Tag: Providence Friars

Projected first-round pick Devin Carter declares for 2024 NBA draft

Carter was named the Big East Player of the Year after averaging 19.7 points, 8.7 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.8 steals with the Friars.

Projected first-round pick Devin Carter on Wednesday told Jonathan Givony of ESPN that he will forgo his remaining college eligibility and declare for the 2024 NBA draft.

Carter was named the Big East Player of the Year after averaging 19.7 points, 8.7 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.8 steals on 47.3% shooting from the field in 33 games. He led the conference in scoring and finished 10th in the country in defensive rebounds (253).

The 6-foot-3 guard began his college career at South Carolina, averaging nine points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists as a freshman. He transferred to Providence and saw steady growth in his game while playing two seasons with the Friars.

Carter, the son of former 13-year NBA veteran Anthony Carter, began the year viewed as a potential second-round pick. However, he established himself as a mid-to-late first-round pick with a sensational year, given his ability as a defender.

The recently turned 22-year-old was considered one of the top defenders in the country. He was named to the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year watchlist in February, ranking 10th in the country in defensive win shares (2.7) and 14th in defensive box plus-minus (plus-4.9).

Carter expanded his offensive game this past season by improving his 3-point percentage from 29.9% to 37.7% on 6.8 attempts per game. He hit several big shots throughout the year and used his size to get into the paint and finish.

The 2024 NBA draft will occur June 26-27 in New York City.

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Bryce Hopkins ACL tear devastating blow for Providence

Bryce Hopkins suffered a torn ACL on Wednesday in Providence’s 61-57 loss to Seton Hall.

The Providence Friars not only suffered a tough 61-57 loss to the Seton Hall Pirates on Wednesday evening, but they were informed the following morning that star wing Bryce Hopkins suffered a torn ACL and will miss the rest of the 2023-24 college basketball season.

Hopkins exited the game in the second half, getting helped off the floor and heading straight to the locker room where he did not return. The worst was confirmed by the program on Thursday morning.

“We all feel for Bryce and his family in this difficult time,” Providence coach Kim English said, per a press release from the team.  “We will be with him throughout this process to help him come back stronger than ever.  We ask that all of Friartown keeps Bryce and his family in your thoughts and prayers.”

The Friars are 11-3 on the year and had started receiving Top 25 buzz before Wednesday’s loss, and the junior wing was a big reason why. Under English, in his first year at Providence taking over for Ed Cooley, Hopkins averaged 15.5 points, 8.6 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 1.0 steals in 14 games while shooting a career-high 53.3% on two-pointers.

Providence will now have to try to survive in the incredibly deep Big East without their second-leading scorer, putting more pressure on guard Devin Carter (16.2 points) and big man Josh Oduro (14.7 points) to help lead the charge.

Additionally, top freshman Garwey Dual – considered a sleeper in the 2024 NBA draft – will need to step up as well, as the 6’5 guard is only averaging 3.5 points in 21 minutes per game.

Providence heads on the road to face the Creighton Blue Jays on Saturday, January 6. The tip-off is at 3:00 PM ET.

Under the radar Providence team has opportunity for major upset against Marquette

The Providence Friars could use a big win to add to their resume, and a chance to face Marquette at home to open up Big East play is the perfect opportunity.

Big East conference play gets underway on Wednesday with a pair of games, including an exciting nightcap between the No. 6 ranked Golden Eagles of Marquette and the Providence Friars, a battle between a pair of 9-2 programs.

Marquette has drawn a ton of media attention as a borderline Top 5 team and with massive wins over then No. 1 Kansas and Texas.

However, Providence has quietly had an excellent season under new head coach Kim English, who came over from George Mason to replace Ed Cooley after he left for Georgetown.

The Friars may have the same record as Marquette, but outside of a big win over Wisconsin, their resume doesn’t carry a ton of weight, with an overtime loss to a struggling Kansas State squad and a blowout loss on the road at Oklahoma.

Still, Providence is a team that is flying more under the radar than they probably should be, and it’s thanks in large part to their stellar work on the defensive end of the floor.

The Friars are 21st in the country in adjusted defensive efficiency at KenPom, and third in the Big East behind UConn and Marquette. Guard Devin Carter is a big reason why, averaging 1.5 blocks and 1.3 steals along with 15.5 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 3.0 assists as one of the best stat stuffers in all of college basketball.

