Bentil Goes For 38 In Win Over Butler
By SEAN BRENNAN
Special to BIGEAST.com
On Wednesday Providence’s Kris Dunn was feted by the BIG EAST as its’ Player of the Year for his dynamic season for the Friars this season. But after Ben Bentil’s bring-down-the-house performance in Thursday’s quarterfinal matchup against Butler, maybe Dunn should considering sharing the award with his teammate.
Bentil, the Friars’ 6-9 sophomore man-child, poured in 38 points, including 23 in the pivotal second half, as the fourth-seeded Friars knocked off No. 5 Butler, 74-60, in the BIG EAST Tournament Presented by the Jeep Brand. Bentil is the sixth player in BIG EAST Tournament history to score at least 38 points in one game and is tied for second-most all time in Tournament history with four other players. Bentil’s 38 points are the most scored in a game since Providence’s Jamine Peterson tossed in 38 in a 109-106 loss to Seton Hall in the 2010 First-Round.
UConn’s Donyell Marshall holds the record for most points in a tournament game with 42 when he lit up St. John’s in 1994.
“I told him in the locker room, I was a fan today,” said Providence head coach Ed Cooley. “Normally I’m not a fan but today literally I was a fan. To see the ball go in the net like that. He scored in every imaginable way – drives, shots, step backs. I was like, ‘Man, I got to get him the ball any way I can.’ Kris came in the huddle and said, ‘Where are we getting him the ball next? And I’m like, ‘Kris, I don’t know.’ That was a great offensive display. I haven’t seen that in a long, long time. God bless him. I’m proud to advance.”
Despite 15 points from Bentil in the first half the Friars went into intermission nursing only a 32-30 lead. And when Butler scored the first five points of the second half, all courtesy of Kelan Martin (13 points, 10 rebounds), the Bulldogs were holding a 35-32 lead – their largest of the game – and it was still a long way from being decided who would move on to take on top-seeded Villanova in Friday night’s semifinals.
But almost before Butler could enjoy it new-found prosperity, Bentil started going to work.
A three-pointer with 15:31 to play snapped a 38-all tie and his layup 37 seconds later upped the Providence lead to 43-38. Then after a three-ball by Dunn made it 46-41, Bentil proceeded to score 14 of the Friars’ next 20 points and when the dust settled Providence had a 66-53 lead with 5:26 to go and the Friars could start thinking ahead a little about the looming Wildcats.
Bentil, who had a season-high 42 points against Marquette on February 10, came into the game averaging an even 30 points in two March games. Asked what was behind his greatness of late, Cooley first chimed in saying, “Divine Intervention.” But Bentil then quickly gave the credit to his teammates.
“Playing with a great teammate like Kris, he will get you the ball in the right spot,” Bentil said. “When you have a hot hand he’ll make sure the ball is in your hand. It’s all on my teammates.”
Dunn, who has provided his own share of highlight games in his stellar career at Providence, appeared to be as big a fan of Bentil yesterday as his coach was.
“It as simple,” said Dunn, who finished with 15 points and 7 assists, of the Friars’ game plan. “Don’t shy away from it. If you see somebody has a hot hand, try to get him the ball in the best spot that he can score in. Congrats to Ben. He did an amazing job today.”
Butler got to see that amazing job up close and even in defeat came away in awe of Bentil’s performance.
“We got a steady dose of Ben scoring on all cylinders,” said Kellen Dunham, who finished with a team-high 17 points.
Near the end of the game, with the victory secured, the Providence band began chanting, “We want Nova.” Is it a case of being careful what you wish for? Maybe. The two teams split their two regular-season games so there is no awe factor for the Friars to overcome. But if Bentil has a Friday night vs. Villanova like he had a Thursday afternoon against Butler, it would surprise no one at the Garden if they saw a changing of the guard Friday night and an end to Villanova’s reign as tournament kings.
“We’re going to have to bring our ‘A’ game,” Dunn said. “This is a disciplined game. They have a lot of shooters. We’re going to have to go out there and play with that same energy we had, that joy, and go out and fight. I really think this is going to be a street fight. That’s how we’re going to have to do it. Go out there and fight and hit shots and make big stops.”