Potential Impact of Providence's 2010 Class

Expectations for Providence's 2010 class are growing by the day.  Between stories of Gerard Coleman going for 35 seemingly every night and Joe Young getting named to MaxPreps midseason McDonald's All American team, PC fans are dying to get this group on campus.

For all of the talk surrounding Friar fans' unrealistic expectations for their team and their coach, Providence fans are a realistic bunch when it comes to incoming freshman. 

A few weeks back this site compared the 2010 class to the class 2003 trio of Dwight Brewington, Gerald Brown, and Jeff Parmer.  The '03 class had little impact in year 1 (a combined 7 ppg), joining a veteran tournament team, and for all of the talk about how disappointing the class was as things began to fall apart for them, there was little complaint about the lack of immediate impact.

What is a fair expectation of the 2010 group?  Certainly, Providence fans will, and should, expect better numbers than the '03 class, as minutes will be more readily available from the start.  With Sharaud Curry graduating, someone is going to have to make up for his 19 ppg in conference play.

If we fast forward a year, how do we judge the success of this freshman class?  Here is the criteria I'll be measuring them against:

1. Statistical output in comparison to the most productive and highly rated Big East freshman and freshman in PC history (taking into account the roster he joined and the playing time available).   
2. Won/loss record in comparison to the year before
3. Defensive impact (team FG%, steals/block #s)
4. Offensive impact (team assist, FG%, etc.)

A closer look at statistical output: Does 12 points per game for either of the high scoring incoming guards sound outlandish?

While Coleman and Young have put up huge scoring numbers at the prep and high school levels, scoring over 12.3 ppg next season would place either of them in the top 3 in the history of Providence basketball.  Only two freshman in PC history have scored over 13 ppg, Ryan Gomes in 2002 (13.8) and John Arzoomanian in 1945 (19.7). 

2009 Big East top 100 freshman (per ESPN):

#12 Lance Stephenson - 12 ppg, 5.1 reb, 28.9 min

#16 Dante Taylor - 4.9 ppg, 4.7 reb, 15.7 min

#18 Mouphtaou Yarou - 3.3 ppg, 3.2 reb, 13.4 min

#19 Dominic Cheek - 5.3 ppg, 2.9 reb, 15 min

#20 Alex Oriakhi - 5.3 ppg, 7.9 reb, 27. 5 min

#23 Malik Wayns - 8.7 ppg, 17 min

#25 Peyton Siva - 4.6 ppg, 11.4 min

#33 Jamal Coombs-McDaniel - 3.4 ppg, 1.3 reb, 11 mins

#41 Isaiah Armwood - 2.2 ppg, 9.3 min

#58 DaShonte Riley - 2.1 ppg, 10.6 min

#60 Dan Jennings - 2.0 ppg, 5.2 min

#76 Junior Cadougan - injured

#78 Rakeem Buckles - 3.5 ppg, 3.7 reb, 11.9 min

#79 Jeronne Maymon - left Marquette

#94 Lamar Patterson - 2.3 ppg, 1.2 reb, 10.4 min

#95 Erik Williams - 1.8 ppg, 12 min

#96 Dalton Pepper - 4.4 ppg, 10 min


Analysis:

The numbers from the top 100 freshmen in the Big East don't blow anyone away.  Coleman, Young, and Giplaye come to Providence under different circumstances than any of the freshman listed above who joined national powers.  With Providence graduating two starters, minutes will be available next year, but if Providence plans to move Greedy Peterson over to small forward next season does the backcourt situation get crowded with two senior wings returning, along with the emerging Duke Mondy? 

Anything approaching Stephenson numbers (28 minutes, 12 points, 5 rebounds) from any of the three would be a home run.  12 points per game would put them on par with the highest scoring freshman in the conference and among the top 3 in the history of Providence basketball.  

Joe Young's Buzzer Beating Hook Shot

Clearly, this was my first shot at putting a video on Youtube.  It's very rough, but I figured if anyone hadn't seen Young's buzzer beating hook shot before halftime of the T Mobile Invitational final this video is better than nothing.



Here is game footage leading up to the hook.  Young scored 30 points in the first half of this one.

Coleman versus Shabazz Napier

While Friar fans were enjoying the win over UConn, Lawrence Academy scored a thrilling win over Gerard Coleman and Tilton.

Napier set the world ablaze from beyond the arc in the second half, all part of a 35 point effort.  Coleman was just as good with 36 points in the loss.

In a tie game late, Tilton trapped Napier who found a teammate for a 3 with 5 seconds to play.  Coleman was fouled on what would have been a game-tying 3, but was unable to convert the foul shots, as Tilton fell 88-86.

A glimpse into the future of PC basketball?

20 Games in, this is Vincent Council's team

On a night with a lot of angles, Vincent Council was the story.  Greedy Peterson's 23 and 14 were featured in ESPN's postgame highlights, Bilal Dixon fought his heart out against a bigger frontcourt (11 points, 12 rebounds), and the team responded to Keno Davis' challenge, but long time followers of Providence basketball have waited far too long for Council to overlook the impact he had on this one.

When a 5 point second half lead turned into a 3 point deficit with under 10 minutes to play we seemed headed for a scenario that has become far too familiar in Friartown over the past decade.  The Friars had hung around, showed grit, but the more talented team stepped on the gas when they needed to as the Friars faded.  Council slammed on the breaks and put this one in reverse.

His impact on the game is apparent in his stat line (8 points, 8 assists, 7 rebounds, and 4 steals), but it was how Council went about his work and when which told the story.

Down 58-55 with 9 minutes to go, Council found Dixon for a dunk to stem the tide.  On the next possession the 6'2 guard ripped down an offensive rebound and laid it in to give PC the lead again. 

In a three minute span that began with the Friars leading by 5 with 6 minutes to go, Council twice found Dixon for layups, hit Peterson for another and finished one of his own.  By the time the spurt was over Providence led 73-59 with 2:40 left, Connecticut had no answer for the freshman lead guard, and Providence fans finally had a guy who confidently took the ball in his hands and the game with him.

It may not have been coincidental that Providence chose to feature a message on the video screen from Ryan Gomes with UConn in the house, but it was ironic that he was featured on a night that PC fans left the Dunk knowing what they were starting to believe: Providence has a star freshman for the first time since Gomes emerged out of nowhere in 2002. 

