Busting Brackets
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Big East Basketball: Creighton rises on top in latest 2020-21 power rankings

By Salvador Lopez

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - JANUARY 22: Marcus Zegarowski #11 of the Creighton Bluejays in action in the game against the DePaul Blue Demons during the first half at Wintrust Arena on January 22, 2020 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - JANUARY 22: Marcus Zegarowski #11 of the Creighton Bluejays in action in the game against the DePaul Blue Demons during the first half at Wintrust Arena on January 22, 2020 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) /
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Big East Basketball David Duke Providence Friars (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
Big East Basketball David Duke Providence Friars (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /

7. Providence Friars (11-11, 7-9 Big East)

It’s been a disappointing season in Friartown for a Providence team that entered the season with high hopes of reaching their sixth NCAA Tournament under head coach Ed Cooley as an at-large team.

With eight losses under their belt in 2021, Providence has eliminated themselves from the at-large conversation and will need to win the Big East Conference Tournament Title for any remaining hopes of heading to the Big Dance.

The major problem for Providence all season long has been their inconsistency and thin depth on the roster. In back-to-back home games in February, the Friars scored a season-low 43 points against Seton Hall and then surrendered a season-high 92 points against St. John’s.

The offense this season has been heavily reliant upon the duo of junior guard, David Duke (17.4 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 4.9 apg) and senior center, Nate Watson (17.2 ppg, 6.8 rpg), to carry the load of the scoring.

Both Duke and Watson lead the Friars in minutes this season. However, as the season has gone on, the minutes have started to take its toll on the duo, as Duke and Watson have been shut down lately against opposing defenses. In fact, Duke is currently ninth nationally averaging 37.4 minutes per game this season.

During their first 15 games this season, Duke and Watson both scored in double figures together. Lately in their last seven games, its only been one player from the duo to carry the Friars in scoring, while the other gets shutdown.

Other than Duke and Watson, the offense has had a ton of struggles currently ranking ninth in the conference with a 42.1 percent field-goal percentage.

The transfers of sophomore point guard, Jared Bynum (5.3 ppg, 4.2 apg – Averaged 11.3 ppg, 4.5 apg for St. Joseph’s in 2018-19), senior forward, Noah Horchler (5.6 ppg, 5 rpg – Averaged 16 ppg, 9.3 rpg for North Florida in 2018-19), and junior forward, Ed Croswell (2.6 ppg, 2.1 rpg – Averaged 10 ppg, 7.3 rpg for La Salle in 2019-20), have all been disappointing this season.

Bynum’s injury where he missed nine games was a big hit towards the depth of Providence’s backcourt. The positive sign for the future of the program is that freshman guard, Alyn Breed (5.6 ppg), has received meaningful playing time and was a major factor down the stretch scoring 15 points in Providence’s upset win over Creighton in January.

Providence will close out conference play with three opponents which they are 0-3 against this season. The Friars will host a desperate Xavier team on Wednesday, before traveling to St. John’s on Wednesday, March 3rd, and hosting Villanova in its conference finale on Saturday, March 6th.

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