Lindsey vocally leading PC
Senior wants one more trip to NCAA tourney
bmcgair@pawtuckettimes.com
PROVIDENCE — Recently, one member of this year’s PC basketball senior class has gone above and beyond to assume a greater mantle of leadership.
Yes, not all the Friars operate like they’re afraid to raise their voices in a library. Jalen Lindsey might be in the midst of a scoring slump – 5-for-19 from the field and 3-for-15 from three over the past three games heading into Wednesday’s 6:30 p.m. matchup against No. 3 Xavier – but he takes comfort in knowing that at a time when the Friars have been in the market for a strong voice, he’s been that rock.
“Rodney (Bullock) and Kyron (Cartwright) are more example-type leaders, but as a verbal leader, I knew I had to step up in that role,” said Lindsey. “It fits with the type of personality that I have and I think it’s helped. Sometimes, we need more than coach Cooley’s voice. We need someone who the players can relate to and that’s the kind of role that I’ve settled into.
“Regardless if it’s Seton Hall, Georgetown, or DePaul, I let them know that every game is a big game,” added Lindsey. “I’m a goofy and funny person, but I’m also well-spoken so I just took to that role.”
“You want accountability from your seniors, the guys who have played the most,” said Cooley.
Lindsey delivered a succinct speech before Providence upset third-ranked Villanova earlier this month. The gist of it centered on coming out and playing with intensity right from the opening tip. The Friars heeded the forward’s words en route to a 76-71 win over the Big East’s perennial power.
“I said it was another game, fellas. We’re going to be fine. We just need to stay poised and focused,” said Lindsey. “We won the first half, but we knew in the second half that Villanova wasn’t going to give up. They’re a great team, but so are we.”
Why aren’t the Friars always ready and in attack mode once the ball is tossed into the sky? As Lindsey explained, a few key ingredients have a habit of remaining back in the locker room. Why that’s been the case at times this season can be chalked up to the team’s collective approach in the preparation sessions leading up to the upcoming contest.
“Some games, we don’t come out with that energy and fire like we did against Villanova,” said Lindsey. “Every day in practice, we need to have good days and play as hard as we can and compete against each other in a high level.”
With two games left in the regular season before the scene shifts to next week’s Big East Tournament, Lindsey understands that his pregame deliveries to his teammates will have to really hit home. Thanks to Saturday’s win at Georgetown, the Friars are still alive to achieve 10 Big East regular-season wins for the fifth straight season. PC (18-11 overall) is 9-7 heading into this two-game mini season that concludes with a Saturday noontime home game against St. John’s.
“We just need to stay focused,” said Lindsey. “We know what we’re playing for right now. We’re a desperate team with two tough games against Xavier and St. John’s. Xavier is going to be a tough environment, but if we follow what we’re supposed to do and continue to do the things we had been doing, we should be fine.”
Winning at Xavier on a night when seniors Trevon Bluiett and J.P. Macura bask in the glow of their final college game at the Cintas Center qualifies as a tall order for Cooley’s Friars. The Musketeers (25-4, 12-4 Big East) will be out for revenge after falling flat in an 81-72 loss at The Dunk on Jan. 6.
“They’re playing for a number 1 seed in the Big East Tournament and the NCAA Tournament,” said Cooley, who is winless (0-8) in games the Friars have played in the state of Ohio since taking the Providence job.
In some ways, the vibe surrounding Wednesday’s contest has a familiar ring to it. Back in 2014, the Friars went out to Creighton for Doug McDermott’s senior night. The Bluejays had lost in Providence earlier that season and McDermott got his revenge by pouring in 45 points in an 8873 blowout of the Friars.
“Similar scenario,” said Cooley. “Their building [meaning Xavier’s] is going to be on fire so it’s going to be important for us to control our emotions.”