Providence Friars
2018-2019 Overall Rank: #62
Conference Rank: #6 Big East
Providence has reached the NCAA Tournament five straight times under Coach Ed Cooley. They will hope to make it six this time around, but there are three starters that need to be replaced. Rodney Bullock led the team with 14.3 points per game and Kyron Cartwright added 11.8 points and a team high 5.8 assists during his senior season. Without those two and Jalen Lindsey, the Friars have some big shoes to fill.
2017-18 Record: 23-15, 10-8
2017-18 Postseason: NCAA
Coach: Ed Cooley
Coach Record: 144-94 at Providence, 236-163 overall
Key Departed Players:
Rodney Bullock, Forward, 14.3 ppg
Kyron Cartwright, Guard, 11.8 ppg
Jalen Lindsey, Guard, 8.8 ppg
Key Returning Players:
Alpha Diallo, Junior, Guard, 13.2 ppg
Kalif Young, Junior, Forward, 4.3 ppg
Isaiah Jackson, Senior, Guard, 7.4 ppg
Nate Watson, Sophomore, Center, 6.8 ppg
Maliek White, Junior, Guard, 4.8 ppg
Makai Ashton-Langford, Sophomore, Guard, 4.2 ppg
Drew Edwards, Junior, Guard, 2.0 ppg
Andrew Fonts, Sophomore, Guard
Emmitt Holt, Senior, Forward, DNP last season
Key New Players:
David Duke, Freshman, Guard
Kris Monroe, Freshman, Forward
Jimmy Nichols, Freshman, Forward
A.J. Reeves, Freshman, Guard
Projection:
Alpha Diallo and Kalif Young are the only returning starters from last season. Diallo is a big 6-7 guard who averaged 13.2 points and a team high 6.6 rebounds during his sophomore season. Diallo should emerge as the team’s top scorer and most productive player. Isaiah Jackson, Maliek White and Makai Ashton-Langford are all back after coming in off the bench last season. But the backcourt also adds David Duke and A.J. Reeves, a couple of very talented incoming freshmen who should make an immediate impact. Nate Watson and Emmitt Holt will join Young in the frontcourt. Watson had a decent freshman campaign and at 6-10 and 260 pounds, will provide a nice big body in the paint. The return of Holt will provide a nice boost to the frontcourt. Two years ago Holt averaged 12.5 points and 5.4 rebounds before missing last season with an injury. He will be the big man who can stretch the defense and open up space for the talented guards to attack the basket. If this group can stay healthy, the Friars should be right in the mix for an NCAA Tournament, but they will need the freshmen guards to live up to their potential too.
Projected Postseason Tournament: NIT
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 73.6 (178th in nation, 8th in conference)
Scoring Defense: 72.7 (183, 4)
Field-Goal Percentage: 44.1 (204, 8)
Field-Goal Defense: 44.4 (209, 8)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 6.4 (291, 9)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 33.2 (267, 8)
Free-Throw Percentage: 70.4 (219, 9)
Rebound Margin: -0.6 (225, 8)
Assists Per Game: 13.9 (163, 9)
Turnovers Per Game: 12.3 (114, 5)
Madness 2018 Men’s Basketball Recruit Rankings:
#42 David Duke
#44 A.J. Reeves
#145 Jimmy Nichols
