by The Cowl Editor on January 25, 2018

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PCI

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by Sullivan Burgess ’20

Sports Staff

For the tenth time in the history of the franchise, and for the eighth time in the era of Bill Belichick and Tom Brady, the New England Patriots have shocked the world yet again to find themselves in Super Bowl LII.

After coming back from a 10-point deficit against the Jacksonville Jaguars in the AFC Championship, the Pats will finally have a chance to go back up aganst Super Bowl XXXlX opponent, the Philadelphia Eagles. The Eagles are led by Nick Foles, the backup quarterback for the team after starting quarterback Carson Wentz tore his ACL late in the season. However, whether the quarterback is a backup, third string, or pro-bowler, nothing can stand in the way of New England’s roster.

With the Pats looking to become back-to-back champions after last season’s overtime victory over the Atlanta Falcons, Brady is also fighting to secure his sixth championship. This could make him the only player in NFL history with six Super Bowl rings.

This game comes down to his ability to perform against the Eagles’ defense, which contains two pro-bowlers: Fletcher Cox, defensive tackle, and strong safety Malcolm Jenkins.

Brady, even at 40 years old, is coming off one of the best seasons of his career with 4577 yards and 32 touchdowns. He is looking to his number one receiver Brandin Cooks and hopefully superstar tight end Rob Gronkowski, who suffered a concussion in the AFC Championship.

The defense, led by free safety Devin McCourty and defensive end Trey Flowers, will have to shut down options such as Alshon Jeffery, Zach Ertz, and Torrey Smith. However, without their number one quarterback, will someone like Nick Foles be able to the handle the pressure of the big stage?

We all know “Touchdown Tommy” is capable of this. In the end, Brady and Belichick will be bringing the Lombardi Trophy back to New England.

by The Cowl Editor on January 18, 2018

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Professional Sports

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By Sullivan Burgess ’20

Sports Staff

  If you are watching the news, ESPN, Fox Sports, or any other media outlet, you are subjected to keeping tabs on the NBA’s newest and most controversial basketball family, otherwise known as the Ball family. Here is the million dollar question: is this family worth the hype or attention?

   Let us start with the oldest of the brothers, Lonzo: as the second pick of the 2017 NBA Draft, there were high hopes in Laker Nation as Magic Johnson, the President of Basketball Operations for the team, put his trust into Lonzo to be the future of the team. Currently, Lonzo is averaging 10.2 points per game, 7.1 rebounds per game, and 7.1 assists per game, shooting 35.6 percent from the field, and remains sixth in the midseason rankings of NBA Rookie of the Year as the Lakers remain 15-28 in the west at 12th place.

   Throughout this season, we have seen the head of the family, Lonzo’s father, Lavar Ball, continue constant off-court drama including his negative words against Lakers Head Coach Luke Walton, saying, “Luke doesn’t have control of the team no more. They don’t want to play for him.”

   This ongoing behavior against his son’s coaches has a long history, including pulling the youngest brother of the three, LaMelo, from his last two years of high school due to the father’s differences with the coach, as well as wanting him to receive the best training possible for his future career.

LaMelo, who withdrew his scholarship from UCLA, now plays overseas with the Vytautas Prienai-Birštonas of the Lithuanian Basketball League alongside his older brother and middle child LiAngelo Ball, who signed after he left UCLA to avoid a long-term suspension after being arrested.

   As reported in the news, LiAngelo was arrested for shoplifting in China alongside  two  other UCLA players, who still remain suspended from the team. This story resulted in the still ongoing feud between Lavar and President Trump over Lavar’s comments on the President’s involvement with his son and the other two players. LaMelo and LiAngelo debuted in Lithuania on Jan. 13 of this year, making LaMelo the youngest professional player of the sport at 16 years old, as well as the youngest athlete to have his own signature shoe of the Big Baller Brand, the second of the signature shoe line of the family including Lonzo’s ZO 2s, which came out over the summer of 2017.

    The team lost 95-86 to the Lietkabelis Panevezys as the brothers were scoreless in the minutes they played, combining for 0-7 in shooting. This summer, Lavar is expected to begin a Junior Basketball League, in which top prospect players can choose to play professionally to avoid being labeled one and done in the NCAA, with player salaries ranging from $3,000 to $10,000. Now that you know all of their actions, you can decide if the family is worth the hype.

by The Cowl Editor on December 7, 2017

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Friar Sports

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by Sullivan Burgess ’20

Sports Staff

  We have come to that special time of the year, the Christmas lights turn on, the weather becomes colder, and most importantly Providence College Men’s Basketball Big East Conference play begins.

  While their first conference game against St. John’s University in Queens does not commence until Dec. 28, the Friars look to bounce back from their 75-68 loss to the University of Rhode Island last Saturday, when they take on their remaining non-conference games beginning, with a home game at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center against Brown University. Providence Head Coach Ed Cooley called this year’s annual URI game “one of the worse offensive games of the year” because of the Friar’s 21 turnovers and 47.6 percent from the free throw line. Cooley looks to remain motivated as he continues the positive mindset he ensues on the school and his team.

    So far, the season has provided students and fans with plenty of optimism and hope as the Friar’s look to expand their 6-2 record. The student body on campus this season moved forward from the two losses of the season, as they bring a strong amount of energy to every home game. Sadly, the roster will not be fully completed this season as the sudden news that power forward/center Emmitt Holt ’18 will remain to be out for the remainder of the year due to an abdominal injury, placing him on a medical redshirt that will give him the opportunity to continue playing next season.

   The sudden loss of Holt has given players such as Nate Watson ’21 and Kalif Young ’20 the opportunity for developing their skills as big men to a whole new level as they both look to provide a big presence in the paint versus any opponent. On top of Watson, freshman guard Makai Ashton-Langford ’21  has developed his skills as backup guard into ultimately the team’s sixth man. Averaging seven points, 2.1 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and slowly increasing the number of minutes per game, Ashton-Langford remains to be a dominant presence on the court as well a threat to any team.

Returning starters Kyron Cartwright ’18, Jalen Lindsey ’18, Rodney Bullock ’18, and Alpha Diallo ’20. While Cartwright provides the playmaking abilities as one of the best Big East guards this season leading the conference in assists by averaging 6.6 per game, Lindsey and Bullock provide the scoring efforts including Bullock leading the team with 14.4 points per game and Lindsey shooting 63 percent from the three, making it a challenge for the Big East teams to be able to guard.

  Diallo has slowly risen to be one of the most improved players in the conference as he averages 11.5 points per game including his 17 point game against URI and developing an on and off ball rhythm allowing him to be deadly when on the court.

   Now taking a look at this year’s NCAA men’s basketball season as a whole, Duke remains to be the country’s top team as they increase their undefeated record to 10-0, especially with the rise of freshman Marvin Bagley III averaging 22.025 points and 11.5 rebounds, ultimately making him the number one prospect for the NBA.

   In the Big East, Villanova remains undefeated and fourth-ranked in the country as they lead with an overall record of 9-0, despite the loss of Josh Hart to the NBA. Georgetown also remains undefeated with an overall record of 6-0, as they continue the season with new head coach, a former player for the New York Knicks, Patrick Ewing, Providence stands tied for fourth place alongside Butler University. They are leading over the 25th ranked in the country Creighton, following their loss of freshman Justin Patton to the NBA, as well as Marquette, who currently contains the top two scorers in the Big East Conference with senior Andrew Rowsey and sophomore Markus Howard averaging 22.6 and 21 points, respectively.

  PC is now faced with the difficult task of picking themselves back up after URI and looking to resurrect their hot streak of winning as Big East Conference games begin, which could provide the team with another March Madness appearance.