Busting Brackets
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Big East Basketball: Preseason conference power rankings 2023-24

By Jerran Anderson

Apr 8, 2023; Hartford, CT, USA; UConn Huskies fans line the streets for parade through downtown Hartford in the teams honor after winning the NCAA Championship. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 8, 2023; Hartford, CT, USA; UConn Huskies fans line the streets for parade through downtown Hartford in the teams honor after winning the NCAA Championship. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports /

5. Providence Friars

Last season: 21-12, 13-7 in the Big East

Head coach Kim English continues his ascent up the coaching ranks as he moves from George Mason (Atlantic 10) into Power 6 action as he joins the sidelines with the Providence Friars. After leading the Patriots to a 20-13 record and a fifth-place finish in the standings in 2022-23, he got the call and made the leap to Rhode Island where he looks to continue building success.

Coach English brings with him Josh Oduro, Davonte “Ticket” Gaines and Justyn Fernandez out of the transfer portal from George Mason as he looks to compete against some of the top coaches in the nation. Oduro is a two-time All-A10 first-team from 2021-23 and joins the Friars as a graduate transfer after averaging 12.0 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 1.5 apg and 1.0 bpg on 52.7 percent shooting from the floor across 114 games (94 starts) with George Mason.

Gaines joins with two years of experience from Tennessee (2019-21) and two years of experience in the A10 with George Mason (2021-23). He finished with 8.9 ppg, 7.2 rpg and 1.4 apg across 53 appearances (52 starts) with the Patriots. Fernandez averaged 4.1 ppg and 1.8 rpg on 33.8 percent shooting from behind the arc across 33 contests (13 starts) in his debut season. Look for him to continue to develop on the wing for Providence in Coach English’s system.

6-foot-5 point-man Garwey Dual is still their most prized name out of the 2023 recruiting class as the Friars look to continue their success as a program. He’ll look to lead the charge at point guard with his dynamic skill set.

Bryce Hopkins, Devin Carter, Corey Floyd Jr., Jayden Pierre and Rafael Castro are the returning names to know. Hopkins should prove to be a formidable force in the frontcourt alongside Oduro after averaging 15.8 ppg, 8.5 rpg and 2.3 apg on 36.4 percent shooting from deep and 45.2 percent shooting from the floor in 2022-23. Carter amassed 13.0 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 2.5 apg, 1.8 spg and 1.1 bpg in the starting backcourt rotation in his first season with the team as a sophomore. He’ll look to continue to affect the game on both ends under a new head coach.

Floyd, Pierre and Castro will all need to prove themselves to Coach English since staying with the program with opportunities on the table for them. The potential is there for the Friars to remain a competitive bunch in the Big East with a nice blend of pieces. Oduro and Hopkins could emerge as a top frontcourt before it’s all said and done given their efforts around the rim, especially defensively. They’ll loom at No. 5  for now in the preseason conference power rankings.

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