Notes:

• After Keno publically called his team out and hinted at changes, Duke Mondy played more minutes than either Brian McKenzie or Marshon Brooks.  Mondy responded with big shots to keep Providence within striking distance in the first half, while Brooks and McKenzie shot a combined 4-13.  Mondy was part of the core group (along with Council, Curry, Dixon and Peterson) who broke the game open.  Has Keno found a fave five?
• Looking for an improvement over last year's frontcourt duo of Geoff McDermott and Jon Kale?  Look no further than Dixon and Peterson finishing with loud dunks at the rim.  Peterson's finishes on alley oops brought the house down and served as a stark contrast to last year's beating in Storrs when Hasheem Thabeet threw away weak layups at will.  It was a more aggressive and authoritative look for the PC bigs, against the top shot blocking team in the country.
• Providence outscored UConn by 14 in the 2nd half, a half in which they shot 0-7 from 3. 
• Friars.com had PC down for only 6 fastbreak points.  They seem to be shortchanged a bit there.
• Who saw PC outscoring Connecticut 44-32 in the paint?  How about 21-12 on second chance points?  A 21-20 edge in bench points?
• Russ Permenter gave PC solid minutes off of the bench against a physical front court.
• Brooks' solid overall game on Saturday night was overshadowed by the late collapse.  His ugly decision making from today will go forgotten because of the win. 
• Connecticut struggles from beyond the arc, which some will point to, but the Providence interior defense was non-existent before tonight and deserves a ton of credit for a big bounce back effort.
• Gerard Coleman and Shabazz Napier put on a show at Lawrence Academy.  Shabazz put up 35 puts in an 88-86 win over Tilton.  Coleman scored 36 in the loss.

Keno vs Timmy Two Years In

A good discussion was started on the BEB this afternoon comparing Keno Davis' first two seasons to those of "he who shall not be named" Tim Welsh.  Clearly, after giving up 109 points to South Florida new coach enthusiasm is waning in Providence.

We could break down how each coach performed record-wise, but there are some really interesting parallels to be drawn between the coaching staffs' early recruiting.

Year 1 - Player Retained

When Welsh took over for Pete Gillen in 1998 he inherited a bare bones roster without a legitimate post player.  Gillen's only commitment was Sean Connolly and Welsh convinced one of the top scorers in Massachusetts history to come to PC.  Rahim Johnson was a prop 48 kid who was on campus the year before, and would have technically been a freshman with Connolly, but never played.  After averaging 25 ppg at Maine Central, the 6'6, 235 lb forward could have added an inside/outside presence Welsh lacked early.

Like his predecessor, Davis inherited one commitment from Welsh, Bilal Dixon, and redshirted him his freshman season when Dixon decided to remained committed.

In his one season at Providence, Connolly averaged 11 points per game and started 30. 

Dixon has been the lone post defensive presence for the Friars in his freshman year and has started every game as well, averaging nearly 9 points and 6 rebounds per game.

Year 2 - The Mega-class

The first year as head man for each coach presented a sizable challenge.  New to the school and still employing their style of play, each was forced to fill a number of scholarships.

Welsh's haul was headlined by Florida State transfer 7'2 Karim Shabazz who committed after witnessing what turned out to be one of the biggest wins in Welsh's tenure, an 87-82 victory over #8 Purdue.  The group consisted of one transfer (Shabazz), three JUCOs (Donta Wade, David Murray, Chris Rogers) and four freshman (Abdul Mills, Rome Augustin, Marcus Jefferson, and Mark Jarrell-Wright). 

Shockingly, in hindsight, one of the most credible recruiting sources at the time, Hoop Scoop, ranked this class the 8th best in the country.

The results were less than stellar on the court and even worse off of it.  Failing to meet expectations, Wade and Murray did not contribute in year 1 and were gone after pummeling a classmate over a bar room (if you can call Prime Time a bar room) disagreement.  Jefferson showed flashes, but transferred, Jarrell-Wright did the same and the four hold overs: Mills, Augustin, Shabazz and Rogers helped savage the class by all playing critical roles on the 2001 NCAA Tournament team.

It was a mixed bag for this bunch, as they were part of the most embarrassing season in Friar basketball history (11-19 finish, nation-wide disgrace off the court), but there was the tournament appearance.  If Rome and Mills stayed healthy beyond their sophomore campaigns it would have been a decent class, but Welsh really only got one good year out of an eight man class.

How will Keno's 7 man class fare against Welsh's not-so great 8?  Playing with more upperclassmen alters a straight statistical comparison of year 1.  Five of the six top scorers on this team were recruited by Welsh, whereas only one of Gillen's leftovers had an impact in 98-99 (Erron Maxey who led the team in scoring.  John Linehan played only 6 games due to injury).

The Verdict: Only 3 of Welsh's 8 graduated from Providence, but four played a critical role on a tournament team.  Neither got much of an impact dipping into the JUCO ranks in year 1 and Vincent Council looks to be the best freshman of either class.  Davis made it a point to bring in two point guards when he already had a 5th year senior on board, while Welsh failed to convert clear wings like MJW to the 1.

Between injuries, fighting, and transfers Welsh's crop had their flaws, but for Keno's 7 to match them on the court they will have to make a tournament appearance over the next four years.


Year 3

Like year 2, year 3 was a mixed bag for Welsh.  The class of Marcus Douthit, Sheiku Kabba, Maris Laksa, and Chrin Anrin was the only PC class of the last decade to reach the tournament twice.  After immediately impacting with 3 point shooting their freshmen seasons, both Anrin and Laksa fell off the next season and seemed to get worse with each passing year.

Kabba provided toughness and big shot ability.  If Duke Mondy has a four year career like Kabba I wouldn't complain.

Douthit was a key cog as the big man off of the bench his freshman year and re-emerged midway through his junior season to end strong enough to get drafted by the Lakers upon graduating.  Upon committing to Providence out of Notre Dame Prep, Douthit was considered the 2nd best player in New England and chose the Friars over Syracuse and Villanova.

Keno's second recruiting class is an encouraging one with two top 100 guards and a elbow-to-your-back big man.  Going on tournament appearances alone, this class will have to make it twice to even be in the conversation, but the Welsh's third crop had a first team All American playing along with them.

Like Douthit, Coleman is ranked 2nd in New England by the New England Recruiting Report and is rated even higher nationally.  Keno's crew will be far better regarded from a national recruiting perspective upon arrival and he may not be done.  The Friars continue to dabble in long shots like Trey Zeigler and Justin Coleman and continue to stay in the fray for big men like Jon Horford (MI) and Kadeem Jack (NY).

