A Review of Providence

[OmahaGuy]

OK NEW RULE FOR ME

I totally flubbed on DePaul and Butler. I did NOT expect either of them to be playing postseason basketball. My new rule is I will wait until after Selection Sunday before I start doing these again. Everyone knows their postseason fate after Selection Sunday.

With that out of the way. Let's review the Friars!

OUT:
*Isaiah Jackson
*Emmitt Holt

BACK:
*Maliek White
*Drew Edwards
*Alpha Diallo
*Kalif Young
*Makai Ashton-Langford
*Nate Watson
*David Duke
*AJ Reeves
*Kris Monroe
*Jimmy Nichols

IN:
*Greg Gantt

Friars were a pretty young team that went through some growing pains this year. But it was a year of learning and building a foundation for the future. They'll return almost everyone next season and should be a team to watch out for next season. I'm optimistic about PC! Not to mention a pretty darn good coach in Ed Cooley.

I know the Arkansas loss stings but there's a lot to be excited for at the Dunk.

[XUFan09]

I thought I read somewhere on this board that Holt might get a six year of eligibility. Is he applying for that or was it just idle speculation?

[scoscox]

Ed Cooley will have no excuses next year if they can't get things done.

[BEhomer]

they have size depth and athleticism but lack a true pg and shooting. with this group of personnel perhaps they need to press more to create offense from defense. unless one of the guards improves handle greatly i see more of the same next year.

[billyjack]

Thanks for the optimistic review OmahaGuy.

The hope is still that Holt will return for a 6th year. Also, Edwards i'm unsure of him returning. Jackson is definitely gone.

Like you said, our PG play was too erratic all season. It was tough watching the Friars struggle so much on offense.

We had good defensive numbers by the end of the season, but head-scratching lapses for long stretches including the Xavier dunk-a-thon.

This does look like the flaws of a young team, and we did make the NIT which i pretty much expected. But this really was a tough year.

Results-wise, the Wichita loss was frustrating, as McDuffie was unconscious... and the young D didn't adjust to him.

The South Carolina win was a boost, coming back with a strong second half and seeing great things from David Duke.

The Michigan loss was understandable. We hung close til around 5 minutes unto the 2nd half.

We struggled in wins vs Holy Cross and a couple of other small schools like Iona.

Some solid wins at Boston College and vs URI gave us some momentum.

But we had our "Brown" moment up 20, after sucky UMass lulled us to sleep, losing the lead in the last minute. Man, that loss was so demoralizing. As a program, I thought we had put frustrating losses like that behind us, but we followed the pattern of past sucky losses that i've tried to forget (Brown twice, UMass now twice, at sucky BC twice).

The win at Texas was a great boost, especially since the Cheatin Tarheels lost there a few weeks earlier.

Creighton then shot lights-out, and Villanova dropped us, but yhe real killer was the banked 3 by McClung. Oof.

The rest of the season was a yo-yo rollercoaster ride of good and bad. Good vs Butler and St John's, struggling vs pretty much everything else.

Of the returning roster, we have a ton of talent, plus 4 star Greg Gantt arriving. I don't want to call out players, but i think one Friar is (and should be) transferring out.

[OmahaGuy]

Drew Edwards will transfer

[EMT]

UMass graduate transfer Luwane Pipkins is headed to Providence. Immediately eligible for the Friars. Averaged 16 PPG, 5.2 APG & 4.9 RPG.

https://twitter.com/EvanDaniels/status/ ... 6721091585

[jbarajas0490]

Does Pipkens play point?

[bobpp1]

Pipkins is a scoring point guard and a decent defender. He has killed PC the past two years they played Umass. Just what the friars needed. Looks like Makai Ashford Langford will be transferring according to the friars board. Real nice get by Cooley.

[BEhomer]

he's exactly what PC needs. if they can add another shooter they'll be among the BE elite.