The Friars Are Back: Providence Eyes Redemption Season as Season Opens at the AMP
After 232 days, the wait is finally over. Providence Friars men's basketball is back.
It's been a long and grueling offseason, especially coming off of the worst season in program history in 40 years. Needless to say, it's about time the Friars find themselves back on the court for real after two exhibition games against Pitt and Harvard.
The first opponent standing in their way being the Holy Cross Crusaders. Last season, the Crusaders finished with an overall record of 13-19 with a 5-13 conference record which found them at the basement of the Patriot League. As for Providence, the Friars were not that much better finishing with an overall record of 12-20 and a conference record of 6-14 which was good enough for eight in the Big East.
As for the Crusaders, they have four freshman, two transfers, and nine returners this season. The team will be led by senior forward Caleb Kenney who is the reigning Patriot League defensive player of the year. Meanwhile Providence has four freshman, six transfers, and only five returners this season headlined by Vanderbilt guard transfer Jason Edwards and sophomore forward Oswin Erhunmwunse.
This should be a game that Providence wins and wins easily especially being at home, but after last season's debut versus Central Connecticut which was only a four-point victory also at home there are no guarantees whatsoever. Not to mention the fact that the starting lineup will most likely feature three transfers in Edwards, Jaylin Sellers (UCF), and Duncan Powell (Georgia Tech).
Which leads me to what I will be looking out for on Monday night.
1) What is the new starting lineup and rotation going to look like?
This is an obvious one, I think we are all excited to watch a backcourt that features Edwards and Sellers. Edwards will be an energetic and electrifying scorer for PC, while Sellers will be a tone setter on both ends of the floor. Don't forget about Powell who will bring Providence's swagger back and a player that Friar fans will come to love if they have not already with his nickname of the "Shag Man". In all seriousness though, this is something that I will be closely monitoring as the starting lineup obviously features three new players and because a rotation was never truly established last season. This season it looks like the rotation will be 10, something Kim English and the rest of the coaching staff will have to properly navigate as the season progresses.
2) Will the Friars get off to a hot start and sustain leads throughout the game?
This is very much an obvious one as well, not to be that guy but I need to see it before I believe it with this group and not buy in until proven wrong unlike last season. I was hopeful and optimistic last season especially with some of the transfers we brought in who turned out to be misses, but I can confidently say that I feel better about this year's portal class compared to last years. And if English wants to see a year four, the majority if not all of his transfers are going to have to hit especially the big three of Edwards, Sellers, and Powell. What makes me more confident in this season's class compared to last seasons is that these three bring an energetic, powerful, and tough identity to the team which is something the team greatly lacked last season. As I mentioned in my season preview article, this is finally English's roster. You are starting to see the team that he is trying to build, a tough, hardnosed one who prides itself on the defensive side of the ball. If we are able to handle an inferior opponent with a double-digit margin of victory (as we should be able to), this result would make me feel a whole lot better about it.
3) Do not beat yourselves
This one goes hand in hand with number two, I'm sorry that all of these have been extremely simplistic and no shit sherlock like but it's the first game of the season after all. And if we are not able to do the little things right especially against inferior opponents, how are we supposed to feel good about ourselves going into the more difficult non-conference and then eventually Big East games? We will have our turnovers and fouls for sure, but as long as we are able to limit both I will be a happy camper and will be able to sleep well Monday night. What brings me to this conclusion is Providence ranking 227th nationally in assist to turnover ratio with 12.9 assists per game and 11.8 turnovers per game, not ideal. Additionally, PC averaging 17.2 personal fouls per game last season which was good for 215th out of 364 Division I teams, also not ideal. I know the turnovers and fouls will be there, just limit them. Ideally below 10 in each category, do not make the game harder than what it needs to be. This will go hand in hand if the Friars are able to sustain leads throughout the contest, do not let Holy Cross hang around when they very well should not be in the first place.
This is what I will be on the lookout for Monday night as the Friars return to the AMP, I am expecting big games from Edwards, Sellers, Erhunmwunse, and Jamier Jones who all scored in double figures vs. Harvard in the latest exhibition game and look to carry their momentum into the season opener.
Friars men's basketball is finally back folks, get excited as it all starts Monday night at the Amica Mutual Pavilion.