Welsh's following five classes:

2001-02: Ryan Gomes, Garnett Thompson, Leland Anderson, Donell Allick, Rob Sanders, Tuukka Kotti

2002-03: Donnie McGrath, Herb Hill

2002-03: Dwight Brewington, Gerald Brown, Jeff Parmer

2003-04: Randall Hanke, DeSean White, Rob McIver, Charlie Burch, Jujuan Robinson

2004-05: Geoff McDermott, Jon Kale, Sharaud Curry, Weyinmi Efejuku

Wait Until Next Year (or the year after)

At what point do Friar fans get tired of playing the waiting game?  Most realistic followers of Providence basketball knew the drill in Tim Welsh's second to last season in Friartown.  Welsh's Friars limped out of the NIT with a loss to Bradley in March of 2007.  Herb Hill's tremendous senior season kept this team above .500 for the season, but the Friars hadn't played defense since late 2004 and punctuated that by giving up 90 in the loss to Bradley.  Bradley. 

Fans were patient with the Friars throughout Welsh's lame duck final season, a season that was so obviously a lost one for Friar fans before it had begun.  Welsh had won a grand total of 1 Big East Tournament game in his 9 years, yet was given another shot at it. 

Predictably, the Friars finished below .500 and Welsh's tenure was over.  The new coach had a challenge in front of him.  He was taking over a core of upperclassmen who weren't talented enough to win consistently in the Big East and had under a year to put together a class of 7 recruits.

This is what infuriated insightful Providence fans.  Was Welsh going to figure things out in year 10?  Why not give a new coach a season to establish himself before he has to fill 7 scholarships the year after?

The move to wait a year on Welsh put any new coach in a difficult position and we're seeing the results today.

For the first time all season Keno Davis was publically fed up.  He talked of players scoring 20 but giving up 25 not playing anymore.  He talked about benching guys who didn't work hard.  He talked about bringing in more talented players, saying this team just wasn't good enough.  He made analogies to the real world - if you aren't doing your job, your boss will find someone better to do it. 

Finally, he talked about the most willing defenders getting the playing time from here on in.  The problem is there aren't many defensive options on this team.  There just aren't many two-way players right now and Keno has to see it. 

During the final minute of the game Keno's biggest players on the floor were Brian McKenzie and Marshon Brooks.  No wonder it became a layup line in the final minute.

Davis' Friars could not have played the final minute worse.  With Sharaud Curry, a near 90% free throw shooter on the floor, they inbounded the ball to the promising, but still green Vincent Council, who missed 3 of 4 free throws late to keep South Florida in the game.

With the top free throw shooting/ball handling unit on the floor, South Florida enjoyed a layup line in the final minute and the free throw shooting unit missed.  Providence could afford to trade layups with free throws in the final 30 seconds, as long as they hit their free throws.  They didn't, and playing with a unit of 6'4 and under players allowed USF to score at will.

Would having Bilal Dixon or Greedy Peterson on the floor in the final 40 seconds have altered one of the Bulls' bunnies at the rim?  One stop would have won the game.

When the Friars finally did inbound the ball to their 5th year senior who is nearly automatic on the free throw line, he tried to dribble through a double team and lost the ball.  The result: South Florida worked the PC defense for a wide open 3 at the buzzer that officially tied it, but all but ended it.

How patient can Friar fans be?

This site has preached patience as it has taken some of the game's biggest legends two or three seasons to get their footing under them, but the final Welsh years really sapped the energy out of this program.  The crowd was abnormally quiet last night, and on Alumni Weekend it wasn't close to a sellout. 

Would this program be in a better position if a new coach was able to take over during Welsh's final year?  Given Keno is bringing in two top 100 players next year, it is safe to say the talent level of this 7 man class would be greater had a new coach been given two years to identify and land talent.

This site has targeted the year after next as Providence's most realistic NCAA tournament bid.  Sure, there is a chance that both Gerard Coleman and Joe Young can both defend and give you 10-15 points on a nightly basis and one of the Still/Kadeem Batts/Ron Giplaye trio will be able to spell Dixon effectively, but that is asking a lot out of kids who have never played at the Big East level.

I'm fine with waiting.  I've preached patience here before and noted that this season is all about getting the building blocks in place with an eye towards better days ahead under Keno Davis.  Having seen all three recruits, I'm thrilled about where this team could be in three years, but last night was a reminder of just how far away March, 2012 is.

Gerard Coleman's Journey to Providence: Part II

By the summer of 2009 Providence fans were very familiar with Gerard Coleman.  Under the previous regime, they were also too familiar with identifying top talent early, but not closing the deal.

Universally regarded as a top 60 player nationally, Friartown hoped for the best, but feared the allure of Calhoun's Connecticut Huskies or an equally big name school would be difficult for a first year coach to match. 

In a May interview with Evan Daniels of Scout.com Coleman mentioned visiting Providence and upcoming plans to visit Clemson and Connecticut as well.  Miami, Marquette, and Florida were other teams mentioned at the time.  In other words, Providence was going up against the perennial powers of college basketball and Friar fans hung on, hoping Keno Davis could make a recruiting statement early in his tenure at PC.

A month after the article was published Keno Davis served notice that he and his staff would be a force to be reckoned with on the recruiting trail.  Gerard Coleman committed to Providence in mid-June and Davis had his statement.

"I had been to the campus two or three times before I visited again in June and I just got a really good vibe walking arond there.  Walking around campus, I could just see myself there," Coleman told FriarBasketball.  "Keno Davis graduates 95% of his players, which was important to me.  One day the basketball is going to stop bouncing."

Legends like Pitino and Calhoun had called, but Keno's youth was a positive for Gerard, "Coach Davis is a young guy and having a coach that I knew would be there for all four years was important to me."

When asked what Friar fans can expect next season, O'neil focused less on the physical skills his senior captain will bring to Providence, but his attitude, "Gerard's ego is in a really good place.  He knows there are a lot of good players at Providence and this is a whole other level.  He'll do anything he can to help the team."

The Tilton head man and Coleman talk about what to expect next year and also have a solid grasp on the current Friar roster.  "We didn't play Patterson last year, but I saw Vincent Council twice and thought he was tremendous.  Gerard is going to play well with him.  Dixon has contributed well for a freshman big guy and that kid from Texas they have coming next year (Joe Young) is really good too."

Talk to Gerard about the Friars and he's quick to point out Providence's style of play or Greedy Peterson's monster game against Rutgers.  He's fully tuned into what is going on in Providence.

