GoLocal’s Sports Analysts Predict URI v. PC Game
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GoLocal’s Sports Analysts Predict URI v. PC Game
The game is steeped in tradition: Sly v. Soup and Cooley v. Hurley. In each cycle, there are heroes and villains.
This year, the 6-3 Friars travel to the Ryan Center to face their rivals, the 8-0 Rams. KenPom, the data ranking company, has URI ranked 87th and PC 77th, respectively, in the country.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTWhoever wins gets a big boost.
We asked the top sports brains at GoLocal to predict the outcome of the game and give a little insight into their prognostication.
Please remember, these are experts — DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME.
Game time is noon.
All-Ivy Field Hockey Player, Harvard University
RI’s School Girl Scholar-Athlete of the Year
WINNER: PC for the win.
SCORE: PC 78 URI 74
KEY FACTORS: Hopkins' scoring and PC's defense.
The return of Bryce Hopkins to the PC lineup this week was the key difference-maker and energized both the team and the Friar faithful. While Hopkins had 16 points against BYU, Jabri Abdur-Rahim led the squad with 21. Obviously, Hopkins on the floor presents a dynamic scoring threat that other teams have to contend with. The question is, how much can he put up now on Saturday?
The 8-0 Rams have generated major enthusiasm in Kingston and beyond. Look to see how well the Friars contain David Green and Sebastian Thomas, but with five URI players averaging double digits, the Rams are an exciting, well-balanced squad with multiple shooting threats. Couple that with what should be a fired-up Rhody fan base on Saturday and PC will have their hands full.
WINNER: URI will squeeze out a victory on its home floor.
SCORE: URI 72 PC 70
KEY FACTORS: URI 3-point shooting and the PC defense will decide the game.
URI can score from the inside and outside and get to the foul line. They average 89.6 PPG and are in the top ten in the country in several offensive categories. The Rams, as a team, shoot 40% from the 3-point line. But they have not played against a defense as good as PC's.
The Friars have allowed opponents to score only 63 PPG, and Kenpom has a defense that ranks as 82nd best in the country. The number that jumps out is that PC has held opponents to 30% shooting on 3's.
To pull off the victory the Rams must have a good shooting day from behind the arc and at the foul line down the stretch.
All-American Basketball at Providence College
Boston Celtics, NBA Championship
NBA Scout for 31 Years
WINNER: PC
SCORE: PC 75 URI 70
KEY FACTORS: URI is a very good passing team, with a point guard with a glaring 4 to 1 assist ratio. They are also an excellent 3-point shooting team (just under 40% as a team). Providence must keep their center, Javonte Brown, off the offensive glass (he gets an unusually high percentage of his rebounds, about 44% off the offensive side) and use their physicality on the guard and wing positions to their advantage.
PC needs solid contributions from their two-headed center to combine with some effective “small ball” with Hopkins at the 5 to slow down URI’s high-flying offense as they did against BYU. It will be a great atmosphere, as usual, but the PC veteran-laden roster should be able to handle the highly charged Ryan Center.
WINNER: URI
SCORE: URI 78. PC 73
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
Here are the keys for URI: field goal percentage and their ability to score in the paint. Critical in this game are PC turnovers and whether the Friars can stay out of foul trouble.
The X-factor is the Ram’s home-court advantage--crowd, questionable referee calls.