Coach English’s defensive focused club looks capable of beating just about anyone, and while they haven’t had many chances to prove themselves it would not be a surprise to see them give Marquette all sorts of trouble on Wednesday at home.

A matchup between Carter and All-American point guard Tyler Kolek will be the headliner, but this game could be won on the block between Marquette’s Oso Ighodaro and Providence’s Josh Oduro, who are both having stellar seasons.

The Big East is always chalk full of high level competition, and getting the season started with this matchup sets the table for another fantastic season.

Oklahoma Sooners named Team of the Week by Andy Katz

The Sooners men’s basketball team has been on a role lately and continued that with two big wins last week.

The Oklahoma Sooners faced two of their tougher tests this season last week and continued their undefeated season. They took on the [autotag]Providence Friars[/autotag] at home and the Arkansas Razorbacks in what was essentially a road game in Tulsa, Okla.

The Sooners dominated both teams, winning by an average of 15 points between the two of them. The offense was great in both games, averaging 75.5 points per game. The defense was also stellar in both games only allowing an average of 60.5 points per game. They allowed 31 points or fewer in three out of the four halves.

Their wins over the Friars and Razorbacks earned the Sooners college basketball Team of the Week from Andy Katz.

The Sooners also skyrocketed up the rankings as well. They were No. 22 last week in the USA TODAY Coaches Poll but are now all the way up to No. 12. In the AP Poll, they went from No. 19 to No. 11.

With another win this Saturday vs. the Green Bay Phoenix, they could be headed for a top-10 showdown against the North Carolina Tar Heels the following week. The most important thing is stacking wins. They have four games left until [autotag]Big 12[/autotag] play starts, and we all know how daunting that can be.

Realistically, the Sooners should win at least three of the next four games. North Carolina is the wildcard because even though it’s not technically a home game for the Tar Heels, it is in Charlotte, NC.

For now, this has been a fun team to watch, but now it’s not just local fans taking notice. With the Team of the Week honor, the whole country is taking notice as well.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Jaron on Twitter @JaronSpor.

Oklahoma Sooners skyrocket in latest USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll

Oklahoma rose 10 spots in the latest USA Today Sports Coaches Poll and now sits at No. 12.

Oklahoma is on a heck of a run to start the season. The Sooners are stacking wins and building a strong resume that has them on the path to breaking their NCAA Tournament drought.

Oklahoma sits 9-0 and will have two games this week to continue building an impressive resume as the nonconference slate starts to wind down. The rest of the nation notices what Porter Moser is doing with his basketball team in Norman.

On Monday, the newest edition of the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll was released, and the Sooners had the most significant rise of any team in the top 25 moving from No. 22 to No. 12.

That 10-spot jump comes on the heels of Oklahoma dominating two Power Five opponents from two of the best basketball conferences in the country in Providence from the Big East and Arkansas from the SEC.

Oklahoma remains one of seven teams in Division 1 basketball that is unbeaten.

Arizona is the No. 1 team after they dismantled Wisconsin. The standard bearer of the Big 12, Kansas, is ranked second, while the newest Big 12 member, Houston, led by former Oklahoma head coach Kelvin Sampson, comes in at third.

Purdue and Connecticut round out the top five. Another undefeated Big 12 team, Baylor, ranks sixth, while Marquette and Creighton rank 7th and 8th.

Oklahoma will take on the now No. 9 UNC Tarheels in a massive matchup on Saturday. Tennessee and Clemson round out the schools right in front of Oklahoma.

Oklahoma has a chance to make a significant splash this week with a win in Charlotte, North Carolina in the Jumpman Invitational against a talented UNC squad led by Hubert Davis. A win there, and the Sooners could be on the cusp of a top-five ranking by the time the calendar turns to 2024.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Bryant on Twitter @thatmanbryant.

Sooners use explosive second half run in 72-51 win over Providence

Oklahoma used a massive run in the second half to secure a comfortable 21 point win over the Providence Friars.

Oklahoma may have something special brewing on the hardwood. After Thursday’s  win over the Providence Friars, the Sooners are now 8-0 for the first time since the 2015-2016 season.

