PROVIDENCE — Time to raise the bar if you’re PC coach Ed Cooley.
No. 21 Providence doesn’t look like a team that was picked seventh in the Big East. The Friars resemble something much more at the moment, and that was put on display again Wednesday night.
You could argue No. 15 Seton Hall was undermanned. Fine. The Pirates still had more than enough strength in their lineup to threaten Providence at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center, and the Friars made relatively comfortable work of the visitors.
This 70-65 triumph was ultimately sealed during a 17-2 run late in the first half. Providence snapped a field goal drought of 4:43 and was suddenly flying into the locker room with a 36-27 cushion. Al Durham’s four clutch free throws in the final 14.7 seconds closed out a seventh straight victory.
More:Even without playing last week, the Providence Friars climb up to No. 21 in AP Top 25 poll
“You’ve got to love every win you get,” Cooley said. “Because you don’t know when the next one’s coming. We’re going to enjoy this.”
Durham was one of five Friars to score in double figures. Noah Horchler led the balanced attack with his fifth double-double of the season, collecting 17 points and 13 rebounds. Providence held the lead for an even 31 minutes and celebrated its first top-15 victory since downing the Pirates here late in 2019-20.
How did this one ultimately play out? Let’s break it down.
Putting on a show for the folks
Horchler was superb with his parents, Max and Emma, among the 12,069 fans in attendance.
He finished 5-for-6 from 3-point range, a career-high in makes from deep. Horchler helped spark the deciding run with a trailing 3-pointer from the right wing that made it 24-22, and Seton Hall never led again.
“We may be putting them on a jet every game,” Cooley said. “Not just his shooting — his defense and rebounding.”
Horchler entered just 1-for-9 from deep over his last three games, but the majority of his attempts on this night happened in rhythm. Jared Bynum and his fellow guards were able to penetrate, touch the paint and kick it back out to Horchler for open looks against a scrambling defense.
“That’s something we practice every day — step-in 3s,” Bynum said. “Feet down, 10 toes down, 3-pointers.”
The Friars were just 1-for-11 otherwise from deep, but that lone make was significant. A.J. Reeves connected from the right wing with 3:20 to play, a possession out of a timeout in which Providence worked the ball nicely from inside out. The hosts restored their lead to double figures and needed only to avoid disaster from there.
Pirates played short-handed
The Pirates (9-2, 0-1 Big East) used just eight players on Wednesday, and seven of them were on the floor for at least 23 minutes.
Six members of the roster were absent due to COVID-19 health and safety protocols. Ike Obiagu and Tyrese Samuel were the big misses, a starting center and key reserve stripped from the Seton Hall lineup due to the virus.
“What did they travel with, nine people?” Cooley said. “They didn’t have any coaches. There was nobody over there.
“This is real. It’s affecting sport in a major way. We’re going to try to get as many games as we can and control what we can.”
Obiagu was also battling an ankle injury but might have been a candidate to return. He’d started in eight of his first nine appearances and rolled up 24 blocked shots in 145 minutes. Samuel carried averages of 10.8 rebounds and 6.9 rebounds in just 22.4 minutes per game.
The Friars (12-1, 2-0) were rather unscathed by comparison. Providence was missing reserve guards Brycen Goodine and Matteus Case due to COVID-19 health and safety protocols. Assistant coach Brian Blaney and associate director of player development Bob Walsh were also absent from the home bench.
Watson gives a scare
Nate Watson sent a nervous ripple through the crowd when he limped to the bench with 24.5 seconds left in the first half.
Watson went up for a shot in the paint, landed awkwardly and grabbed the back of his right knee. He limped back up the floor and eventually to the locker room after the opening 20 minutes. Members of the training staff were attempting to help Watson stretch out his calf, which could indicate simple cramping.
“Hopefully we get some good news,” Cooley said. “He gutted it through. He’s a tough kid — wants to play. But he’s definitely hobbling right now.”
Watson played 16 minutes in the first half and 13 in the second. That would seem a heavy workload if the graduate center was diagnosed with anything serious. He finished with 14 points, seven rebounds and a pair of blocked shots.
Big East teams earning rankings
Wednesday marked a historic first in the 110th meeting between the two programs.
The Friars and Pirates had never been ranked at the same time while going head-to-head. No. 22 Villanova and No. 23 Xavier joined Providence and Seton Hall in Monday’s version of the Associated Press poll.
This also marked the first time the Friars had hosted a ranked opponent as a member of the top 25 since the 2015-16 season. The Wildcats left town with a 72-60 win and were on their way to a national championship. Providence reached the third of five straight NCAA Tournaments and survived an opening thriller against USC.
On Twitter: @BillKoch25
SETON HALL (65): Jackson 4-8 0-0 10, Richmond 3-7 2-4 8, Yetna 6-13 1-2 13, Cale 4-7 0-0 8, Rhoden 4-12 2-2 10, Aiken 3-11 4-6 11, Harris 2-7 0-0 5, Smith 0-1 0-0 0; totals 26-66 9-14 65. PROVIDENCE (70): Horchler 6-11 0-0 17, Minaya 0-3 0-0 0, Watson 5-14 4-6 14, Durham 2-6 8-10 12, Reeves 5-11 0-0 11, Bynum 6-11 2-2 14, Croswell 1-6 0-0 2, Breed 0-0 0-0 0; totals 25-62 14-18 70.
Halftime — Providence 36-27. 3-Point Goals — Seton Hall 4-19 (Jackson 2-4, Aiken 1-3, Harris 1-6, Richmond 0-1, Cale 0-2, Yetna 0-3), Providence 6-17 (Horchler 5-6, Reeves 1-6, Minaya 0-2, Durham 0-3). Rebounds — Seton Hall 35 (Yetna 11), Providence 41 (Horchler 13). Assists — Seton Hall 9 (Aiken 4), Providence 13 (Bynum 4). Total Fouls — Seton Hall 17, Providence 12. Records — Seton Hall 9-2, Providence 12-1. A — 12,069 (12,410).
