Recent content by CouchsideSteve

  1. CouchsideSteve

    2023-24 Providence College Hoops: Out on a Limb with Kim

    With so many bid-stealers this past weekend, the Friars weren’t even in the first four out for NCAA Tournament consideration. You can read the recriminations anywhere you look. Personally, I don’t have a problem with Providence missing out, given relatively soft KenPom and Net ratings. But I do...
  2. CouchsideSteve

    2023-24 Providence College Hoops: Out on a Limb with Kim

    Extremely well-deserved for Devin Carter, who has elevated his draft stock more in a single season than any Friar in recent memory—essentially from late second rounder to the lottery, if current mock drafts are to be believed. After the predictable butt-kicking at the hands of UConn to close...
  3. CouchsideSteve

    2023-24 Providence College Hoops: Out on a Limb with Kim

    Well, they did enough in the win at Georgetown. 10-point home underdogs against #2 UConn tonight. A win seals the fifth seed (and a first round bye) in the Big East tournament and *probably* seals an at-large bid in the NCAA tournament. But a tall task, of course.
  4. CouchsideSteve

    2023-24 Providence College Hoops: Out on a Limb with Kim

    The Friars need to show well against Georgetown on the road tonight. BracketMatrix has us in just 38 of 104 expert brackets, so a loss would do irreversible damage to the resume. Beating the 8.5 point spread would also help against further erosion to already soft NET (62) and KenPom (59) rankings.
  5. CouchsideSteve

    2023-24 Providence College Hoops: Out on a Limb with Kim

    Regret that I haven’t checked in with more regular updates. I haven’t missed any of the PCBB action–just been a bit busy with work to post. Will drop some observations here, as the team sits squarely on the bubble with a big game @ Xavier upcoming on Wednesday night: The Jan 24 win at Seton...
  6. CouchsideSteve

    Wild Card Weekend

    As a Dolphins fan since the late 80s… this is the same old Dolphins. My lord.
  7. CouchsideSteve

    2023-24 Providence College Hoops: Out on a Limb with Kim

    I was too gutted by the Hopkins injury to post during the week. Awful for Bryce, who by every account is a great kid. He is clearly a potential NBA player, but as a likely second round pick, the margins are very thin -- the injury will no doubt impact his prospects. I'm not going to speculate...
  8. CouchsideSteve

    2023 Dolphins: Greatest Show on Surf

    Why was Bradley Chubb on the field there? This is going down as the most fun, critically acclaimed, first-round-playoff-exiting team in recent memory.
  9. CouchsideSteve

    2023-24 Providence College Hoops: Out on a Limb with Kim

    Sorry that I’ve been quiet lately, guys. So what’s happened since we last checked in? The loss at Oklahoma was disappointing, if not somewhat expected, given that the Sooners are a very good (and currently undefeated) team. The Friars started out ice cold, battled back to take the lead early in...
  10. CouchsideSteve

    2023-24 Providence College Hoops: Out on a Limb with Kim

    He’s expected to play Friday again LeHigh, but we’re honestly lucky the suspension wasn’t longer.
  11. CouchsideSteve

    2023-24 Providence College Hoops: Out on a Limb with Kim

    Friars earned a split in Baha Mar, Bahamas, dropping a game in overtime to Kansas State on Friday before bouncing back to win short-handed against Georgia. If you had told me preseason they’d take 2 of the last 3, I’d have been happy — but they were damn close to a sweep. Oduro and Castro...
  12. CouchsideSteve

    2023-24 Providence College Hoops: Out on a Limb with Kim

    A total dismantling of Wisconsin on Tuesday night — much more so than the 72-59 score would suggest. The Friars were at >85% win probability from the first half U8 timeout onward. One of the most encouraging out-of-conference victories in memory. The Friars travel to the Bahamas now for a coin...
  13. CouchsideSteve

    2023-24 Providence College Hoops: Out on a Limb with Kim

    My pleasure, guys! The Friars cruised to victory on Monday night over Columbia 78-59, perfectly capping the 18.5pt spread. Here are a few reactions: - Ticket Gaines started over Corey Floyd. Gaines played well, and if Floyd logs 30+ mpg then it’s no harm… but Floyd absolutely *has* to be on...
  14. CouchsideSteve

    2023-24 Providence College Hoops: Out on a Limb with Kim

    Where to begin? Last season was a tale of two cities; it was the best of times, it was the worst of times. Pick your parable. What I remember most, is on an unseasonably warm weekend in February, my wife and I were walking around Washington, DC, marveling at the charms of the city. The cherry...