*One play Wednesday:

 

Providence (+1) at West Virginia - 11:00am Pacific - Big East Tourney - Game #515-516

No one in the country has had more close losses than Providence this year.  The Friars have lost 9 Big East games by a combined 31 points (3.4 point average).  Included are narrow losses to the top teams in the conference:  Villanova in OT, Syracuse by 4, UConn in 2OT, Boston College by 3, and Notre Dame by 1.  Providence has also been dealt a couple of key backcourt injuries to starter Dwight Brewington (missed last 8 games) and top reserve Gerald Brown (missed last 15 games, out for the season).  Brewington, the teams second leading scorer and an active defender on the perimeter, will be available to play today for the first time in a month.  At the very least he will provide an emotional lift for the Friars.  Freshman center Randall Hanke has really come on down the stretch for Providence averaging 17.3ppg & 10.3rpg over last three games, almost three times his season average.  Providence has won 4 of their last 7 games and 3 of their last 4 to end the season.  Only losses in last 7 were vs UConn in 2 OT's, vs Notre Dame by 1, and at Syracuse.  West Virginia won both regular season meetings, at Providence by 4 and in Morgantown by 2.  In game at Providence, the Friars committed 27 turnovers.  In second meeting Providence played without Hanke & Brewington and still came very close to winning.  West Virginia ended their season with a bad loss at Seton Hall.  They now have the pressure of a must win situation here to get into the NCAA tournament.  WVU is sure to get some action because of this but I think it has just as much chance of hurting them as it does helping.  Providence is sure to be the more looser of the two teams.  West Virginia is 1-8 in Big East tournament action and has lost 7 straight.  Providence has every reason to give a strong showing here.  Senior forward Ryan Gomes passed up the NBA to return to school and the team wants to send him out on a positive note after a hugely disappointing season.  Expect a close game and a mild upset.

 

Official Play:  Providence +1  1 UNIT