In the Fold and Taking Off

The summer AAU circuit proved to be a preview of what his senior season would entail.  With Coombs-McDaniel and Oriakhi off to college and super point guard Phil Pressey (Missouri) moving to Texas, Coleman found himself in a role that he made his reputation at West Roxbury with: the lead scorer on a team that needed him to score in bunches to win.

After a successful spring leading BABC, Coleman's reputation was cemented as one of the top guards in the class of 2010.  Further evidence came when he was invited to the Paul Pierce Skills Academy in late June, where he earned rave reviews going up against top 10 talent like Harrison Barnes (North Carolina), Kyrie Irving (Duke), and Will Barton (Memphis).

In July Coleman's stock was summarized well by Ray Mernagh of nbebasketball.com after a strong showing at the star-studded King City Classic in Cleveland:

"Props to Keno Davis and Providence on getting this kid... He compares favorably to Will Barton and (is) a better decision maker when faced with pass/shoot read.  Coleman's play stood out and he arguably had the best showing of any player in Cleveland."

Teaming Up with an Old Friend

While Coleman was in Cleveland the Providence staff was busy landing their second commitment for the class of 2010, burly power forward Ron Giplaye of Notre Dame Prep.  According to Richard Coren of ScoutFriars.com, rumors of Giplaye's commitment had swirled since Coleman committed to Providence.

The reason?  Gerard and Ron are close friends after having played on the same AAU team for years.  When asked about Giplaye's game, Coleman's voice noticably perked up, "Ron is a hard-nosed dude who won't back down from anyone.  He's a great teammate, a rebounding machine, and would run through a brick wall for you.  Ron will do anything to win."

After comparing his rebounding ability to Greedy Peterson's I asked Gerard if the potential to team up with Ron played a factor in his college choice.  His response, "I've known Ron since I was 16 as we've been teammates on BABC.  We had been talking about committing to the same school for a good 8 months before it happened."

Playing on Another Level

Coleman's senior season at Tilton has been outstanding.  A quick look at the box scores tells the story of how the future Friar has handled being the main scorer playing against the best competition in America.  In the first three games of 2010, Coleman built off of a stellar first semester with scoring outburts of 35, 36, and 45 points. 

Marcus O'neil tells another story.  A story of growth as both a player and a person, "The one thing that makes Gerard stand out is that he's an extremely confident guy who just finds ways to score.  He's extremely competitive and has an ability to slice through defenses, making hard shots look easy.  He doesn't need much of an opening to get to the basket."

O'neil explained, "Gerard does a lot of stuff you can't teach.  He's done a lot of work on his outside shot, and while it's a bit streaky, he really does have the full repertoire offensively," he continued, "He has made a lot of progress on and off the court.  He's our captain and by nature a quiet guy, but he's put a lot of energy into leading by example and has been pretty good in that regard.  Our players all look to him to lead because he is so good."

Defensively, Coleman is tremendous playing the passing lanes, but he is still growing in that regard as well.  "Defensively, Gerard has always been a guy who can come up with steals.  While he has always been a wiry strong guy he's made a lot of progress in the weight room and I think he will become a lockdown defender by year 2 in college," O'neil said.

While Gerard is looking forward to enrolling at Providence next fall he has some unfinished business first.  "My goal right now is to win that championship.  It doesn't matter how many points I score or dunks I get, the championship is the number one goal."

Coleman did allow himself to look ahead some and commented that he hopes to build upon the tradition of Providence basketball that he learned more about on his visits to PC.  He's excited to learn under Keno Davis, commenting on what a great job he did getting Drake to the NCAA Tournament in his one year there, and passed along this message to Providence players and fans, "Good luck the rest of the way.  I can't wait to get there."

Friar fans are finding it hard to wait, Gerard.

Gerard Coleman's Journey to Providence: Part I

Gerard Coleman had dominated the game. Coleman's dominant performance was nothing new for Marcus O'neil's Tilton Rams, he's been doing that all year, but who he dominated and how he did it was attention grabbing.

With 45 points already in the books, down a point, and 40 seconds left on the clock Coleman glided to the basket, as he had so often done in a 28 point second half against a team that is as good as any in the country. The Tilton star slashed baseline and lofted a finger roll that Winchendon's springy 6'10 shot blocker Khem Birch got his fingertips on.

By the time Winchendon had recovered the ball there was only a four second difference between the shot and game clocks. "Why aren't they fouling?" a Winchendon supporter said to no one in particular. I wasn't sure myself, then again I wasn't as familiar with Gerard as O'neil is.

Coleman baited Winchedon's point guard into a cross court pass, picked it off, and was gone in a blur. The future Friar had a handful of steals that he converted for scores earlier in the night, but with the game on the line Coleman found a cutting teammate for 2 with 14 seconds to play. It was everything that Providence fans hope he becomes under Keno Davis on Smith Hill: alert, unselfish, blazing fast, and clutch.

A night later Coleman and the rest of Friartown watched freshman point guard Vincent Council explode into the open court, hurling no look tosses and perfectly-placed bounce passes as Providence awoke from a sleepy first half to emerge with an easy road win over DePaul.

It was difficult to watch Coleman fly in the open court and regularly blow past the lengthy Eric Ferguson, muscular Devon Saddler, and quick Anthony Ireland and not let your mind wander a year ahead.  PC fans love Council for his basketball IQ, speed, and attacking mentality.  He might possibly find a basketball soul mate when young Gerard Coleman steps foot on campus next summer.

The Journey: West Roxbury to Tilton

"No one was more upset about our loss to Winchendon than Gerard.  He scored 45 points, but would have preferred to score 7 and win," O'neil explained.

Tilton came painfully short against what might have been the best prep team in the country, falling 89-88 in the waning seconds.  The loss was crushing for Tilton, but eye-opening for someone covering Providence basketball.  I had seen Coleman on four other occassions, but this performance was on another level.

The Gerard Coleman Explosion, as it was dubbed here, should not have been a surprise to anyone following Coleman's high school career.  Adam Finkelstein of the New England Recruiting Report is one of the most respected prep hoops minds in New England and noted, "In my mind, Coleman is a top 25 player in the class of 2010.  He has played on the biggest exposure stages in the country and has never been slowed offensively." 

After catching his first glimpse of him Jonathan Givony, President/Director of Scouting for Draft Express left asking "how is Coleman (only) ranked in the 60s?"

