The Providence Friars have lost eight consecutive games. They have given up more points than any other team in the Big East Conference and they haven't won on the road in nearly two months.
But if there is a team that knows better than any other the danger of overlooking the Friars it is Pitt.
It was a little more than a year ago that Pitt, with a No. 1 ranking in tow after seven consecutive victories, got drilled at Providence, 81-73, by a team that had lost five of its previous seven games.
So when No. 17 Pitt plays host to Providence tonight at the Petersen Events Center don't expect the Panthers to underestimate the struggling Friars.
"That's part of being in the Big East," sophomore guard Ashton Gibbs said. "Anyone can be beaten on any given night. We didn't come out strong. We came out lackadaisical. We came out really lazy, and they took advantage. Before you knew it, we were down 20.
"We're definitely thinking about last year. But, at the same time, we want to treat it like any other game and play our hardest."
That was a senior-dominated Providence team that finished a respectable eighth in the Big East. The team that will play the Panthers tonight is a young team that is languishing in 15th place in the 16-team league.
The Friars haven't won a game since upsetting Connecticut Jan. 27. In the eight consecutive losses since then, they have allowed 85 points or more six times. They have surrendered 99 points in their past two losses against Syracuse and South Florida. In an earlier game against South Florida in January, the Friars gave up 109 points in an overtime loss.
Providence is 332nd among 334 teams in NCAA Division I in scoring defense, allowing 81.2 points per game.
"They shoot quick, they press," Pitt coach Jamie Dixon said. "They do things a little different than most teams in the Big East. You'll have higher scoring games with them."
The matchup against Pitt is the ultimate in contrasting styles.
Providence is second in the Big East in scoring offense, averaging 82 points per game. The Friars attempt an average of 67 shots per game. Pitt is the top defensive team in the league, allowing 61.7 points per game, and the Panthers average only 52 shot attempts per game.
"We just have to play our game," Pitt senior Jermaine Dixon said. "They're a good team, even though they have struggled. They have stayed in there with some of the big-name teams. They get up for the competition. We're at the top of the Big East, so they'll have their A game. We have to control their 3-point shooting and rebound."
Providence attempts almost 25 3-pointers per game, the most of any team in the conference. The Friars make 33 percent of those and lead the conference in 3-point field goals made per game (8.2).
The top 3-point shooter is senior guard Sharaud Curry, who has made 42.2 percent of his 3-point attempts in conference play.
"They really shoot the ball from 3," Jamie Dixon said. "That's the thing you have to be concerned about. They seem to be in every game. They seem to go through runs where they give up points, but, sometimes, they score in bunches, too."
Providence's top scorer and rebounder is sophomore forward Jamine Peterson, who averages 19.3 points and 9.9 rebounds per game. Peterson, who is 6 feet 6 and 230 pounds, shoots 35 percent from 3-point range and averages 4.2 offensive rebounds per game.
"He was undersized, so he might have been overlooked [in high school]," Jamie Dixon said. "He's a tough matchup because of his ability to play inside and out. He's strong enough to play inside and versatile enough to play outside."
But if there is a team that knows better than any other the danger of overlooking the Friars it is Pitt.
It was a little more than a year ago that Pitt, with a No. 1 ranking in tow after seven consecutive victories, got drilled at Providence, 81-73, by a team that had lost five of its previous seven games.
So when No. 17 Pitt plays host to Providence tonight at the Petersen Events Center don't expect the Panthers to underestimate the struggling Friars.
"That's part of being in the Big East," sophomore guard Ashton Gibbs said. "Anyone can be beaten on any given night. We didn't come out strong. We came out lackadaisical. We came out really lazy, and they took advantage. Before you knew it, we were down 20.
"We're definitely thinking about last year. But, at the same time, we want to treat it like any other game and play our hardest."
That was a senior-dominated Providence team that finished a respectable eighth in the Big East. The team that will play the Panthers tonight is a young team that is languishing in 15th place in the 16-team league.
The Friars haven't won a game since upsetting Connecticut Jan. 27. In the eight consecutive losses since then, they have allowed 85 points or more six times. They have surrendered 99 points in their past two losses against Syracuse and South Florida. In an earlier game against South Florida in January, the Friars gave up 109 points in an overtime loss.
Providence is 332nd among 334 teams in NCAA Division I in scoring defense, allowing 81.2 points per game.
"They shoot quick, they press," Pitt coach Jamie Dixon said. "They do things a little different than most teams in the Big East. You'll have higher scoring games with them."
The matchup against Pitt is the ultimate in contrasting styles.
Providence is second in the Big East in scoring offense, averaging 82 points per game. The Friars attempt an average of 67 shots per game. Pitt is the top defensive team in the league, allowing 61.7 points per game, and the Panthers average only 52 shot attempts per game.
"We just have to play our game," Pitt senior Jermaine Dixon said. "They're a good team, even though they have struggled. They have stayed in there with some of the big-name teams. They get up for the competition. We're at the top of the Big East, so they'll have their A game. We have to control their 3-point shooting and rebound."
Providence attempts almost 25 3-pointers per game, the most of any team in the conference. The Friars make 33 percent of those and lead the conference in 3-point field goals made per game (8.2).
The top 3-point shooter is senior guard Sharaud Curry, who has made 42.2 percent of his 3-point attempts in conference play.
"They really shoot the ball from 3," Jamie Dixon said. "That's the thing you have to be concerned about. They seem to be in every game. They seem to go through runs where they give up points, but, sometimes, they score in bunches, too."
Providence's top scorer and rebounder is sophomore forward Jamine Peterson, who averages 19.3 points and 9.9 rebounds per game. Peterson, who is 6 feet 6 and 230 pounds, shoots 35 percent from 3-point range and averages 4.2 offensive rebounds per game.
"He was undersized, so he might have been overlooked [in high school]," Jamie Dixon said. "He's a tough matchup because of his ability to play inside and out. He's strong enough to play inside and versatile enough to play outside."
