Divine Providence

Franny80

Member
The Friars certainly had God on their side during the last 3 minutes of this critical home game!!!
Posh Alexander had the best game of his St. Johns career. If only he had better players around him who could create their own shot or play the intense defense his plays every game.
Forget the impotence of Champagnie in the offense schemes, those 3 straight turnovers in the last couple of minutes handed the Friars the game on a platter. Incredibly we had three trips down court where we never even attempted an offensive play.  
Of course a host of mindless fouls was a major factor. One can make the case that we fouled Providence to a win. To have the visiting team put up 23 more points than you at the line is a rarity in college basketball home games. We may own that record this year.  One key foul was committed by Nyiew whose purpose in the game at a critical point is a head scratcher.
Finally, Champ.......I actually feel sorry for the kid.  He has not been the same player after his bout with Covid. He appears totally lost in the offense and is slow to get to a comfortable shooting position. I'm not sure if it lack of court awareness, lack of athleticism or lack of BB IQ.  Had he had just an average game we likely win this game easily.  Wheeler has become more reliable finding the open 3 point shot and tonight was no different.
This type of home loss stings and stays in players heads.  The bottom line is this was a very winnable game that we basically handed to Providence with the last three turnovers and there is nothing divine about that and God had nothing to do with the loss.
 
The shame of it all is that the Johnnies played well enough offensively to win but in the end it came down to the last few possessions. Had the coaching staff scouted the Friars? We’re they not aware that the player they fouled three consecutive times and who hit 6 consecutive free throws was the teams best free throw shooter and one of the leagues best? Were the players not instructed to make sure that player not get the ball even if a double team was necessary? There seems to be an issue with this coaching staff when it comes down to late game defining strategies. Hopefully it will improve. 
 
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