Busting Brackets
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Big East Basketball: Will anyone challenge the defending champs?

By Carmine Carcieri

Mar 12, 2016; New York, NY, USA; Seton Hall Pirates guard Khadeen Carrington (0) cuts down the net after the Pirates won the championship game of the Big East conference tournament against Villanova at Madison Square Garden. Seton Hall Pirates defeated Villanova Wildcats 69-67.Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 12, 2016; New York, NY, USA; Seton Hall Pirates guard Khadeen Carrington (0) cuts down the net after the Pirates won the championship game of the Big East conference tournament against Villanova at Madison Square Garden. Seton Hall Pirates defeated Villanova Wildcats 69-67.Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 19, 2016; Raleigh, NC, USA; Providence Friars guard Kyron Cartwright (24) celebrates after a play against the North Carolina Tar Heels in the first half during the second round of the 2016 NCAA Tournament at PNC Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 19, 2016; Raleigh, NC, USA; Providence Friars guard Kyron Cartwright (24) celebrates after a play against the North Carolina Tar Heels in the first half during the second round of the 2016 NCAA Tournament at PNC Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /

8. Providence Friars

2015-16 record: 23-10 overall, 10-8 in Big East, lost in second round of NCAA Tournament

Head coach: Ed Cooley

Key returning players: Rodney Bullock, Jalen Lindsey, Kyron Cartwright, Ryan Fazekas, Drew Edwards

Newcomers: Four-star SF Alpha Diallo, three-star PG Mailek White, three-star F Kalif Young, JUCO F Emmitt Holt, George Mason transfer G/F Isaiah Jackson

The heart and the souls of the Providence program, Ben Bentil and Kris Dunn, are off to the NBA. The Friars will somehow have to make up for the 37.5 points, 13 rebounds and 7.3 assists per game that the two college basketball superstars left behind.

So why in the world are the Friars ranked 8th in our preseason preview?

Culture and coaching.

There is a reason why the program has made three straight NCAA Tournaments. There is a reason why the Friars sent two players to the NBA this past off-season. And there is a reason why they made numerous comebacks last season in games they weren’t supposed to be in.

A big part of Providence’s success has to do with Ed Cooley, who always seems to do more with less and whose player development system has led to terrific results on the court.

Cooley won the Big East Tournament in 2013-14 despite losing three significant players (Dunn to injury, Brandon Austin to suspension and Rodney Bullock to suspension). The next year, despite losing their best player and top scorer, Bryce Cotton, the Friars reached the Big Dance.

Then just look at the leaps that certain players made over the course of Cooley’s time at PC. Cotton went from averaging 4.0 points in his freshman year to over 21 points in his senior season. Dunn went from an injury prone guard to one of the top players in the nation. Bentil’s leap last year was on par with the greatest one season leaps in Big East history.

Cooley is unlikely to lead the Friars to the NCAA Tournament without great players like Dunn and Bentil in 2016-17, but they should be better than what the coaches predicted in the latest Big East preseason poll (9th place).

Rodney Bullock, Kyron Cartwright and Jalen Lindsey are all expected to step into larger roles, while Drew Edwards and Ryan Fazekas will be role players. Cooley has been raving about George Mason transfer Isaiah Jackson, who should be a critical piece to the puzzle as a do-it-all guard with excellent size and length.

Also, the Friars have former Indiana big Emmitt Holt to pull down rebounds, and Alpha Diallo, Mailek White and Kalif Young are in the fold to provide the team with quality minutes.

They don’t have a single senior of their roster (that’s promising for their future), however, this team is going to play with a chip on their shoulder and will give 110 percent every night.

Any Cooley-led team is known for playing tough and physical. Expect the Friars to finish 8th or maybe even higher in the Big East.

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