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Providence Basketball: 2018-19 season preview for the Friars

By Brad Cavallaro

DAYTON, OH - MARCH 15: Kalif Young #13 of the Providence Friars celebrates with Rodney Bullock #5 in the first half against the USC Trojans during the First Four game in the 2017 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at UD Arena on March 15, 2017 in Dayton, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
DAYTON, OH - MARCH 15: Kalif Young #13 of the Providence Friars celebrates with Rodney Bullock #5 in the first half against the USC Trojans during the First Four game in the 2017 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at UD Arena on March 15, 2017 in Dayton, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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CHARLOTTE, NC – MARCH 16: Admon Gilder #3 of the Texas A&M Aggies defends Alpha Diallo #11 of the Providence Friars during the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Spectrum Center on March 16, 2018 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NC – MARCH 16: Admon Gilder #3 of the Texas A&M Aggies defends Alpha Diallo #11 of the Providence Friars during the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Spectrum Center on March 16, 2018 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) /

Starters

While this was not Providence’s starting lineup for their exhibition game, I think these five players will see the most minutes early on.

Point Guard – Makai Ashton-Langford, Sophomore

Ashton-Langford had a rough freshman season where he was unplayable at times. He started off extremely strong and was getting to the rim with ease, but fell off considerably about halfway through non-conference play. He is not a good perimeter shooter so this reliance on penetration severely limited him offensively. With Cartwright gone, Ashton-Langford will need to step in and provide competent PG play.

Based on his play last season, this could be the Friars’ Achilles heel, but it is also important to remember that he is a former top 50 recruit who is extremely talented. Freshman David Duke will be nipping at Ashton-Langford’s heels and the two will compete for the starting spot.

Shooting Guard – Alpha Diallo, Junior

Diallo is Providence’s best player and he is one of the top players in the Big East conference. The 6’7” wing is a matchup nightmare who can defend 1-4. He is extremely adept at posting up smaller guards and crashing the offensive glass as he is a terrific finisher around the basket. The versatile junior also has an excellent mid-range game (especially in the middle of a zone) but struggles to shoot from beyond the arc. Diallo averaged 13.2 ppg and 6.6 rpg as a sophomore and should increase his production as he becomes the clear offensive focal point.

Small Forward – Isaiah Jackson, Senior

Jackson was a key sixth man for Providence last season and could see a bigger role in his senior year. Like Diallo, Jackson is a versatile wing who can play multiple positions. He was often used in smaller lineups where he was matched up against an opposing big man who he could beat off the dribble and draw fouls. Jackson’s shooting decreased as the season progressed and Providence needs him to be one of their top outside threats. His decision making can be questionable at times, but he is an extremely important player nonetheless. 7.4 ppg, 4.2 rpg, and 36% three-point shooting as a junior.

Power Forward- Emmitt Holt, Senior

Holt missed all of last season after abdominal surgery and Providence needs him to regain his previous form. The 6’7 senior is a skilled interior scorer who can also step outside and knock down long-range shots. He was used primarily at center two seasons ago, but it looks like he will play a majority of his minutes at PF this season. This means Holt will no longer have the quickness advantage he enjoyed over opposing centers, but he will now have a strength advantage over opposing forwards. He averaged 12.5 ppg and 5.4 rpg in 16-17 and hopefully, he is healthy enough to produce at a similar level.

Center – Nate Watson, Sophomore

Watson is a great back to the basket scorer who consistently shows his tremendous touch around the rim. The fact that he can hit free throws (70%) makes him even more valuable offensively. Watson made some defensive strides as the season progressed, but he will need to become more consistent and disciplined in that area. His major weakness is his rebounding (or lack thereof) as he only averaged 1.9 rpg which is unacceptable for a player of his caliber. While Watson is the better offensive player, it will be interesting to see how many minutes Kalif Young gets at center.

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