March 11, 2016
Julie Jacobson/AP
Villanova forward Kris Jenkins (2) and guard Mikal Bridges (25) react after a basket in the second half against Providence.
NEW YORK -- This might not be your father’s Big East Tournament, but it will do just fine.
On a Friday night in New York City, Madison Square Garden was again rocking for a competitive semifinal between No. 1 Villanova and No. 4 Providence.
"I'm an old-school guy, but that was old-school Big East," Jay Wright said after the game. "That was fun, man."
RISE AND FIRE! 15-3 run for @PCFriarsmbb. 2 POINT GAME! #BIGEASTtourney on FS1! #MadeAtMSG https://t.co/KQzrjhWwN3
— FS1 (@FS1) March 12, 2016
And it was the Wildcats who prevailed with a hard-fought 76-68 win. They will play for their second straight Big East title tomorrow night.
The Wildcats opened up a 14-point lead midway through the second half with some excellent three-point shooting (41.2 percent for the game). Providence surprisingly responded with that major 15-3 run right after their leading scorer, Ben Bentil, fouled out with 9:40 left in the game. One day after dropping 38 on Butler, the first team all-conference performer was held to just three points and six rebounds.
"I think our best defense was getting him into pick-and-rolls and driving the ball at him and getting some fouls," Wright said. "That was the best thing we did. Because it kept him off the floor for a while, and it eventually fouled him out."
Similarly, Big East player of the year Kris Dunn was also limited to nine points on 1-8 shooting.
Kris Jenkins was probably Villanova’s best player on the night. The Wildcats' stretch four finished with 21 points, 4 assists, and a dunk that I quite honestly didn’t know he was capable of:
BIG SMOOTH SLAM! OK, @bigticket2, OK! #BIGEASTtourney #MadeAtMSG https://t.co/8aKV04lwJm
— FS1 (@FS1) March 12, 2016
Although the Friars initially surged after Bentil left the game, ‘Nova closed this one out in the paint. Yesterday, the Wildcats went small to knock off Georgetown in the quarters. Tonight, it was Jenkins and Daniel Ochefu (a game-time decision) punishing Ed Cooley’s Friars down low to put the game away. Ochefu finished with eight points.
"It was real difficult for us to run any offense," Wright said. "That [offense] was drives and post-ups."
On Saturday, Villanova will play the winner of the other semifinal, No. 2 Xavier and No. 3 Seton Hall. Tip is at 5:30 pm. and if you can’t make it up to The Garden, the game will be televised on FOX.
Follow Rich on Twitter: @rich_hofmann
