Ed Cooley’s Friars upended Top 10 Purdue in a scrimmage Saturday (Photo: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports)

By KEVIN McNAMARA

Well, well.

There is often a lot to be gained from these NCAA-mandated (DUMB) secret scrimmages that proliferate college basketball these days. That’s certainly the case after the Providence Friars surprising win over No. 7 Purdue Saturday at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center.

The Boilermakers built a healthy 14-point lead with 10 minutes to play but could not hold off the charging Friars who forced overtime and then won, 89-88. There is very little information about the scrimmage due to NCAA rules that bar media from reporting on the particulars but here is what we do know.

*The Friars placed all five starters in double figures with guards Al Durham and Jared Bynum each scoring 19 points.

*Ed Cooley and his pal Matt Painter played fast and loose with the rules and let players go beyond 5 fouls. Nate Watson hacked his way to 9 fouls but scored 16 points in battling with Purdue’s Big Boy duo of Trevion Williams and Zach Edey.

*The Friars canned 11 threes. If this group can make double figure treys it would be a welcome revelation.

*Purdue All-America candidate Jaden Ivey led his team with 18 points and 9 assists but did shoot 5-of-14 from the field with PC’s Durham in his shirt for key stretches.

*Close games are won with execution on defense and making free throws. PC made 14-of-16 free throws in the second half and overtime.

PC 89 Purdue 88, OT pic.twitter.com/PIhM2LP8G4

— Kevin McNamara (@KevinMcNamara33) October 30, 2021

We’ve seen the Friars enough in practice to know that Indiana transfer Durham is going to make a big difference in this team’s attack. Here are his comments after the scrimmage, courtesy of PC’s Sports Info Dept.

Friars’ Al Durham on today’s closed scrimmage at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center vs Purdue.#GoFriars pic.twitter.com/NgPDg0OugZ

— Providence MBB (@PCFriarsmbb) October 30, 2021

This was Providence’s final tuneup before it opens the season a week from Tuesday, Nov. 9, against Fairfield. PC’s first high-major game will come against another Big Ten foe, at Wisconsin, on Nov. 15 in the Gavitt Games.