Oklahoma came out, firing on all cylinders, and jumped out to an early 12-0 lead. Their first run of the game was spearheaded by the Sooners forcing three turnovers.

After the initial onslaught, the Sooners and Friars exchanged jabs for the remainder of the first half. Oklahoma went into the intermission up by four, led by 13 first-half points from guard Javian McCollum.

McCollum was a menace as he relentlessly attacked the paint and used his mid-range game to terrorize the Providence defense to get into the teeth of the defense. He also showcased his ability to shoot from range when defenders sagged off him or went under ball screens. He finished the game with 19 points, seven boards, four assists, and three steals to complete an excellent two-way effort.

In the first six minutes after halftime. the Friars looked ready to stage an upset as they took their first lead of the game at 40-39. From then on, the Sooners hit the same switch they showed in the Iowa game.

Oklahoma went on a 15-6 run to take an 54-47 lead into the under-eight media timeout. Coming out of the media timeout, the Sooners went on an 11-0 run, putting a dagger in any chance Providence had of upsetting the 22nd-ranked Sooners (No. 19 in AP Poll).

Oklahoma suffocated Providence from beyond the arc, limiting them to just 5-23 shooting from distance. The Sooners also held All-Big East first teamer Bryce Hopkins to just 8 points, forcing him into a team-leading four turnovers.

Milos Uzan finished with 17 points and 12 rebounds. Sam Godwin added 12 points and four rebounds, Otega Oweh finished with 13 points, and Pitt transfer John Hugley chipped in six points off the bench.

Oklahoma’s next game will be at the BOK Center in Tulsa as they take on future conference opponent Arkansas in a rematch of a game they played last year.

Tip-off between the Sooners and the Razorbacks is slated for 3 p.m., and the game will be broadcast on ESPN2.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Bryant on Twitter @thatmanbryant.

‘Every game is an opportunity’: Porter Moser on building your NCAA tournament résumé

Porter Moser hasn’t made an NCAA tournament as the head coach of Oklahoma. He hopes to change that this season.

The No. 22 ranked Oklahoma Sooners take on a tough test as the [autotag]Providence Friars[/autotag] come into town Tuesday night. The Sooners are off to a great start at 7-0 but are about to hit a tough nonconference stretch.

The Sooners have been absent from the NCAA tournament since the 2020-2021 season. They have a great chance to be able to return this season. The only game the Sooners didn’t win by double-digits was their last-second win over USC.

In that win over the Trojans, the Sooners struggled down the stretch. They had poor shot selection, turnovers, and fouls. The Sooners did not put that game away like they should have.

Conference play has been where the Sooners have struggled most recently. The [autotag]Big 12[/autotag] is one of, if not, the best conference in the country. Porter Moser talked about how important it is to build your résumé before conference play starts.

“I think that every game is an opportunity,” Moser said. “It really is. You are seeing teams lose to teams they feel they shouldn’t have lost to. We approach every game like, man, it’s an opportunity to put one in the bank, cumulate wins.  Cumulate big wins. Obviously, Providence, we feel, is going to be a tournament team.”

The Oklahoma Sooners have six nonconference games remaining before they host Iowa State to open Big 12 play. That stretch includes games against Arkansas and No. 10 North Carolina. But they have a chance to make a statement against Providence on Tuesday night.

The Sooners are back in action at the Lloyd Noble Center starting at 6:00 p.m. CT, and here’s how you can tune into the game.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Jaron on Twitter @JaronSpor.

How to watch, key players for No. 22 Oklahoma Men’s Basketball vs. Providence

The Oklahoma Sooners men’s basketball team is back in action and here is everything you need to know heading into the game.

The Oklahoma Sooners, led by [autotag]Porter Moser[/autotag], are off to a hot start to begin the 2023-2024 campaign. They are 7-0 and are in the top 25 for the first time under Moser.

They’ve had just one win by less than double digits. That was in the championship of the Rady Children’s Invitational when they knocked off the No. 23 USC Trojans team at the buzzer. But the Sooners are back in action Tuesday night with a tough matchup against the 7-1 [autotag]Providence Friars[/autotag] in the Big East-Big 12 battle.

The Friars’ only loss is an overtime defeat to [autotag]Kansas State[/autotag] in the Baha Mar Hoops – Bahamas Championship. They are just outside the top 25. Let’s take a look at how you can watch the game and some key players for both teams to know before tip-off.

