Live Blog: The End of An Era?

In what could well be the last game Tim Welsh slicks back the hair as Providence’s coach, we’ll take you through the Friars match up against West Virginia with live scoring updates and analysis. So keep it here for coverage of PC’s Big East Tournament game if you’re stuck without a TV. We’ll be back closer to tip (approximately 2:30 p.m.) to get things started.

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4:36 — That about wraps things up for today’s live blog. As we noted the other day, we’ll have to wait for Sunday to be certain that the year is over for the Friars, but a 15-16 team doesn’t seem too appealing to most postseason tournaments, even this CBI thing.

Thanks for joining us today. We’re planning to do something interactive for the NCAA Tourney, so be sure to check back in the next few days as we get that up and running.

4:26 — Typical. You really can’t make this up. PC down 2 with under a minute to go and the ball, and what do they do? Run a series of dribble hand-offs between McDermott, Weyinmi and X that results in a weak drive by X.

WV knocks down two free throws to extend the lead. Then, after a miss by the Friars and the subsequent intentional foul, Alexander misses the front end of a 1-and-1. But, wait, Providence is whistled for a lane violation, Alexander hits the foul shots, and WV rides off into the sunset with a 58-53 win.

This is a topic for greater exploration, but PC routinely looks spastic and nervous late in close games. The same was the case today.

If this is indeed the end of the Welsh era, it’s fitting the Friars went down the way they did. Cheers.

4:23 — By the way, the “excellent” in the below update was a tad bit sarcastic. With Xavier pounding the air out of the ball with 10 on the shot clock, Welsh calls a timeout to set something up (God help us). PC down 52-50.

4:20 — Excellent series of events for PC. Another offensive rebound for WV puts them up 3, then a McKenzie turnover leads to a WV fast break. Weyinmi fouls Talkington, who makes 1-of-2 to put WV up by 4.

4:16 — Friars trail by 1, 49-48 with 3:20 left. Buckle up, it’s gonna be a bumpy ride.

4:12 — McKenzie misses another lay up, and Greedy blows a follow dunk attempt. Add two more chippies to the tally of missed opportunities today. WV runs out off a Weyinmi turnover for a go-ahead dunk (47-46). This is the time of game when Weyinmi has come undone in the past.

4:05 — Strong drive by Weyinmi finds Greedy underneath for a lay in and a foul. PC up 44-41 at the under eight timeout, with Peterson shooting one when they come back.

Ironically, should the Friars lose, and this turns out to be Welsh’s swan song, he’s coached very well today (putting Greedy in, switching Hanke out and having McDermott guard Alexander, who’s been quiet since that adjustment). If PC loses, they can look back on missing open layups as the chief culprit.

4:01 — Sean McDonough would be angry if he knew that we’ve failed to mention that the Friars are still without Dwain Williams. He hasn’t played since February 16, so Welsh & Co. have gotten used to fending without him, but given his history with WV at the Garden, we know they miss him to some extent.

3:57 — Greedy with a highlight reel dunk. No wait, he actually threw the ball off the side of the rim and landed on his ass. With ten and a half minutes to play, it’s 41-40 Team Huggins.

3:55 — McDermott continues to play well, flushing at one end to give PC a short-lived 40-39 lead. He’s also taken charge of covering Alexander at the other end, and Joe missed his first shot in what seems like ages.

3:50 — I didn’t think the Big Ten Tournament started until tomorrow, but with all the turnovers, hacks in the lane, and just general ugly basketball, I swear we’re watching Big Ten Basketball right now. PC takes a timeout with 13:12 left, down 39-36.

3:44 — Terrific find by McDermott locating X in the corner for an open trey. PC takes a 36-32 lead into the under-16 timeout.

A friend of TGE at the Garden today texts us with this pearl of wisdom: “Worst mascot in college sports = pc friar. u’ll b happy to kno that my bro’s vote was for the stanford tree tho” As always, ace reporting from the field.

3:41 — We’ve long been Brian McKenzie fans, but he’s really struggled late in the season, including some very poor play today. Sloppy with the ball, missing open shots and some bad decision making.

X-Man hits his first three of the afternoon, but the next time down Weyinmi blows an open layup.

3:38 — The second half gets underway. Will it be Timmy’s last on the PC sideline? (cue dramatic music)

3:27 — Sloppy first half overall, with a lot of turnovers on both sides. The Friars opened up a 26-15 lead with 5:31 left, but then the offensive execution went AWOL, and PC didn’t score again until Weyinmi’s free throws with 4 seconds left.

3:21 — WV pulls even on a three-pointer by Alexander going into the half. 28 all at MSG. The defense has been okay for PC, but gave up too many open three’s. They got away with it, but eventually WV will start knocking them down. On offense, McDermott has been the engine. Weyinmi has been aggressive, but hasn’t finished and missed the front end on two 1-and-1’s.

3:14 — Welcome to PC basketball: we beat up on WV all half and they struggle immensely on the offensive end, and the Friars haven’t scored in over four minutes.

3:12 — This segment of the broadcast is brought to you by the Campaign for why Tim Welsh shouldn’t be fired, headed by McDonough. Yes We Can!

3:05 — PC up 26-21 with 3:52 left in the first half. The Friars tend to struggle the last few minutes of halves, going into the locker room with a lead would be huge today.

3:03 — Update on McDermott’s play – he has 4 assists and no turnovers so far. Great start.

On the defensive end, there’s no way Hanke can defend Alexander.

3:01 — McDermott came to play today. He’s bulling his way into the paint whenever he wants, and if he’s not finishing it, he’s finding someone for a layup or open jumper. I mean, he just found Chuck Burch for a layup, which is no mean feat.

2:56 — At the under eight timeout: Friars 22, Mounts 15. Huggybear getting restless yet?

2:54 — Greedy Peterson providing some solid minutes. Getting after it on the boards and has four points. He needs to keep going up strong, tried to get fancy a couple of times and had his shot blocked once, and threw up a poor attempt the next time.

Oh, and for those of you scoring at home, McDonough threw Welsh two more bones about the good job he’s done this year, and how PC is a bad job. Raft is chiming is as well. Where’s that bucket?

2:49 — McDonough quotes Welsh: “We would not be in New York if it weren’t for Marshon Brooks.” Raise your hand if you thought you’d hear that before the year. (If your hand is raised, shut up, because you’re lying).

2:46 — PC up 16-13, 11:21 before halftime.

2:42 — Alex Ruoff is cold… he’s 0-for-5 to start the game. PC’s defense has been pretty aggressive, but all it takes is one open look for this sharpshooting WV team to kill you.

2:36 — WVU 9, PC 6

2:31 — Two possessions, two Friars turnovers. Sounds about right.

2:28 — Of course, the announcers (McDonough, Bilas and Raftery) are already saying how PC (read, Tim Welsh) did a terrific job rallying to make it to NYC. I may as well keep a bucket close by for when the man-love thrown at Welsh makes me hurl.

2:24 — Just a few minutes until tip, at least Bob Huggins isn’t posing as Colonel Mustard today, wearing a normal suit. Sad that we’ve talked more about the coaches fashion in our first two posts. Oh, and feel free to chime in and discuss the game in our comments section.