The Providence Friars shut down Seton Hall down the stretch to knock off the Pirates and split the season series.
A Seton Hall team without star point guard Kadary Richmond couldn’t hold onto a second-half lead against the Providence Friars, falling at home 67-63.
SHU head coach Shaheen Holloway said he found out Richmond would be out for the game pregame at shootaround. “When you find out at 2:30, 3 o’clock, it’s kind of tough to adjust your gameplan.”
Still, the Pirates held a double-digit lead halfway through the second half. Ultimately, Providence stalled Seton Hall’s offense down the stretch for the win.
Ticket Gaines (17 points), Josh Oduro (16 points), and Devin Carter (14 points) picked up the bulk of the scoring for Providence, while Al-Amir Dawes (26 points) and Dre Davis (15 points) led the Hall.
Takeaway #1: No Kadary is not good news for Seton Hall
There might not be a worse star player in the Big East to go down with an injury than Kadary Richmond for the Seton Hall Pirates. A two-time Big East Player of the Week, Richmond is having a career year and has carried the team on his back with his scoring, playmaking, rebounding, and defense.
With Al-Amir Dawes running point guard and freshman Isaiah Coleman getting the start, there were initial struggles. SHU started off shooting 5-for-22 before ending the half on a run for a 31-30 lead.
Still, the team isn’t losing confidence in case Richmond isn’t set to return on Saturday at Marquette.
“A lot of guys can step up and fill the space,” said Dawes.
Of course, Dawes will have to be the primary player who steps up if Richmond’s absence carries on.
“Making sure guys are in the right spots. Playmaking a little more. That’s gotta happen in my game,” said Dawes.
Dawes did well with the extra pressure, at one point knocking down seven straight shots and finishing with a game-high 26 points. But going forward, he’ll need more help. Dylan Addae-Wusu had a night to forget, finishing 0-of-13 from the floor. Dre Davis and Jaden Bediako struggled inside, combining to go 5-of-17. If Richmond is out against the Golden Eagles, and potentially longer, the Pirates will need some of their secondary players to get it done.
Takeaway #2: Devin Carter needs to be treated as a star
Coming into this season, the return of Bryce Hopkins was the talk of the town in Providence. Hopkins has been out for three weeks, since a season-ending injury in their first meeting with Seton Hall.
Devin Carter has stepped up in a major way. In the five games Hopkins has been out, Carter has gone for 25 points and 10 rebounds, 31 and 13, 18 and 7, 25 and 7, and on Wednesday night, 14, 6, and 6 assists. His offensive game has improved, to the point where Carter could be considered for Big East Most Improved Player.
Carter’s effort on defense can go unnoticed, but Holloway certainly saw how it impacted the game.
“Guys like Carter and (Jayden) Pierre guarding (Dawes) the whole game, that’s two physical defenders.”
Dawes caught fire in the second half but was 1-for-4 down the stretch. Carter’s defense had a huge deal in that.
Takeaway #3: Bubble games prove a lot
Both Seton Hall and Providence are on the bubble, but trending in opposite directions.
And both teams are fighting to make sure their resumes are strong enough to keep in the NCAA Tournament picture.
For SHU, it’s a Quad 2 loss, granted without their best player. Still, it’s a loss that might drop the Hall down a spot, to a Friars team not the same without Hopkins.
For Providence, it gets a much-needed Quad 1 road win. The grittiness of both teams and the chippiness of the teams made for a classic Big East hoops game. Neither team is a lock for the Big Dance, but both are giving convincing reasons to the selection committee to be included.
Next up for Providence: vs. Georgetown (Sat., Jan. 27 – 12:30 p.m.)
Next up for Seton Hall: at Marquette (Sat., Jan. 27 – 1 p.m.)