Gerard Coleman is a prep star now.  His journey to the Big East started in West Roxbury, Massachusetts.

"During my freshman year at Westie I was playing in a small summer league gym and an assistant coach from BC was there.  He came up to me after seeing me play and told me to call him in two years.  Right then and there is when I realized that this could really happen."

Things happened quickly for Gerard after that.  By the time his junior season at West Roxbury ended he averaged 27 points per game and was perhaps the best player in Massachusetts.  That season also marked his last at the school as he headed to the prep rankings, to Tilton to play with Connecticut commits Alex Oriakhi and Jamal Coombs-McDaniel.

The tremendous duo quickly became a "Big 3" and Tilton became a force.  Coleman improved individually, "Gerard became an even better passer after coming to Tilton," O'neil stated.  "At West Roxbury he didn't play with guys on his level, but playing with other high level guys like Alex was really good for him.  It helped him become a good passer and improved his all-around vision."

Tilton's season peaked when it counted the most, in March, when they captured the 2009 National Prep Championship.  In a tournament that some claimed they didn't even belong in, Tilton ran through a one loss Hargrave Military Academy team in the finals with Coleman contributing 25 points and being named to the all-tournament first team.  It was a win O'neil called, "A total team win and a victory for the entire Tilton community."

Freed from the burden of having to score 30 points in order to win, Coleman improved his all around game and college coaches took notice, including two of the games biggest legends, Jim Calhoun and Rick Pitino, but an ambitious young staff from Providence lingered, even with the big boys calling.

The graduation of Oriakhi and Coombs-McDaniel would mean Gerard would have to shoulder the scoring burden once again, for not only Tilton, but also the trio's AAU team, BABC.

With several showcase events, a camp hosted by an NBA Finals MVP, and that little matter of making his college selection looming, the summer before his senior year was a huge one for Gerard Coleman.

(Part II Coming Thursday night)

Naadir Tharpe goes for 26...

... against St. Thomas More this weekend.  STM was previously undefeated against NEPSAC Class A teams and Tharpe had one of his best scoring games of the season.  Here are highlights produced by Brewster's team manager.

Nod to Friarblog

Thank you, Friarblog.

Having been away for the past four days I wasn't able to catch any of the action at the BABC tournament, or the happenings in Springfield (although Jet Blue made sure I didn't go without some sort of action today - Devon Collier and St. Anthony's were on ESPNU) and I feel fortunate to have missed a debacle in Milwaukee. 

You'd be surprised what you miss in just a couple of days.  Fortunately for me, http://friarblog.com/ has become a great one stop shop of information for PC fans.  Most readers here are probably aware of it, but if you're a big time PC fan and haven't checked out the site, it works a lot like some of the blogs on ESPN that capture seemingly every article concerning anything PC basketball related on the internet.  What you'll find there:

• the articles I just mentioned (from national publications, local mainstays, and blogs)
• highlight videos
• prep videos
• wide-ranging Twitter comments from across the PC community
• in depth stats
• live chats

That is all I could think of off of the top of my head, but this site has quickly become one that I check multiple times throughout the day and having been away for a few days it was a valuable resource because it packs so much information in one location.  It made it very easy to catch up.

Live from Winchendon, MA: Gerard Coleman explodes versus Winchendon

It was a heart-breaking game for the Tilton School, but a heart-warming night for fans of Providence basketball.  Ladies and gentleman, Gerard Coleman is for real and more than proved it in a gut-wrenching 89-88 loss at Winchendon Wednesday night.

Just over a month ago Coleman played his worst game of the season as his Tilton team was run off of the court by an explosive and brash Brewster Academy team.  Tonight's game against Winchendon was time for redemption.  It was the future Friar's first game against a NEPSAC Class A power since the drubbing at Brewster and if Coleman wasn't treating this as some sort of vengence game, it sure seemed like it.

How good was Coleman on the night?  How does 28 second half points against a team ESPN ranked third in their national preseason prep rankings sound?  It looked even better than it sounds.

The Coleman Explosion

The explosion began with just over 13 minutes to play in the second half.  After a tight first half in which neither team led by more than 7, Winchendon took control of this one early in the second half, racing out to a 60-48 lead after Angel Nunez canned a 3.  It looked like the more talented preps from Winchendon would pull away.  That's when Coleman took over.

In a 5 minute span came a 17 point swing.  Amazingly, Winchendon led 60-48 with 13:45 to play and trailed 69-64 with 8:47 left.  Coleman was at the heart of it all, scoring 18 points in under five minutes.  His scoring log reads this way, according to my notes:

• 13:40: GC suspends in the air for an and-1 and hits the free throw.  60-51 Winchendon.
• 12:52: Coleman gets fouled on 3 straight drives to the basket on the next possession, the third sends him to the line.  1-2 FTs, 60-52.
• On the very next possession Coleman takes it to the hoop again and scores.  Tilton climbing back into this one.  I have him for 21 points now.  60-54.
• 11:20: For the fourth possession in a row GC takes it to the hoop and either scores or goes to the line.  1-2 FTs.  62-55.
• 11:05 - Deep Coleman 3 and this is a 62-58 game.  What a performance by Gerard.
• 10:48 - GC steal and convert on the other end.  Wow!  62-60.
• 10:15 - Coleman steals it again and gets the assist on the other end to tie it, 62-62.  What a run.
• 9:24 - GC rims out a layup, but is fouled.  Hits both and we're tied at 64.
• 8:47 - Unbelievable!  A deep 3 right in the face of the 6'8 Ferguson.  Tilton now leads 67-64.  A GC steal as I write this and he lays it in!  69-64 Tilton.  Timeout Winchendon.  I have him unofficially at 34 points.

There you have it, 18 points in a 5 minute span against one of the truly elite teams in the country.

The final 8 minutes of this game were outstanding.  Winchendon's Eric Ferguson was a force and Coleman matched him the rest of the way.  Tilton pushed their lead to 6 with 4 minutes to play and GC played a big role with a leaner off of a screen ala Rip Hamilton, by draining both free throws after being flagrantly fouled, and continuing to get to the charity stripe.

Tilton had no answer for Ferguson, who kept Winchendon in the game as Coleman did for his team previously.  A Khem Birch follow with 1:32 gave his team a 1 point lead, but Coleman answered with a press breaking layup the other way putting Tilton back up 1. 

