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Friday’s Pregame Shootaround: Friars look to improve NCAA tournament prospects

Bryce Cotton

Providence guard Bryce Cotton (11) dribbles on his way to making a basket against Creighton during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2014, in Providence, R.I. Providence defeated Creighton 81-68. (AP Photo/Stew Milne)

AP

GAME OF THE NIGHT: Iona at Manhattan, 7:00 p.m. (ESPN2)

The Gaels have already clinched the MAAC regular season title, but that won’t diminish the importance of this matchup of rivals separated by just ten miles. For the Jaspers there’s a lot riding on this weekend, as landing either the second or third seed in the conference tournament would mean matching up with a team that played the day prior (that wouldn’t be the case as the four-seed). And if Manhattan is to defend Draddy Gymnasium they’ll need to do a better job of defending Iona’s David Laury III, who tallied 21 points, eight rebounds and three assists in the first meeting. An important note regarding Iona: since head coach Tim Cluess moved Laury into a reserve role on January 19 the Gaels have won 11 straight.

THIS ONE’S BIG TOO: Providence at Seton Hall, 7:00 p.m. (CBS Sports Network)

Bryce Cotton and the Friars are moving closer to the program’s first NCAA tournament berth since 2004, and while a win in Newark wouldn’t be a major resume-building result it would keep them on the right track. Seton Hall won the first meeting between the two teams, an 81-80 double-overtime thriller on New Year’s Eve. With games against Marquette and Creighton to end the regular season, this is a game the Friars need to get. As for Seton Hall Kevin Willard’s building with an eye towards next season (hence some of the disciplinary measures taken recently), and Friday’s task becomes more difficult with Fuquan Edwin having to sit due to a sprained thumb.

FIVE THINGS TO WATCH FOR:

1) With Siena upsetting Quinnpiac on Thursday night, Rider needs a win over Canisius to keep pace in the race for the fifth seed in next weekend’s MAAC tournament. Teams seeded six through 11 would need to win four games in four days to earn the automatic bid.

2) Brown looks to move to 7-4 in Ivy League play with a win at Penn, and the game begins at 7:30 p.m. on NBC Sports Network. Brown’s Darien Nelson-Henry scored 20 points in the first meeting, a 62-55 Brown victory 13 days ago.

3) High Point, winners of five straight, can clinch the Big South North Division title with a win over Campbell. A loss would open the door for VMI to grab a share of the division crown.

4) Yale looks to remain a game behind Harvard in the Ivy League standings with a win at Princeton. Tyler Bray scored 20 points and grabbed seven rebounds in the first meeting, a 66-65 Bulldogs overtime win on February 15.

5) Washington’s one of four Pac-12 teams with 7-8 record entering the weekend, and a win over rival Washington State would help in regards to seeding for the conference tournament. The Cougars, 2-13 in Pac-12 play, beat the Huskies 72-67 on February 1.

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