Something has to give when Providence returns to its home floor for a Wednesday night matchup with Butler in Big East action.
The Friars (9-13, 2-9 Big East) have dropped four straight and seven of their last eight games, including an 87-73 Friday loss at Villanova. The first two losses during their current streak were by one possession.
Butler (13-9, 4-7), which has lost back-to-back contests since a three-game win streak, threw the first punch in this head-to-head season series with a 113-110 win in double overtime in the Dec. 13 conference opener in Indianapolis.
“When you’re not disciplined, tough and connected throughout the game, you’re in those late-game situations where you have to execute at a really, really high level,” Providence coach Kim English said. “We’re down a lot of guys. I felt like (against Villanova) we were close to letting go of the rope, but our guys didn’t.”
Freshman Stefan Vaaks has pulled the rope all season long, leading the Friars in minutes (31.3 per game) and a 33.1% 3-point shooter. He had a game-high 25 points and went 5-for-11 from distance against Villanova.
Providence has played its last six games without leading scorer Jason Edwards (17.2 points per game) due to a foot injury.
Butler is coming off a 77-64 Saturday loss to Georgetown in which it shot just 5-for-33 in the second half and missed its last 14 shots from the field.
“I don’t know, I really don’t (know what happened),” coach Thad Matta said. “You can’t shoot 15 percent in the second half of a Big East game and have a chance to win. … I thought we got the ball to the rim, and how many of them just rolled off?”
It was not the Bulldogs’ day, but Jamie Kaiser Jr. had a career-high 19 points to lead the Bulldogs. It was his third straight double-figure scoring game.
In the December meeting, Finley Bizjack (17.1 points per game) scored 12 of his 26 points in the two overtime periods and Michael Ajayi had 28 points and 15 rebounds.
The Bulldogs canned 10 3-pointers, but allowed 14 to Providence. Edwards netted 32 points and Jaylin Sellers 26 for the Friars.
Matta’s next win will be the 500th of his career.
