Providence looks to close down its home floor for the season on a high note when DePaul pays a visit to Rhode Island’s capital city on Wednesday night.
It has been a struggle of late for the Friars (12-17, 6-12 Big East), who suffered their third straight loss and seventh in eight games Saturday in a 75-63 contest against UConn. With injury and illness forcing the team to play with 12 different starting lineups this season, coach Kim English knows what it will take to win.
“Our margin is just very small. Very, very small. Possibly nonexistent,” he said. “We have to be really, really good consistently.”
With 12.8 points per game, Jayden Pierre is the team’s leading scorer besides Bryce Hopkins, who played in only three games. Pierre netted only 10 against the Huskies, but the Friars were still within seven with 8:40 left before an eventual game-ending run.
As a result, Providence is now just 4-5 at home in Big East play. It was 6-4 last season.
“When you’re not getting stops and you’re not making shots, it’s hard,” English said. “Our fans try. They really do, and God bless them for not leaving us and sticking with us.”
Playing its first game in a week, DePaul (11-18, 2-16) arrives on a six-game skid after losing 75-65 last Wednesday at Creighton.
There have been recent bright spots for the Blue Demons, who have turned the ball over seven or fewer times in back-to-back games for the first time since 1996.
“I was really pleased with our effort and with our response when they made a run,” DePaul coach Chris Holtmann said. “Our effort for the entirety of the game was really good. That’s what you’re focused on this time of year.”
Isaiah Rivera led DePaul with 18 points and eight rebounds against the Bluejays. CJ Gunn has scored double-digit points in 13 of his last 14 games played.
The teams’ first meeting this season was in the Dec. 10 conference opener. Providence won 70-63 in overtime in Chicago behind Bensley Joseph (20 points, seven assists, four rebounds, two steals) and Hopkins (19 points, 10 rebounds).
David Skogman had 22 points for DePaul, but Skogman will miss the rest of the season with a foot injury. NJ Benson (hand) was also ruled out for Wednesday.
–Field Level Media
