Every time point guard John Linehan took the floor for Providence College, he carried in his 5-foot-9-inch, 165-pound frame the heartbeat, style and personality of the Friars.
Like a spider, Linehan’s defensive presence extended beyond his body, a web he wove with his quick feet and frenetically waving arms.
By the time he wrapped up his career last season, Linehan was the NCAA career leader in steals with 385. With Linehan on their side, the Friars harassed and hassled their way to victory.
No longer. When No. 16 Notre Dame (14-3, 2-1 Big East) takes the floor Tuesday night at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center it will face a Providence (9-6, 2-2) team bearing only a passing resemblance to the squad it beat 76-68 March 2 at the Joyce Center.
These Friars don’t rely nearly as heavily on larceny–they have 128 steals this season, their opponents have 125. Instead, this year’s team plays bigger, stronger and slightly slower.
“We’re not as frenetic. We don’t chase people all over the court as we used to,” Friars coach Tim Welsh said. “We’re a bigger team on the wings. We’re playing a bit more zone. We’re trapping a bit more. Our man-to-man defense is more help-oriented then pressure-oriented.”
Junior center Marcus Douthit sets the tone, his 6-10 frame responsible for a team-high 41 steals.
“His size itself gives us a presence on defense,” Welsh said. “Marcus goes into the game and he knows his role as a shot blocker, making a difference in the lane, keeping guys from attacking the basket.”
For Notre Dame, which has struggled with its inside play in both of its January losses, patience may be the key to surviving not just Douthit’s presence, but that of 6-7 forward Ryan Gomes. He leads the Friars in points (18.1) and rebounds (10.1) and has developed into a solid interior defender.
“I think we still have to understand we need to be a bit more patient, especially on the road–slowing down a bit offensively sometimes, getting in and getting a one-and-done situation, not giving up offensive rebounds and putbacks,” Irish coach Mike Brey said after his team’s 88-73 loss to Kentucky Saturday.
Senior shooting guard Matt Carroll, who averages 25 points per game in conference play, agreed.
“We have a tendency to want to get the quick basket and the easy score,” Carroll said.
And that is something Providence is unlikely to allow.
“They’re going to be a tough, scrappy team,” Irish forward Jordan Cornette said.
Even without Linehan.
