Providence Basketball: 2023-24 key storylines and outlook for Friars
By Kyle Craib
Seismic Changes Over the Summer
The news of Ed Cooley’s departure sent shockwaves throughout the Big East. Not only was Cooley a staple of Providence basketball for over a decade, but it was nearly unheard of for a coach to move within the conference.
But alas, unwritten rules do not stop the NCAA transfer portal, leaving Providence’s Athletic Director Steve Napolillo with a big decision ahead. To add onto the issues at hand, the Friars also waved goodbye to a good portion of last year’s squad.
After a tumultuous season with Providence, Jared Bynum entered the transfer portal looking for a fresh start. The undersized guard landed with Stanford, simultaneously boosting the Cardinals’ offence while leaving a gaping hole at his former home.
Fellow guard Alyn Breed was dismissed by the Friars after multiple legal accusations surfaced at the end of last season. The charges were officially dropped in September, but it’s hard to imagine Breed would return after the team cut ties with the guard. Last season, Breed was a solid contributor off the bench, notching nearly five points per game.
Seniors Ed Croswell, Noah Locke and Clifton Moore all saw their time in NCAA basketball expire. Croswell and Moore managed the middle for the Friars last season, while Locke patrolled the perimeter. Despite their substantial contributions last season, the trio all went undrafted in the 2023 NBA Draft.
All together, Providence will need to replicate 44 points per game without five of their most counted on pieces from last year.
Undermanned and without a leader, the Friars faced a crossroads heading into a very important summer for the team. However, Napolillo wasted no time finding the next leader of their squad.