Ferguson once again answered with a difficult layup with 56 seconds to play to put Winchendon back up 1.  With 40 seconds to go Coleman was blocked by Birch and when Winchendon gained possession there was a 3 second difference between the shot and game clocks.

Tilton head man Marcus O'neil chose not to foul with his team down one and Coleman rewarded him, making a huge play in picking off a pass and racing the other way for a 3 on 1 break.  His assist with 14 seconds to play gave Tilton an 88-87 lead as the Tilton section rejoiced.

Winchendon's impressive point man Anthony Ireland got fouled on a drive and calmly swished both free throws with 7 seconds left.  89-88 Winchendon.

And that's how this game would end.  Coleman flew up the left sideline, but was trapped by 3 players.  He kicked it out to a Georges Niang who missed a rushed 3 as time expired.

Impressions:

Coleman: Best player in a game of great ones.  I came to this game excited to see Coleman once again, but also looking forward to checking Angel Nunez and Khem Birch after they visited the Dunk last weekend.  Coleman was so dominant that it was hard to focus on anything else.  I had him unofficially at 46 points for the night, with countless steals.

Most encouraging, in both this game and against Notre Dame Prep, Coleman seized the moment when it looked like the game was slipping away from his team.  The explosion in the 2nd half was ridiculous obviously, but what stood out most was the dimension that he can potentially bring to Providence next year.  Coleman attacks the rim constantly.  With Winchendon looking like they could potentially pull away in the 2nd, Coleman stemmed their momentum by getting to the free throw line repeatedly.

He hit more 3s than when I had seen him previously, but did struggle at the line some.  If he made all of his free throws we could be looking at a 50 point performance.

The points will grab headlines, but his defense was also solid, as he made several key steals and raced the other way after every swipe.

If this is the type of talent Keno Davis brings to Providence year in and year out Friartown will be dancing again soon.  Let's hope Birch and Nunez took notice.

Khem Birch: Birch has a ways to go offensively, but he's a good shot blocker who times it well.  While not a body builder by any means he's not rail-thin for a 6'10 sophomore with springs for legs.  Still not a great rebounder.  Hit a 15 foot leaner and had a huge putback and block in the closing moments.  Birch won't put up huge numbers on a roster filled with scorers, but he can play.

Angel Nunez: Need a glimpse into the depth of talent on Winchendon?  Nunez is the 37th ranked junior nationally by ESPN and is a role player off of the bench.  Playing behind the always impressive Ferguson limits his minutes.  Didn't score more than 7 points per my count and it was tough to get a great read on him on this night, honestly.

Ryan Canty: Canty is the opposite of Randall Hanke.  He's physical, athletic, and a willing defender, but his hands need some work and he doesn't finish well at the rim.  Still, he played far better than when I saw him in the two games in Brewster and I'll be interested to see what his final rebounding numbers were.  Against a big Winchendon frontcourt Canty dominated the glass off of the bench.

It was a huge step up from his play in Brewster and he has put up better numbers of late (13 and 14 versus Proctor Academy in their first game back from the break last weekend).  From a PC perspective, Canty may duplicate what players like Ron Giplaye and Kadeem Batts bring to the table.

Notes:

• Brewster and Winchendon play twice in February.  At this point Brewster looks like the better team, but South Kent has defeated both in the past two weeks (Brewster in OT and Winchendon by a point).  The Class A playoffs should be outstanding.
• I'm beating this drum into the ground, but Tilton's ability to compete with Winchedon is a testament to Coleman's talent and the coaching job of O'neil.  Tilton has future D1 kids in Canty, impressive freshman Goodluck Okonoboh, and the emerging Georges Niang ('12) looks like a player, but Coleman is forced to really carry the load scoring.  The 6'7 Niang has a versatile game, with a bit an old school back to the basket game and the ability to step out and hit the 3.
• I'm not sure if Devon Saddler and Coleman are friends or rivals, but Saddler seemed really amped to play him, at one point saying "let's go, Gerard" after tying him up.  
• Once again, Eric Ferguson can REALLY play. 
• Mike Byrnes threw all sorts of looks at Coleman - the muscular Saddler, the 6'8 Ferguson, and finally 5'10 point guard Anthony Ireland.
• Future Villanova big man Markus Kennedy had a quiet night.
• While I'm away this weekend, Friar fans with time on their hands have two great options if they want to check out potential future Friars.  The Springfield Hoophall Classic and and BABC Tournament are flooded with talent.  Coleman and Tilton take on St. Andrew's on Sunday at Chelsea (MA) High.

Big Test for Coleman Wednesday Night

Gerard Coleman and the Tilton School get their first shot at a NEPSAC Class A school since their 40 point drubbing against Brewster when they travel to Winchendon on Wednesday night.  Tilton is 1-2 on the season against Class A schools with an easy win over Phillips Exeter, a one-point loss on a halfcourt heave against defending A champs Brighton, and the blowout loss to a charged up Will Barton and Brewster before the holidays.

Winchendon will provide a stiff test for Coleman and Co.  Ranked #3 nationally by ESPN in the preseason prep rankings (behind Hargarve and Brewster) Winchendon is a strong contender to win the Class A title this year.  And for good reason.  A roster littered with D1 prospects is highlighted by Villanova-bound big man Markus Kennedy, the wildly underrated Eric Fergusen (Georgia Southern), a heady point guard (Anthony Ireland), and Providence targets Khem Birch (#11 nationally in the class of 2012 per ESPN) and junior Angel Nunez (#37 nationally on ESPN) and a few other D1 prospects.

Coming off of a loss this weekend to Maine Central Institute, only their second of the season, Winchendon should be amped up for this one.

It will be interesting to see how Coleman responds.  He has been outstanding in every game this year, with the lone exception being the loss to Brewster.  Winchendon and Brewster look to be the two giants in Class A and Gerard can erase the memory of that performance with a sterling effort on Wednesday night.  For Tilton to have a shot in this one they will need him at his best.

Beginning next year this will be a position that Coleman finds himself in often.  In the best of years in the Big East Providence is an underdog against the powers of the conference.  The challenge for the Friars over the past decade has been finding kids who make it a point to step up in the big moment, in the game in which outsiders think they should never win, finding the player who lifts the Friars on his back and leads them confidently into Freedom Hall or the Carrier Dome, or anywhere else McDonald's All Americans call home.

It may not be a true redemption game for Coleman (that will come when Tilton hosts Brewster in a rematch at Tilton, which will be very telling), but it is his first test against a Class A team since the Brewster game, against a team that is as good as any in the country.   

