Watson key for Friars in final games
Sophomore needs to do more than score points
PROVIDENCE — With Nate Watson, it can’t just be about how many points the Providence College sophomore scores.
Listed at 6-foot-10, it’s imperative at this stage of the season that Watson dominates both ends of the court for a Friar squad that welcomes Big East leader/11th-ranked Marquette for a Saturday noontime tip at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center.
Watson is coming off a 21-point performance against a St. John’s outfit that boiled over in frustration after the Red Storm proved unable to keep him in check. Watson certainly made it look easy during the Friars’ 78-59 win with an impressive (8-of-12) shooting display while making 11 trips to the free-throw line.
Just as noteworthy, Watson pulled down nine rebounds (four offensive) and, with great emphasis, swatted away an attempted dunk by St. John’s forward Sedee Keita that helped to elicit a “wow” factor among Dunk patrons. Watson seemed to play with even greater fire after staging a block party at 11:22 of the first half, a sequence that was highlighted by Watson’s awareness to quickly rotate over to where Keita was stationed.
Offensively against St. John’s, his game was a mixture of deft touch and sheer power. The spot on the floor where Watson caught the ball mattered very little. The rebound total spoke volumes about his ability to not get caught flat flooted or pushed around. For a player of his imposing size, Watson this season has just eight games where he’s pulled down seven or more rebounds.
“I just can’t be a one-sided player. Coach (Ed Cooley) tells me that if I’m going to be a great player, I have to play both sides. That’s what I’m trying to do in practice and in games,” Watson said.
Watson has recently taken his offensive game to a higher level. He’s in the midst of a four-game tear that’s seen him average 18.2 points per game and attempt 10 or more field goals on three occasions. On a PC team that lacks reliable three-point shooting and is prone to a significant scoring drought or two during games, it’s imperative that Watson finds a way to get to the rim – even when the double team is breathing down his neck.
“We watched a lot of film on St. John’s so I knew exactly when the double team was coming and where it would be. I just tried to split it as fast as I could,” Watson said. “(Assistant coach) Brian Blaney said you have to be a student of the game. That’s what I’m trying to do.”
Earlier this season, Cooley spoke about the need to throw entry passes to Watson when the second-year Friar drops anchor on one of his preferred sweet spots on the hardwood. Watson is the rare big man who can score with both hands. That’s helped him unearth even more sweet spots, which in turn has made the challenge of guarding him even more of a tall order.
“When I get the ball, I feel comfortable that I can score every time,” Watson said, now PC’s second leading scorer (11.7 ppg) in addition to the Friar who pulls down the second most rebounds on average (5.4). “My right hand is my stronger hand but I take what the defense gives me.”
Cooley added, “Nate is growing in front of our eyes. We expect him to give us more, but offensively and defensively, he’s improved with his concentration. When he’s around the basket, he’s just an explosive athlete. He’s always had a nice touch with both hands but it’s more about getting to see what I see. If he sees what I see, then he’s going to be a great player. As long as he buys that, he’s a real tough cover.”
As Watson noted prior to the start of Thursday’s practice at the Ruane Friar Development Center, appearances can prove to be deceiving. From grabbing to clutching to trying to bump him off the blocks, the Red Storm tried every conceivable way to keep Watson at bay. Nothing worked.
Evenly more impressive, Watson (and the rest of the Friars) didn’t take the bait and sink to the level of a St. John’s crew that clearly lost its cool – see Marvin Clark II picking up two technical fouls 28 seconds apart. Watson stayed out there for 35 minutes and was whistled for just one foul on a night the Friars didn’t have the ser- vices of junior backup big man Kalif Young (concussion).
“It was physical out there,” Watson said. “It definitely gets my mind ready for the physical game we’re going to have on Saturday.”
It’s likely that Watson will be matched up with Marquette enforcer Theo John, the Big East’s leading shot blocker at 2.7 per outing. When the Friars dropped a 79-68 decision in Milwaukee last month, the 6-foot9 John still managed to turn away five shots despite being saddled with foul trouble. When John was on the bench, Watson flourished on his way to netting 21 points on 8-of-14 shooting.
“He’s a big, physical player,” Watson said about John. “I’m excited to play against him again.”
RIM RATTLERS: In two games, one this year and one last year, since Marquette’s Markus Howard popped for 52 points at The Dunk, the Friars have held the diminutive guard to a combined 8-of-30 from the floor. This season’s first meeting saw Howard collect 24 points thanks in large part to making 14-of-16 from the foul line. “He’s a volume shooter. He’s going to shoot 18-20 shots a game but you have to make him shoot a low percentage and keep him off the foul line. We want to defend without fouling. That’s always in our conversation,” Cooley said. … PC at 5-9 in Big East play might be part of a three-way tie for last place, but the Friars are only two games out of third place. … The last time only one nationally-ranked team ventured to The Dunk was the 199900 season. Marquette will be the only Top 25 opponent to play on the Friars’ home floor this season.