After playing a stacked Hargrave Military Academy team even for the opening nine minutes of the half, Hargrave raced out to a 50-32 1st half lead behind the amazing shooting of Arkansas commit Mardracus Wade who nailed nine 3 pointers in the first half. One of which might have caught rim on the way down.
Like Providence, Tilton was scorched in the first half, giving up 55 points, and trailed heading into the locker room 55-40. Within minutes the lead ballooned to 70-42 and the rout was apparently on.
Be like Greedy, but not that way
That night Providence fans saw the best of Jamine Peterson and the worst. You won't find a Providence fan who would have dreamed Peterson would score 38 points and grab 14 rebounds in a BET game, nevermind a year after he was redshirted. You won't find one today who wasn't horrified by the poorous defensive effort, with Peterson serving as one of the main culprits. 38 and 14 was amazing, but it felt a bit superficial because of how it came.
The same could be said about Coleman's night. After a solid first half (14 points), Gerard exploded in the 2nd half, scoring 29 points over the final 15:44 of the 2nd half. Hargrave let up a bit, and to Coleman's credit, he exploited numerous open court opportunities, repeatedly attacking the basket, getting Tilton back into the game, but Hargrave never felt truly threatened.
As ridiculous as it might sound to poke holes into a 43 point effort against a team of D1 players, there were signs of greatness (attacking the rim, dominating along the baseline, blowing by defenders in the open court, and finishing with contact), but there were trouble spots as well (struggled with the outside shot and from the free throw line).
When I saw Gerard score 28 2nd half points against Winchendon earlier in the season, the performance blew me away as the two teams went back and forth, fighting tooth and nail on every possession. The 29 point 2nd half last night showed Gerard's awesome open court potential, but didn't bring that same sense of excitement as Hargrave pushed their lead to double figures whenever pressured in the final six minutes (as you'll see from the log below). The game really opened up late and a kid as athletic and good in the open court like Gerard will put up huge numbers in this type of game. Impressive, but not the statement that the Winchendon or ND Prep games were.
A look ahead
Where will Coleman help next year? In a number of ways. Most significantly, from a pure speed standpoint, Gerard is as fast as you'll find at the Big East level. In the open court, paired with a push and find point guard in Vincent Council, this Providence team will be dynamic at times. There will be times when this team is as exciting as we've seen in years on Smith Hill with first class athletes in Coleman and Peterson running with Council, the key will be getting out in the open court regularly (which means better defense and rebounding). Ironically, solving their biggest flaw will allow them to exploit their greatest asset.
His lateral quickness will be an upgrade defensively over players like Sharaud Curry, Brian McKenzie, and Duke Mondy and Coleman will grab more than his share of offensive rebounds.
The problem will be in a halfcourt set. Davis will be best served making Coleman an 18 foot and in player in year 1. He's outstanding along the baseline and pulling up from 15 feet, but his 3 point shot is dangerously close to that of Council right now.
How does this offense run when they aren't able to run? Say what you will about Curry, but he made big 3s when the offense stalled in the halfcourt.
Gerard Coleman brings another Council type of player here: explosive in the open court, intelligent, and competitive. Providence needs more playmakers and even though his outside shot needs work, Gerard's strengths could fill major needs on this roster next season. If PC can turn teams over they will get out and run, they will surprise, and Coleman will excel.
Additional Notes:
- A loss for Notre Dame Prep and a subpar effort from Ron Giplaye. 3-7 from the field, 3-6 from the free throw line, and 6 rebounds (four offensive), while Northfield Mount Hermon big man Majok Majok dominated all afternoon (27 points). I was really looking forward to seeing Ron match up with Majok, and while they weren't always paired up, Majok was once again very good. Very impressed with Majok's development this season. Giplaye sat out the first 9 minutes of the 2nd half.
- The Andre Drummond/Khem Birch matchup of sophomore studs fizzled. Drummond may have more work to do offensively than Birch, but the sheer size and athleticism combo makes him the better prospect. Shocked to see STM pull this one out, especially after a 20-2 Winchendon run in the first half. How much did the loss to Brewster take out of them mentally? Going to miss watching Anthony Ireland play.
- Hard to watch Naadir Tharpe and not want him in black and white - badly. Providence and Boston College lead for this terrific point guard and the thought here is PC must land him by June or it will become very hard to do so. A Coleman level recruit.
- Westwind Prep got smothered by Brewster, but Bo Barnes fought hard and shoots as well as anyone Friarbasketball has taken in this year. Hit from from three steps inside halfcourt in garbage time. A shooter who isn't afraid to get after it. All NPSI team in February.
- Disappointed in Westwind's Tony Snell who impressed at the NPSI, but beat the ball into the ground last night, while being badly outplayed by Brewster's Will Barton.
- 15:44 - and-1 on a hanging layup, misses the free throw. 70-44
- 14:30 - leans in for 2. 71-48.
- 13:30 - nice step back 3. Good sign. 72-51.
- 12:50 - a swooping score for 2 more. 72-55.
- 12:11 - GC makes 1-2 from the line. 72-56. Can they make a run?
- 11:31 - Coleman answers a sick dunk on the other end with a quick 3. 74-59.
- 7:56 - 0-2 from FT line. Ugh.
- 7:26 - Gerard flies into the open court for 2 more. 78-63.
- 6:20 - a classic Coleman move that I've seen him use a lot. He straightens up just enough so that his defender follows and the second he baits him into it he's gone. Crafty. 80-65.
- 4:53 - two free throws. 84-67.
- 3:35 - another and-1 cuts it to 84-72.
- 3:05 - great crossover leads to a layup. 86-74.
- 2:32 - steal and layup cuts it to 10. 86-76.
- :42 - bombs a 3, but it's over. 95-82.