Providence Recruiting Power Rankings

Introducing a new segment to Friarbasketball, Recruiting Power Rankings.

Instead of publishing a simple list of PC targets in order of their ranking, this list is comprised of talent, need, fit, and possibility of the student ending up a Friar.  I will update the lists after seeing kids in person or according to reports that emerge

January 11, 2010 Recruiting Power Rankings

Class of 2011:

1. Shabazz Napier, Lawrence Academy: the explosive Napier would be a great fit in Keno's run and gun style.  A big time scorer, who will pull up from 27 feet, the sense here is that he might be more of realistic get than Naadir Tharpe and his game might mesh better with Vincent Council, who will be a junior when Napier begins his college career.  Council could cover shooting guards, Napier could be a scoring combo who takes over the PG reigns his junior year while getting big minutes as a scorer early.
2. Naadir Tharpe, Brewster Academy: a true point who would create for Gerard Coleman and Joe Young for three years, Tharpe's numbers are affected by playing with a cast of stars at Brewster.  A better shooter than advertised and a top notch passer, Tharpe may not be as good of fit playing alongside Council, but would be a huge get regardless.
3. Tyler Olander, E.O. Smith High (CT): With Ron Giplaye on the way and Kadeem Batts redshirting, the depth of big men should improve in a year, but is there a scorer among the bunch?  Olander will be tough to pry from Connecticut if they want him.  Potential 2010 recruit.
4. Angel Nunez, Winchendon School: sits in the four spot on talent alone.  With the Friars new to his recruitment, it isn't clear how much of a shot PC has at this kid, but from a talent and need standpoint, Nunez would be a big time get for Keno.  How long has it been since Providence boasted a great small forward?
5. Tommie McCune, Saginaw, Michigan: Can this staff continue their success in Michigan and land this highly sought after power forward? 

Class of 2012:

1. Khem Birch, Winchendon School: Meets a lot of the criteria for the power rankings.  Birch fills a need, is a huge talent, stands 6'11, is the type of springy athlete that PC hasn't seen in the frontcourt, and Providence has been involved from the start.  Keno will be able to find scoring guards, but big men like this are a rarity at Providence.
2. Alex Murphy, St. Mark's: Big time, local kid who is already being recruited by the biggest names in the country.  Another young man Providence has been in on early, but will it pay off in the end?  Very polished for a kid his age and size.  Projects as a small forward at the D1 level.
3. Ricky Ledo, St. Andrew's: Another local product that Providence will have to fight off the best of the best for.  A Providence kid, so expect a bunch of "he loves Providence, I heard he wants the bright lights"speculation until he commits.  Ranked below the more cerebral Murphy here.  A better athlete than Alex, but not the passer nor does he have the size of his local counterpart.  I believe Murphy is just the better player right now.  Has a chance to prove me wrong against Gerard Coleman and Tilton next weekend.
4. Nerlins Noel, Everett (MA):  Once again, a big time local prospect.  When has this much high level talent come from New England?  I've yet to see Noel play, and had hoped to do so soon until he was injured recently.  Providence will always need bigs and they are in early on this one.
5. Andre Drummond, St. Thomas More: Dreamers can dream, right?  Top player in his class has visited the PC campus twice.  Not holding my breath.

Gerard Coleman Update

Many prep hoops returned to action this weekend, including Gerard Coleman and the Tilton School.

Coleman and Tilton went 2-0 with wins over Class B opponents Proctor and Cushing Academy.  He picked up where he left off before the holidays with 36 points and 4 assists against Proctor, while Ryan Canty played what might have been his best game of the season with 13 points, 14 rebounds, and 5 assists.

In the game of the weekend, South Kent defeated Brewster 125-122 in double overtime.  Former PC target and Pitt commit JJ Moore poured in 35 points, while teammate and Louisville commit Rusell Smith scored 24.  PC recruit Naadir Tharpe chipped in with 12.

29, 20, and 5 (great recruits)

Recruiting-wise Providence picked a great time to play perhaps their best first half of the season.  With Winchendon's Khem Birch ('12) and Angel Nunez ('11), joining St. Mark's sophomore tandem of Alex Murphy and Kaleb Tarczewski, along with Everett (MA) sophomore Nerlins Noel a great crop of recruits saw what Keno Davis hopes to instill on Smith Hill, albeit in front of a sleepy crowd of 7,530.

All four sophomores are ranked in the top 50, while Nunez is rated anywhere from mid 30s-mid 70s in the class of 2011.

Davis would be wise to start making connections at the Winchendon School.  While Friar fans are familiar with Birch, Nunez is a new name on the Providence recruiting scene.  Nunez is a wiry and long small forward, the type of player the Friars haven't had over the past decade (see the all decade team for proof).  Ranked 37th in the country on ESPN, here is what the world-wide leader (actually Scout Inc) has to say about him.

Angel is an extremely intriguing prospect. He is very long and very skilled. He can handle the ball and shoot with range to 22 feet. A legit 6-feet-7 with condor like arms he is a tough player to guard. Post players can not stay with his quickness and he is too big and long for smaller perimeter players. He has a very nice offensive package but could improve the other aspects of his game. He is a decent rebounder but with his size, length and athletic ability he should be better. Defensively he needs to improve his effort. He can also be an effective shotblocker when motivated. Angel is a little underrated right now in his class but he has the potential to be an elite, top level player.

For all of the talk about Murphy and Ricky Ledo, this site is targeting Khem Birch as the top prospect for the class of 2012.  Certainly, no one would complain if Ledo or Murphy landed here, but Birch is an elite athlete who finishes and protects the rim at an elite level.  A rare combination for a sophomore big man playing at the highest prep level.  With the Friars working on him at such an early stage Friar fans have to hope their loyalty is rewarded as bigger schools come calling.  And they will.


Vs. Rutgers

As for the game itself, the story was Greedy Peterson.  Is there such a thing as a good missed dunk?  When Greedy missed a one hander late in the 2nd half (he was fouled) it sent the crowd buzzing because he took off from Smithfield, but it was perhaps even more significant as it symbolized a rousing 29 point, 20 rebound effort in which he continually attacked the rim for the first time in a while.

I've taken subtle jabs at Greedy since the Big East season started.  With visions of Rob Sanders running through my head I wondered if Keno would be able to reach him, getting Peterson to balance the outside game he's obviously worked so hard on, with his bread and butter - rebounding and finishing at the rim. 

