Big East Basketball: Best and worst-case scenarios for each team in 2018-19
By Brian Foley
Providence Friars
Last year: 21-14 (10-8), NCAA tournament first round
Key Departures: G Kyron Cartwright, G Rodney Bullock, G Jalen Lindsey
Best Case
With Alpha Diallo and Emmitt Holt at the helm, Ed Cooley’s Friar machine keeps on rolling to a sixth straight NCAA tournament appearance, this time as something better then PC’s traditional No. 10 or 11 seed. Providence typically relies on superior guard play (Bryce Cotton, Kris Dunn, and Kyron Cartwright), but the frontcourt leads the way in 2018-19. Holt, Diallo, junior Kalif Young, senior Isaiah Jackson, and sophomore Nate Watson all stand between 6-foot-6 and 6-foot-10 and drag the Big East back to its previous decade when big men dominated the conference. Makai Ashton-Langford also steps forward as a critical role player capable of stewarding an offense with limited spacing.
More. Friars excelling in the new Big East. light
Worst Case
With too many frontcourt options and not enough experienced guards, Cooley struggles to find a set rotation throughout the season. The Friars’ usually nasty defense slips a notch with the inconsistent playing time, and the offense fails to make up the ground with so many non-shooters on the floor. The young Ashton-Langford is not quite ready to lead a team, and Providence slips past the bubble and toward a .500 record.