A loss is still a loss. Coaches will tell you that, players will tell you that. But the way you lose a game can have an effect on how you play – when you know there's still more time left on the clock.
And that's exactly what Providence's Friars are looking for. More time on the clock to their season, which will undoubtedly continue somewhere, at some time, next week. We'll wait until Sunday for those results, but in the meantime, the final 12:30 on the clock at Madison Square Garden might be worth bottling and selling.
Especially if the Friars are buying.
Fifth-seeded PC (21-11) lost to #4 UConn (25-7), 73-66, Thursday afternoon in the Big East Quarterfinals, but it was in the WAY they lost that could make a difference over the next week.
Down by 26 points with 12:30 to play in the second half, Providence finally woke up from a slumber that began late at home against Xavier a week ago – and continued right through a tough performance in a home finale against Seton Hall Sunday.
"The biggest adjustment in sport is attitude," PC coach Ed Cooley emphasized postgame. "Attitude, energy, resilience that our men showed. I think we were down 26, I bet everybody in here thought the game was over."
For the most part, it was. The Huskies held the Friars to 19 first half points on just 29% shooting, while torching PC's defense for 57% shooting of their own. And the rebounding edge – which was so one-sided against Connecticut in Storrs two weeks ago – was a dominant factor again for the Huskies.
21-9 was the backboard edge at the half. Dominance in the paint. It wasn't pretty unless you were pulling for UConn.
So what turned it around? Down by 26 with 12:30 to play, PC's run was 26-5 to pull within five points – two possessions – with 3:30 remaining. It was a ball game again.
"A lot had to do with us applying pressure to them," said Friar forward Bryce Hopkins, who led the team with 16 points (13 in the second half). "I feel once we got into our press, they started rushing and turning the ball over. So we fed off of that."
"I was proud of how our guys responded," Cooley added. "I was really proud. A lot of teams that would have been a 35, 40 point loss. It goes to tell you the fight and the organization of our players."
Noah Locke scored all 14 of his points in the second half run, including four three-pointers to lead the comeback attempt. Hopkins went for 13 of his 16 during PC's own dominant run. But in the end, it was the shooting from UConn's Jordan Hawkins (19 points) and key-moment three's from Alex Karaban, Tristen Newton and Joey Calcaterra that proved to be the edge the Huskies required for the win.
And now, the Friars wait for Sunday. Are there any doubts?
"I definitely know we're a tournament team," Cooley said. "We're 100 percent a tournament team. We'll sit back on Selection Sunday and see where the Friars are going. Don't be surprised if you see us in the Final Four."
That certainly wouldn't be a loss. It would be a major win, with a few more along the way first. As long as there's time left on the clock, Friar fans would surely buy that.
BIG EAST NOTES
PC's Hopkins was named a finalist for the Basketball Hall of Fame Karl Malone Award as the nation's top power forward. Azuolas Tubelis from Arizona, Drew Timme from Gonzaga, Trayce Jackson-Davis from Indiana and Kris Murray from Iowa are the other finalists.
Georgetown has reported begun the rebuilding process following their 80-48 season-ending loss to Villanova Wednesday. CBS Sports' Jon Rothstein reports Patrick Ewing is out as head coach as the Hoyas went a combined 13-50 over the past two seasons after winning the Big East Tournament in 2021. That was also the only NCAA Tournament appearance Georgetown made after he became head coach at his alma mater six years ago.
Top-seeded and regular season champ Marquette was down 10 at halftime in the first quarterfinal game of the day to 8-seeded St. John's, but ultimately won out 72-70 after the Red Storm forced them into overtime. Cumberland, RI's Tyler Kolek, the Big East Player of the Year, led the Golden Eagles' comeback effort with 19 points, nine rebounds and six assists. Marquette will play UConn in Friday's first semifinal.
