Providence Basketball: 2021-22 season preview and outlook for Friars
By Joey Loose
Projected Starters
Guard – Jared Bynum (Junior)
After missing time last season with a groin injury, Bynum is back and ready to run the offense for the Friars. Bynum averaged just 5.8 points but 3.6 assists per game last season. He’s not much of a shooter (just 12% from the 3 last year), but his ability to run the show and distribute the ball make him a solid contributor; if he can develop that shot, he becomes even more valuable for Providence.
Guard – A.J. Reeves (Senior)
While Watson and Duke drew the headlines as Providence’s two-headed scoring monster, Reeves put 9.6 points per game as a junior and will certainly make an even greater impact in Duke’s absence. He becomes Providence’s #1 option as a shooter and scorer, looking to consistently build on last season’s progress, where he made nearly 42% of his 3-point attempts.
Guard – Al Durham (Senior)
The best long-range shooter last season at Indiana, Durham transfers for one final college basketball season with the Friars. He put up solid numbers (11.3 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 2.6 apg) as a starter for the Hoosiers, making 38% of his long-range shots and avoiding turnovers. With no more Duke on this team, they’ll lean on him and Reeves to pick up the scoring from outside.
Forward – Noah Horchler (Senior)
Back for an extra year, Horchler put up solid numbers last season with the Friars, averaging 6.7 points and 5.7 rebounds per game. His production increased as the season progressed, and he was in the starting lineup making an impact by February. Horchler made 41% of his 3-pointers last season and rated as the best rebounder on the team; he keeps that up and the Friars have a very talented backcourt.
Center – Nate Watson (Senior)
In earning Second Team All-Big East honors, Watson averaged 16.9 points and 6.7 rebounds per game last season for the Friars and was the program’s leading scorer. With Duke gone, even more of the onus to create offense falls on Watson, who was dynamic on that side of the ball last season. If he can take a step forward when it comes to rebounding, he’ll develop into one of the top bigs in the conference.