URI vs. PC: The Rivalry Renews

The Providence College Friars (6-3) and the  (5-2) University of Rhode Island Rams will meet for the 127th time on Wednesday, December 10 at the Dunkin Donuts Center.

URI comes into this game off of a dominating 75-43 win on the road against Southern Miss. While the Friars come in riding a three game losing streak, including a home loss to Brown University in their last game.

But in these games, you can throw the records out, for the most part. This game, like the other URI-PC games before it, will be played with a completely different intensity and in front of a highly charged up crowd that has been anticipating this game since the schedules came out.

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Recent History

Last season, these two teams faced off at The Ryan Center and gave everyone a great game. After some brief fireworks between PC head coach, Ed Cooley, and URI head coach, Dan Hurley, it was the Friars who snuck out of Kingston with a 50-49 win, keeping their streak alive.

The Friars have won the last four games against URI and five straight at the Dunkin Donuts Center. The last time the Rams won a game in Providence was in December of 2002, when Rhody won a 73-71 thriller.

However, PC is 41-17 all-time against the Rams at the Dunkin Donuts Center.

What This Game Means

While these two teams are not in the same conference, this game has great meaning for each team, one way or the other.

For URI, a win would mean Dan Hurley’s first win over Ed Cooley and the Friars, and would likely be chalked up as his second biggest win as the Rams coach, to this point. The biggest win being over nationally ranked Nebraska earlier this season.

A loss would put Hurley at 0-3 against Providence and put the Rams on a five game losing streak against their in state rival.

For Providence, a win would calm some of the frustration that has built up over the last couple of games, and get momentum back in the right direction.

A loss however, would have the Friars on a four game losing streak and the potential of seeing this season go off the rails.

Matchups to Watch

Guards:

Kris Dunn vs. E.C. Matthews

This might be the most fascinating matchup of the night and could play a big part in deciding which team wins.  

Matthews comes into this game averaging 16 points and three assists per game and has been the go to guy for URI in every game this season.  Matthews, a Bob Cousy Award nominee, has been in double figures in every game except two for the Rams this season and both games that he wasn’t, were blowout wins the Rams.

Meanwhile, Kris Dunn has shown flashes of what he can do and lately has become more of a scorer, but for the most part his game has been plagued by turnovers. Dunn had six of the Friars 12 turnovers and ten of the Friars 18 turnovers two games before that against Kentucky. Dunn has 27 turnovers on the season so far  

Jalen Lindsey/Kyron Cartwright vs. Jared Terrell

Lindsey and Cartwright are both on here because it is unclear whom Ed Cooley is going to start. Cartwright has started most of the season however Jalen Lindsey started the last game and Cartwright came off the bench. Both Cartwright and Lindsey have had their moments this year for Providence. If Lindsey gets hot from beyond the arc, he could be a game changer.

Jared Terrell has been tremendous this year for the Rams, starting in every game as a freshman and averaging just under 11 points per game. The only game he didn’t score in double figures was the Kansas game. Terrell serves as a great compliment to E. C. Matthews.

Forwards:

Hassan Martin and Gilvydas Biruta vs. LaDontae Henton and Tyler Harris

Both Martin and Biruta have been playing really well for URI. Martin is coming off a 13-point performance against Southern Miss. His 13 points led URI in their blowout win over Southern Miss. While Gilvydas Biruta is averaging nine points per game while helping on the boards, pulling down 6 rebounds per game.

LaDontae Henton was the key to the Friars success, when they got off to a 6-0 start and when he struggled in two of the last three games, the team struggled.  Henton had 16 points in the last game against Brown and looked a bit more confident. In the previous two games he went five for 24. Friars need him to go back to the LaDontae Henton of the first six games and he will have to do it against a very good URI defense.

Tyler Harris is averaging 13 points per game for the Friars, but Providence needs more out of him. Harris needs to be a bit more aggressive looking for his shot and taking open shots for the Providence offense to be successful.

On the Bench

The Friars bring youth and size off their bench with 7’2” Paschal Chukwu and 6’8” Ben Bentil. Over the course of the season Bentil has been the more effective player, averaging six points per game and even showing that he can knock down the three.  Chukwu only averages eight minutes per game but is a big defensive presence when he is out there. Chukwu has four blocked shots so far this season.

URI brings a combination of veterans and young players off their bench starting with senior guard T.J. Buchanan. Buchanan averages four points and three assists off the bench for URI but most importantly he gives them some veteran leadership.

Freshman Jervis Garrett and Junior Jarelle Reischel round out the main characters off the bench for Dan Hurley’s Rams. Reischel averages five points and Garrett averages four points off the bench for URI.

Game time

Another chapter of this great in state rivalry is about to unfold at the Dunkin Donuts Center and it will surely not fail to disappoint.

Both PC and URI are on the rise as basketball programs, both teams have exciting young talent and highly recruited players and it will all be on display on Wednesday night.

The atmosphere at the Dunkin Donuts Center should be electric.

Rhode Island vs. Providence, the rivalry renews, Wednesday, December 10, 7 p.m. 

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