Saturday was an embarrassment for Providence and its fans.
Not only did the Friars lose to Bryce Hopkins and No. 17 St. John’s in the star’s return to his old school, but they acted like punks and their fans saluted that behavior with standing ovations.
It is one thing to yell “F–k Bryce Hopkins” over and over again, it’s another to chant Duncan Powell’s name for inciting a brawl like he was some sort of conquering hero. The Providence fans then did the same for Jamier Jones when he pushed Zuby Ejiofor from behind and was ejected after being assessed a Flagrant 2 foul. Powell was suspended for three games by the Big East, and Jones was fortunate not to be disciplined himself.
One of the worst aspects of Saturday is that not once did anyone in Providence leadership, from coach Kim English to athletic director Steve Napolillo, get on a microphone to try to calm the crowd down. English has obviously lost control of this team, and will likely be out of a job next month after a second straight losing season. Napolillo needs to bring in an adult, because there certainly wasn’t one at Amica Mutual Pavilion this weekend when it was so desperately needed.
