Led by one of the best duos in college basketball, the Providence basketball program made some serious noise last season. However, replacing Kris Dunn and Ben Bentil will be a massive challenge this year for the Friars.
PROVIDENCE FRIARS
Last Season: T-4th, 10-8 in Big East, 24-11 overall
Predicted Big East Finish: 9th
Projected Depth Chart
F/C: Kalif Young (Fr)
F: Rodney Bullock (Jr)/Emmitt Holt (Jr)
SF: Isaiah Jackson (Jr)/Ryan Fazekas (So)/Alpha Diallo (Fr)
SG: Jalen Lindsey (Jr)/Drew Edwards (So)/Ricky Council II (So)
PG: Kyron Cartwright (Jr)/Maliek White (Fr)
Gone: PG-Kris Dunn, F/C-Ben Bentil, G/F-Junior Lomomba (transfer-Western Kentucky), C-Quadree Smith (transfer-Harcum JUCO)
Providence basketball Strengths:
This Providence roster has a ton of versatility and options at shooting guard, small forward, and power forward. Rodney Bullock is one of the most well-rounded players in the conference and he can play several positions. George Mason transfer Isaiah Jackson, returnees Ryan Fazekas and Jalen Lindsey, and freshman Alpha Diallo are pretty much interchangeable between the two through four spots.
Providence Basketball Question Marks:
The only real post options for Providence are freshman Kalif Young and former Indiana and JUCO transfer Emmitt Holt. At 6-9, 250 pounds, Young brings good size inside but Holt is undersized at 6-7. As a result, Ed Cooley may be forced to use a small lineup with Bullock seeing some minutes at the five.
Player to Watch:
After serving as the third banana to Dunn and Bentil last season, Bullock now becomes the go-to guy. The 6-8 combo forward is an inside/outside threat while also likely the top rebounder and shot blocker on the roster. He has the ability to perform at an All Big-East level and the Friars will need him to be that and more if they are to stand any chance of returning to the Big Dance.
X-Factor:
Kris Dunn did it all for the Friars the past couple seasons and Kyron Cartwright now steps in for him at the point guard position. Cartwright has been a solid role player the past couple years, seeing time in both running the show and playing off the ball. He’s been handed the keys to the offense this season and that could dictate whether Providence succeeds or fails this year.
Looking Ahead to 2017-18:
The Providence basketball roster doesn’t have a single senior on it but could lose Bullock to the NBA Draft if he has a breakout season. Cooley has also addressed the need for size by landing a pair of commitments from 2017 centers Nate Watson and Dajour Dickens.
Key Non-Conference Games:
11/17 at Ohio State
11/25 vs. Memphis (Emerald Coast Classic)
11/26 vs. Virginia/Iowa (Emerald Coast Classic)
12/3 vs. Rhode Island
12/23 at Boston College
David Kay is a senior feature NBA Draft, NBA, and college basketball writer for the Sports Bank. He also heads up the NBA and college basketball material at Walter Football.com and is a former contributor at The Washington Times Communities. David has appeared on numerous national radio programs spanning from Cleveland to New Orleans to Milwaukee to Honolulu. He also had the most accurate 2011 NBA Mock Draft and the most accurate 2012 NBA Mock Draft on the internet (Yup, repeat champ… #humblebrag), and finished with the second most accurate 2013 NBA Mock Draft (nearly a three-peat.) You can follow him on Twitter at David_Kmiecik.