Providence Basketball: Kyron Cartwright to be the most improved player in Big East?

By Carmine Carcieri | Oct 12, 2016

Mar 19, 2016; Raleigh, NC, USA; Providence Friars guard Kyron Cartwright (24) dribbles the ball between North Carolina Tar Heels guard Joel Berry II (2) and forward Justin Jackson (44) in the first half during the second round of the 2016 NCAA Tournament at PNC Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /

Ed Cooley and Providence basketball need a big season from point guard Kyron Cartwright.

There is no possible replacement for ex-Providence point guard Kris Dunn, as the Minnesota Timberwolves’ newest talent will go down as one of the greatest Friars of all-time.

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However, Providence must move forward without Dunn if they want to out-perform their standing in the Big East preseason poll. The Friars were picked 9th by fellow Big East coaches, just behind the St. John’s Red Storm and only ahead of the DePaul Blue Demons.

So who will take over Kris Dunn’s spot in the Friars’ lineup?

That would be junior point guard Kyron Cartwright.

Cartwright was the backup to Dunn in 2015-16. The Compton, CA native was an energizer bunny off the bench, giving Providence a different gear with his speed and quickness in the open floor. The Friars were a fast tempo team with Dunn in the game, but Cartwright kept opposing teams’ second units on their heels.

He averaged just 5.9 points and 2.2 rebounds, but he dished out 4.0 assists in 24.2 minutes per game and only had 1.4 turnovers per night.

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While Cartwright won’t have to carry Providence (they will be one of the more balanced teams in the league), he will have to improve his scoring, shooting from the outside and even increase his assist totals.

And head coach Ed Cooley truly believes he will do that, and more for the Friars.

“I think the most improved player in the league is going to be Kyron Cartwright,” Cooley said at Big East Media Day at The World’s Most Famous Arena. “He’s got that ‘it.’ Right now he’s got that look in his eyes.”

There are so many high level point guards sprinkled throughout the Big East that if Cartwright doesn’t take a major leap, the Friars could be in a lot of trouble. Still, praising Cartwright as the potential most improved player in the conference is high praise in a league that features Jalen Brunson, Edmond Sumner, Kassoum Yakwe and other breakout candidates.

On the plus side, Cartwright seems to be taking his increased role in stride. He seems comfortable with that fact that he will have the ball in his hands a lot and most importantly, isn’t flinching at the extra pressure.

“It’s nothing different than other instances that I’ve been in before,” Cartwright said when asked about how he is dealing with adjusting to a new role. “Obviously Kris (Dunn) had games with foul trouble before and I came in and I was able to lead the team.

“The way coach has prepared me, he has done a really good job and I think it’s going to help me thrive in that position.”

Regardless of how good Cartwright is in 2016-17, the Friars have a roster, on paper, that leans toward the rebuilding category. There’s not a single senior on the roster, which means the Friars may not have the experience to finish in the upper half of the Big East.

However, since Cooley was hired at Providence, the head coach has always done more with less. He coaches his heart out on a nightly basis and has an excellent track record of developing players from one year to the next.

“We’ll coach this team to be chippy, edgy, physical, and remember we’re the ninth place team,” Cooley said.

It all starts and ends with Cartwright’s improvement. However, there will be some early growing pains for the Providence Friars.