Once Upon A Time in America Betting Show
The (11-3 SU, 8-6 ATS) Providence Friars and (7-7 SU and ATS) DePaul Blue Demons will play on Sunday at Wintrust Arena. The Friars, 3-1 on the road this season, have won six straight games since losing on the road at TCU. The Blue Demons, 5-1 at home, beat Georgetown 83-76 in their most recent game. Providence beat DePaul in both of their meetings last season.
Tip-off from Chicago is at 2:30 p.m. ET. The Friars are five-point spread favorites, and the game total is 149.5 points.
Providence is off to a hot start in Big East play, picking up three wins over Seton Hall, Marquette, and Butler. The Friars were 8-3 in non-conference games but lost their high-profile matchups against Miami, Saint Louis, and TCU. Keeping their focus on New Year's Day against DePaul will be important, with a matchup against UConn looming. One thing is for certain: after losing all five starters from last season's team, Providence has over exceeded expectations.
Sophomore forward Bryce Hopkins leads Providence in scoring with 15.9 points per game on 48.7 percent shooting. The Friars also lean on senior forward Ed Croswell (13.3 PPG and 6.9 RPG) and sophomore guard Devin Carter (12.3 PPG and 4.1 RPG).
Providence won by 20 at Butler, outscoring the Bulldogs 46-18 in the first half. The Friars shot 45.0 percent from the field and 14-of-17 from the charity stripe. Providence also outrebounded Butler 44-29, with 14 offensive rebounds. Carter paced the Friars in scoring with 21 points on 9-of-16 shooting.
FRIARS WIN??
Providence – 72
Butler – 52Devin Carter scores a season-high 21 points
Ed Croswell adds 15 points & 10 rebounds pic.twitter.com/MLOsCRRmZx— Providence MBB (@PCFriarsmbb) December 30, 2022
Providence averages 80.6 points on 47.5 percent shooting, including 33.1 percent from three-point range. It also converts 73.5 percent of its free-throw attempts. Providence is ranked 28th in offensive efficiency adjusted for schedule, per KenPom. The Friars also boast the seventh-best rebounding margin.
The Friars surrender 68.4 points, and their opponents shoot 42.3 percent from the field, including 33.8 percent from distance. Their adjusted defensive efficiency is ranked 87th, and their assist-per-turnover ratio (1.18) is 70th.