Sports XChange Friars Report (1/23/09)

Getting Inside

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Now the real fun begins for Providence.

The Friars, off to a 5-2 start in the incredibly tough Big East (13-6 overall), don’t play again until Wednesday. But when they do, first-year coach Keno Davis’ team will face a murderous stretch of four games.

It starts with No. 8 Syracuse coming to Providence. The Friars then go to No. 3 Connecticut. After that, there’s a Feb. 4 home game against No. 20 Villanova, followed by a game at West Virginia, a team that has been ranked this year and on Wednesday night upset No. 12 Georgetown in Washington.

Speaking after Wednesday night’s overtime win at Seton Hall, Davis said, “We’ve got to look at it as a great opportunity every time you get to play those teams with numbers in front of them (ranked teams).”

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Strategy and Personell

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F Jonathan Kale had 13 points and 10 rebounds Thursday night, his second double-double of the season and the fifth of his four-year career.

—The Friars shot 73.8 percent from the foul line Thursday night and are 7-1 when they shoot over 70 percent from the line, 6-5 when they don’t.

—Thursday night’s game had 18 lead changes and 12 ties.

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