Season Outlook
Replacing a scorer and shooter like David Duke is going to take a whole host of players, but perhaps that’s not a bad thing for the Friars. This year’s squad certainly has much better depth than last year, and the expectation is that both the offense and defense will take a step forward. Cooley’s teams are known moreso for defensive intensity than connecting on long-range shots or running up the score. If these players buy into his defensive gameplan, then the results could be fantastic in Providence.
Since the new Big East was formed in 2013, Providence is one of the programs that has certainly had a bit of a revival. They even won the first conference tournament back in 2014, their first of those five straight NCAA Tournament bids. It’s easy to look at what Cooley has done and comment on the lack of postseason success, but it’s clear that this program remains a legitimate contender in this conference, even if not at the level of a Villanova.
There are a few freshmen and transfers that Cooley needs to get up to speed in the coming weeks, but come November this could be a team to surprise a few people as the season begins. All eyes are on teams like Connecticut and St. John’s, both expected to take another step forward this season, but this Providence squad could be sneaky good if the defense gels and those besides Reeves can figure out how to make their shots consistently.
With these things in mind, it’s still not a surprise to see Providence picked in the middle of the pack in the Big East. After last season’s inconsistent play, it’s hard to expect this group to just catch fire, especially when some of the other Big East programs may have more talent on their rosters. Cooley is going to do what he does and his impact will certainly be felt for the Friars. It’s fair to expect another middle of the pack finish in 2022, but could they parlay their success into another bid for the NCAA Tournament?