Oklahoma’s nonconference schedule highlighted by games against UNC, Arkansas

Taking a look at Oklahoma’s nonconference schedule with marquee games against UNC, Arkansas on the schedule.

Oklahoma’s 2023-2024 men’s basketball season schedule is taking shape, and the nonconference portion is officially locked in.

Oklahoma’s nonconference opponents and the games’ dates, times, and locations were officially announced on Tuesday afternoon.

The out-of-conference slate includes a pair of headliners that will move the needle. They’ll face off against blueblood UNC in the Jumpman Invitational for Jordan Brand-affiliated schools. Then there’s the neutral court rematch with Arkansas, with whom Oklahoma will share a conference in 2024.

 

Outside of those two marquee matchups, the Sooners will host four nonconference games at home to start the season. The games should serve as an excellent opportunity for a team with an overwhelming amount of new faces to gel against lesser competition.

OU will face Central Michigan, Mississippi Valley State, Texas State, and UT-Rio Grande Valley. The Sooners have never lost to any of those teams.

Oklahoma’s first in-season tournament comes when they travel to San Diego, California, to participate in the Rady Children’s Invitational. The Invitational happens on Thanksgiving Day and Black Friday at LionTree Arena on the UC-San Diego campus. Joining Oklahoma will be Seton Hall, USC, and Iowa. Iowa and USC made the NCAA Tournament this past season, and both should compete to make it again this year. The Trojans and the Hawkeyes will provide significant tests for the Sooners.

OU returns to Norman on Nov. 30 to face Arkansas-Pine Bluff in McCasland Field House, which is meaningful to Oklahoma basketball. They played there for over 40 years until 1975. The Sooners last played there during the 2012-13 season.

After hosting Providence out of the Big East on Dec. 5, OU will continue the Crimson & Cardinal Classic series with another game against Arkansas at the BOK Center in Tulsa. Oklahoma won in 2021 but lost to Arkansas last year. The Razorbacks went on to make the Sweet Sixteen before bowing out to the eventual national champion, UConn.

OU gets to tune up against an aggressive Green Bay on Saturday, Dec. 16, before traveling to Charlotte, North Carolina, for the Jumpman Invitational. The Sooners will face North Carolina on Dec. 20. UNC beat Florida in the showcase last year.

And to wrap up nonconference and the 2023 calendar year, the Sooners end with a pair of home games over winter break against Central Arkansas and Monmouth on Dec. 28 and Dec. 31, respectively.

It’s not the most challenging schedule, but the possible matchups against some of their Power Five competition should give Oklahoma plenty of tests to gauge where this year’s team is at before they embark on what will be their final season in the Big 12.

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Oklahoma to face Providence in 2023 Big East-Big 12 Battle

Oklahoma and Providence are locked in for a December 5th date to play in Norman as part of the fifth Big 12-Big East Battle.

While the Oklahoma Sooners grapple with how they’ll retool and replenish a now-depleted roster, we know one of their non-conference opponents for the 2023 season.

The Sooners are set to take on the Providence Friars on December 5 in the 2023 Big East-Big 12 Battle. This men’s basketball non-conference scheduling alliance is in its fifth year, with the games being played from November 30 to December 5.

Both conferences have grown in members since the conception of the idea, and with the Big 12 adding Houston, BYU, UCF, and Cincinnati, the format has changed this year with an increase from 10 to 11 matchups for the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons. In this upcoming 2023-2024 season, the Big 12 will host six games, while the Big East will host six the following season.

The two conferences jointly determine the matchups, with the home team choosing the venue of its game. ESPN and FOX Sports will also have a voice in how the broadcast arrangements play out, considering they are the overarching media entities for the Big 12 and Big East.

Providence will be under the guidance of Kim English, previously the head coach of the George Mason Patriots.

English is a former Big 12 basketball player who was a star at Missouri (before they departed for the SEC). He helped lead the Tigers to 107 wins and four NCAA tournament appearances. He was a two-time All-Big 12 selection at Missouri, averaging 11.1 points.

The Friars have made the NCAA Tournament in seven of the last twelve seasons.

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Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Bryant on Twitter @thatmanbryant.