-DOUBLES:
MR. ROGERS NEIGHBORHOOD...Junior guard Chris Rogers had a career best five assists in the Villanova game. His best game of the season came at Boston College as he scored a career high 12 points off the bench. Rogers was 4-8 FG, 2-3 3PT and 2-2 from the line. At West Virginia on January 30th, Rogers played a career high 34 minutes with five points, four rebounds, one assist and three steals. MURRAY'S BEST...Junior forward David Murray came off the bench at Seton Hall to score a career high 17 points (7-14 FG, 3-5 FT) while grabbing seven rebounds. Murray also played a career high 35 minutes in that game. WADE-ING INTO THE ACTION...Junior guard Donta Wade found the scoring touch with a career high 24-point night in PC's win over Arkansas. Wade was 8-for-13 from the floor with a career best 6-for-8 game from beyond the three-point line and added a pair of free throws in 24 minutes off the bench. The junior college transfer got off to a slow start for the Friars scoring just nine points in PC's first four games. He found the range in Puerto Rico with 19 points off the bench going 7-11 FG and 5-7 3PTers. THE SHOT BLOCKERS...With the addition of David Murray and Karim Shabazz to the PC lineup, there has been a steady increase in blocked shots. Last season, PC recorded 65 blocks in 30 games for a 2.2 blocks per game average. This season, through the first 21 games, the Friars already have 102 blocks (4.9 per game). Erron Maxey led the team with 19 last season. Shabazz already has 36 in eight games while David Murray has rejected 24 already this year. Maxey has already equalled his total of 19 from last season. MARKING TIME...Freshman guard Mark Jarrell-Wright scored a career high eight points (3-5 FG, 2-2 3PT) at Seton Hall on February 1st. The rookie canned his first two three-pointers of the season versus the Pirates. MILLS(ING) AROUND...The Friars' other freshman guard, Abdul Mills, also came off the bench at Seton Hall to score 13 points (5-8 FG, 2-4 3PT, 1-2 FT) with two rebounds and four assists in 30 minutes. Mills had scored just eight points total in the previous four games. Earlier in the season, Mills had scored in double figures in six of PC's first ten games. BIG EAST...The Friars turned in their best offensive performance of the BIG EAST season at Seton Hall shooting 45.0% (27-60) from the floor. The Friars also made four-of-nine three-pointers (44.4%) in that game. SLAMMING THE DOOR...PC's relentless defense against Georgetown held the Hoyas to a season low 48 points, one better than the 49 that the Friars held Rhode Island to on December 7th. The Friars forced the Hoyas into shooting just 30% for the night on 18-for-60 shooting from the floor. Georgetown also committed 20 turnovers in the game. The 48 points is the fewest points a PC team has surrendered in Tim Welsh's two seasons guiding the Black and White. The last time PC held a team to less than 48 points was the 1997-98 season when PC held Brown to 33 points in a 67-33 win. FIRST HALF MAGIC...The Friars held Georgetown to just six field goals and 15 points in the first half of the 55-48 win on January 5th. The 15 points was the second fewest ever given up by the Friars in a BIG EAST game as they held Connecticut to 15 on February 1, 1982. The fewest points a PC team has ever given up in a half is 12 and that occured versus the Crescent Athletic Club on January 1, 1927. SECOND HALF DEFENSE...The Friars held West Virginia to a season low 23 points in the second half on January 30th. PC's zone defense limited the Mountaineers to just 9-22 shooting, including 1-10 from beyond the three-point arc. The previous low was 24 points by American-Puerto Rico on November 27th at the Puerto Rico Shootout. BOARD PROBLEMS...PC's rebounding struggles took new highs and lows versus Villanova. The Wildcats pulled down a season high 53 boards versus the Friars. On the other hand, the Friar grabbed a season-low 27 rebounds in the loss. The Friars have won the battle of the boards in each of the last two games. PC outrebounded West Virginia, 42-40 and Seton Hall by a 33-29 margin. On the season, the Friars have been outrebounded in 14 of their 22 games. TURNOVER TIME...PC forced Villanova into a season high 29 turnovers on January 20th. Despite that, the Friars fell, 66-57. This marked the second time this season, PC has forced 29 turnovers. On November 27th, American-Puerto Rico also turned it over 29 times. The Friars have forced opponents into 428 turnovers this season, an average of 20.4 per game. PROTECTING THE BALL...Has been a problem for the Friars in the first 20 games this season. Four times this year, the Friars have turned the ball over 26 times in a game. PC turned the ball over 26 times in the loss at Boston College, including eight in the final five minutes of the game. At West Virginia on January 30th, the Friars coughed it up 21 times in the game, including six turnovers in the overtime. For the season, the Friars have turned the ball over 398 times for 19.0 turnovers per game. FREE THROW TURNAROUND...The Friars may have turned the corner in the free throw column of the stats after the last two games. On January 27th, the Friars were shooting just 188-for 314 (.599) from the free throw line. That night at Connecticut, PC was 13-of-20 (.650). At West Virginia, the Friars were 17-of-19 (.895). For the year, the Friars are 227-for-369 from the line for a .615 shooting percentage. Last season, the Friars shot .766 from the foul line. Since 1954-55, no PC team has ever shot lower than .637 for the season. BATTLES OF THE BOARDS...The Friars have been outrebounded in 14 of their 21 games this season which gives the Friars a -1.1 margin per game.
CAREER RECORDS WATCHCAREER ASSIST-TO RATIO
SEASON STEALS
CAREER STEALS
CAREER STEALS AVERAGE
Big East Standings
THIS WEEK IN THE BIG EASTMonday, January 31Syracuse 63 St. John's 57
Tuesday, February 1
Wednesday, February 2
Saturday, February 5
BIG EAST PLAYER OF THE WEEK:
BIG EAST ROOKIE OF THE WEEK:
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