Was at the game last night, and a few comments:
1. Great crowd for PC. They were very loud at several points during the game, particularly after dunks and the block of Wes that turned into a fast break layup. Louder than I've ever heard at UConn, for example. Maybe 8-10% MU fans, which is pretty good considering Milwaukee is something like 900 miles away. Interesting thing about the crowd was that a lot of the PC fans around me were getting angry about calls both ways, along the lines of "let them play, for God's sake!'
2. PC fans are like Red Sox fans 6 years ago, always expecting something bad to happen
3. DJ is a tremendous defender. Providence figured out after about 3 minutes that Curry couldn't take him off the dribble and they started using everybody else to take it to the hoop. Curry recognized whenever McNeal was guarding him and took him off the dribble. There is no question to me as to who the better on the ball defender is.
4. The way we were being dominated in the lane and on the glass had me screaming for Otule or Burke to get in and play a one man zone to discourage these drives to the hoop and maybe grab an occasional rebound. When he went small I thought he was insane and giving the game away. Suffice to say I'm glad Buzz coaches the team insteead of me. Going small was the key strategic move that led to the victory, though why Davis didn't pound it inside after that is beyond me.
5. James, McNeal and MAtthews are tremendously tough. Every time the crowd was going nuts and the game seemed like it was going to get out of hand, one of them scored a quick basket to stem the tide.
Tremendous victory on the road!
I was also there and wanted to add a few thoughts.
~The Dunk went through a renovation recently and looks good. Solid place to see a game.
~The whole incident with the X-Man coming on to the court was even stranger in person. Just casually walks onto the court out of nowhere. Weird thing was both MU and PC players were laughing and joking around right after it happened.
~Lazar, wow. His shot is pretty, got to see those 3's up close. Just pure.
i think the reason he got right behind the bench and then thru the bench and the players on the bench is becuase they knew him. If it was simply some crazy fan the security may or may not have been more on him but i think the bench would have reacted differently.
+1 on point #2...the collective sphincter of that place tightened up REAL quick when Matthews scored that layup and FT to tie the game...and their possessions from that point on were terrible.