Big East Basketball: Way-too-early 2019-20 preseason Power Rankings

By Brian Foley | Apr 9, 2019

VILLANOVA, PA - FEBRUARY 27: Collin Gillespie #2 of the Villanova Wildcats drives to the basket against Markus Howard #0 of the Marquette Golden Eagles in the first half at Finneran Pavilion on February 27, 2019 in Villanova, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /

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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MARCH 14: Collin Gillespie #2 of the Villanova Wildcats competes for the ball with Maliek White #4 of the Providence Friars in the second half during the Quarterfinals of the 2019 Big East men’s basketball tournament at Madison Square Garden on March 14, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Lawrie/Getty Images) /

5. Providence Friars

Last season: 18-16, 7-11 (four seed NIT, first round)
Key departures: G/F Isaiah Jackson (9.6 ppg), G Makai Ashton-Langford (3.7 ppg)
Key additions: G Luwane Pipkins
Recruiting Class (7th): F Greg Gantt
2019-20 National Projection: 27th
Joker Says: “This is what happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object.“

Providence has finished as a top-40 defensive unit for each of the past five seasons, and projects as such once again in 2019-20. Pair that tested defense with what should be a vastly superior offensive unit, and the Friars seem well-positioned to return to the NCAA tournament after a one-year hiatus.

Losing Isaiah Jackson, a valuable four-year cog in Ed Cooley’s system, will certainly hurt, but the transfer of Makai Ashton-Langford should be an addition by subtraction. Of the 572 high-major collegians who played as much as the former four-star prospect did in 2018-19, MAL ranked just 571st in turnover rate, 569th in offensive rating, 567th in PRPG!, and 552nd in effective field goal percentage.

More. Providence adds Luwane Pipkins. light

Grad transfer addition Luwane Pipkins, who averaged 16 points and 5.2 assists per game for UMass, has battled his own bouts of inefficiency, but he is much stronger with the ball, can get to the free throw line, and should be a significant offensive improvement over Ashton-Langford. Pipkins’ efficiency could tick upwards with less responsibility too, as he will likely slot in as a secondary scorer behind the Friars’ leading man, senior Alpha Diallo. Diallo posted career-highs in points, rebounds, assists, and three-point percentage in 2018-19.

Diallo, Pipkins, and a healthy AJ Reeves should form a fearsome triumvirate, with center Nate Watson, sophomore guard David Duke, four-star forward Greg Gantt, and a host of others alongside to compile one of Providence’s most impressive two-way rosters in the Cooley era. Should either Myles Powell or Markus Howard elect to join Ponds in the NBA, or if Villanova slips off its pedestal, the well-coached Friars will be in position to slide up the standings.

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