PC looks to rebound vs. Washington
Bullock feels comfortable with assistant Thomas
PROVIDENCE – At this point, the routine that takes place before Providence Friar games and practices is down to an exact science.
Other than a finger point that suggests where to stand on the hardwood to receive the pass, very little communication is needed. Once the session is done, the assistant coach exchanges a fist bump with a player he considers to be his son. Given how long they’ve known each other, the idea of Ivan Thomas characterizing his longstanding relationship with Rodney Bullock as one featuring a distinct family component is hardly far-fetched.
Specifically, it’s a relationship that predates when Thomas was Bullock’s head coach at Virginia’s Kecoughtan High School. In basketball circles, it’s a lengthy span that’s produced many memories.
“I’ve known Rodney since he was in eighth grade,” said Thomas, PC’s second-year assistant coach and third overall with Ed Cooley’s program. “When we work out, there’s not a lot of words spoken. We’ve been doing this routine for so long and very seldom do we switch it up. We just stick to his strengths. Even when he’s not doing it right, there’s a certain look I’ll give him. There’s not a lot of coaching. It’s more like a father-son relationship given all the time we’ve spent together.”
“It definitely helps give me confidence and a good rhythm heading into the game and just having him in my ear before I play,” said Bullock, the Friars’ fifth-year senior who through the season’s first two games has managed more personal fouls (seven) than field goals (six).
“The shots are going to fall … no concern at all. It’s a matter of time,” added Bullock, the Friars’ leading scorer last season. “All the hard work I put in over the summer, it eventually has to pay off.
“Every shot I take, I think it’s a good one,” said Bullock with a smile. “You can’t get frustrated as a shooter. You’ve got to move on to the next one.”
Dating back to the preseason, you’ve mostly seen a Bullock that’s struggled with his timing and his shooting. It’s a trend that didn’t come back to bite the Friars in a cakewalk of an 84-55 win over Houston Baptist, as Bullock took just eight shots, made three, and managed to score just eight points.
Against a Minnesota outfit that proved as good as advertised, Bullock was once again unable to get on track – seven points on 2-of-5 shooting. How much is this reading too much into a relatively small sample size? Given his veteran status, does Bullock deserve the benefit of the doubt, knowing that as the Friars head to Madison Square Garden for a Thursday 9:30 p.m. tipoff against Washington, he could explode for 20-plus points and thus erase the memories of two subpar performances?
For Thomas, who’s seen Bullock perform in plenty of games and is quick to notice if Bullock’s mechanics are slightly off, it goes back to the prep work. The daily habitual on-court sessions around Bullock giving a shot fake or pump fake before letting it fly. Thomas considers Bullock’s art of deception as one of the player’s chief strengths.
“It’s all shots that he would take in a game,” said Thomas about what the goal is each time he works 1-on-1 with Bullock. “He’s always had a natural shot and a natural feel for the game, but it’s comfort more than anything.”
It wouldn’t be fair to criticize Bullock as someone whose shot selection has been questionable through two games. His 14 field-goal attempts are tied for second on the Friars with Alpha Diallo. Taking that into account, does Bullock need to become greedier in respect to looking for his own offense?
“He’s done a good job of getting his teammates involved. Right now, he’s figuring out how to play with his teammates. He also understands that for this team to reach its maximum potential, him, Kyron (Cartwright), and Jalen (Lindsey) have to be a lot more aggressive,” said Thomas. “The shots are going to fall and the production is going to come. We have no worries when it comes to Rodney. As long as he continues to work hard and go through his pregame routine, everything will eventually work out.”
On a personal note, Thomas and Bullock understand that the days of receiving passes and pointers are rapidly drawing to a close. By this time next year, Bullock hopes to be cashing paychecks for his basketball prowess. That’s why the pair are cherishing each shooting session, knowing that each one will result in moving a little bit closer to the finish line of a player-coach relationship that’s rooted in high school and college.
“I soak it all in, I do,” said Thomas. “Seeing him graduate last spring and overcome all the adversity he has, God has blessed him with an opportunity to step on the floor. We don’t take that for granted.”
Added Bullock, “I’m cherishing everything.” RIM RATTLERS: Washington is coached by Mike Hopkins, who was an assistant for years at Syracuse under Jim Boeheim. With that in mind, it shouldn’t come as a surprise if the Huskies feature a steady diet of 2-3 zone defense, a staple under Boeheim. “They’ve showed some zone but also man-toman. We’ve got to be prepared for both,” said PC’s Cooley. … Since the Friars don’t play St. John’s at Madison Square Garden this season, these two games as part of the 2K Classic will serve as the team’s warmup act for what to expect come the Big East Tournament. “We’re always looking to get in there,” said Cooley. … PC’s only other meeting with Washington took place in 1980 at the then-Providence Civic Center. The game was played in conjunction with Industrial Bank Classic with the Huskies winning, 60-51. … The Friars will face either Virginia Tech or St. Louis at MSG on Friday.