Last night he didn't force a single 3, dominated the glass and went back to throwing down everything he could around the rim.  His 24 first half points consisted of scoring inside and taking good 3s.  It was the best of Greedy and the type of effort in the paint that will keep PC afloat in the Big East.

Only 12 players in conference history have ever gone for 20-20 in a Big East game, with 24 and 11 coming in one of the most dominating halves of action Friartown has seen in a long time.

Good Half, Bad Half Once Again

As good as Providence was offensively in the first half, they were equally poor in the second.   After shooting 60% from the field and 54% from 3, they went a dreadful 0-8 from 3, 36% from the field, and missed 14 free throws after halftime.  A halfway decent second half and they score 115 in this one.

Point Guard Production

The Sharaud Curry hate has been quiet since the Big East started.  Curry was once again solid with 21 points, four assists, and only two turnovers.  Curry has scored 20 or more in 3 of 4 BE games.  Vincent Council continues to impress in spurts, with all six of his assists coming in the first half.

The Bench

I'll continue to harp on it - this team has less offensive weapons than it appears.  Take away Council's nine points and the bench combined for a grand total of three on the night.  Of the five bench players who saw time, three didn't attempt a shot, Duke Mondy was 1-5, and Council went 3-7.

On nights like last night when Brian McKenzie sticks a few 3s, Curry puts up 20, Greedy goes off and Marshon Brooks contributes 15 it won't be as apparent, but I have concerns about this team's ability to consistently score when upper level Big East teams up their defense. 

Notes

• Does anyone else in the Dunk sit there and wonder if recruits think the crowd is lame?
• The early season scheduling gods were kind to PC.  DePaul, Marquette, and South Florida after a home game with Rutgers?  I had this team around 5 or 6 Big East wins for the season and they might start 4-3.
• Brooks is shooting 47% from the field and 41% from 3.  Sure doesn't feel like it.  His emergence over the course of the season could be make or break PC.
• McKenzie is shooting 39% from 3.  Sure doesn't feel like it.
• I know he needs time to get into a rhythm, but Johnnie Lacy is 0-12 from 3. 
• This team doesn't turn the ball over much for one that likes to get out and run.

THIS is the Big East, Vincent Council

Wednesday night Vincent Council finds out what all the Big East hype is about.  While only shooting 1-10 in his first two Big East games, Council bounced back well from a subpar effort in South Bend with a solid floor game in Queens, flashing no look passes while dishing out 6 assists.  The defensive intensity jumps about three notches (on a three notch scale) and if last season is any indicator the Friars are going to need him.

March 3, 2009 - Providence vs. Louisville in the Big East Tournament

Louisville tortured Providence in three of the four halfs the teams played a year ago.  Losses tend to blur together throughout the years, but we always remember what happens in Madison Square Garden.  Most Friars fans would like to forget last year's ugly 73-55 loss to the Cardinals.  Providence turned the ball over 26 times (one shy of the Big East Tournament record) and was lucky Louisville was almost as sloppy offensively or they would have lost by 30. 

How poor was the Friars' ball handling in that game?  Their power forward turned the ball over 7 times.  Sharaud Curry was PC's best ball handler a year ago, but lead guards his size, without blinding speed, get eaten alive by Louisville's press.  Providence simply never got into their offense against a team that was peaking defensively.  Curry turned the ball over four times and his 1-6 effort from 3 contributed to PC's 2-17 effort from beyond the arc.

The lack of ball handlers was never more apparent.

February 18, 2009 - Providence @ Louisville

While not as memorable, the Friars trip to Freedom Hall might have been more telling. Inexplicably, Rick Pitino did not press Providence in the first half.  The AP recap noted, "Louisville had been reluctant to trap in the first half, afraid of Providence's ball handlers."  Okay, Rick.

The Friars actually led this game at the half (46-45) thanks to 75% shooting from the field.  How did the Cards keep it so close?  PC turned the ball over nine times in the first half.

Someone turned on Pitino's lightbulb in the second half and he applied pressure.  Providence wilted.  Leading 53-50, PC was held without a field goal for over nine minutes as the Cards went on a crushing 22-3 run. 

Will Pitino call off the pressure tomorrow night?  Unlikely.  Providence turned it over 22 times on the night, shooting 1-12 from 3.

In two games PC turned the ball over 48 times and shot 3-29 from 3.  Not exactly a winning offensive formula.

Looking Ahead

This is where Council comes into play.  Providence simply lacked enough ball handlers, especially those with size, to handle Pitino's pressure.  A legit 6'2, with more explosion than Curry, Council will play a critical role in helping Providence break the press and should see big minutes.

Offensive Woes

Defensive woes have been harped on, but Providence has been quietly below average offensively in comparison to the rest of the conference.  The Friars are second to last in field goal percentage and 13th in the conference in 3 point percentage. 

Quick Louisville hits:

Fans looking for reason to think the Friars can pull the upset tomorrow night might be tempted to point to the Cardinals' losses to Charlotte, Western Carolina, and even UNLV.  Not so fast.  UNLV is a borderline top 25 team and Charlotte features Boston College transfer Shamari Spears and one time Georgetown commit Chris Braswell (who put up 21-14 in their beatdown of the Cards). 

If Providence can limit the turnovers to 15 or under we'll have a game.  In 2008 PC only turned it over 14 times and led with three minutes to play.

NE Prep Highlights 2009

The New England Recruiting Report put together some of the best plays from New England preps in 2009.

Snippets of a few Friar targets are featured here (Andre Drummond, Khem Birch, etc.) as well as some kids we'll be seeing in the Big East next year (JJ Moore, CJ Fair).

2004-05 Start Avoided

So, Providence shoots 33% from the field, gets only five points from their bench, and wins by 15 on the road?  The Friars held St. John's to 26 second half points, forced 23 turnovers and converted those into 21 points.  It didn't hurt that the Johnnies starting point guard was out tonight, but for a PC team struggling to defend over the last month those are numbers they'll happily take.

Who's up and down:

Up:

Sharaud Curry: The suddenly maligned point guard provided the steady hand with 26 points and 5 assists on a great shooting night (3-3 from 3, 9-10 FT).  More importantly, he only turned the ball over twice as the Friars turned it over twice as a team.  The 21-4 advantage in points off of turnovers was the difference in the game.  Made winning plays tonight, including tipping an offensive rebound to Greedy Peterson late.  What is it about the Big East that brings him to life?

Keno Davis: In what might have been his best coaching performance of the season Keno twice made great use of timeouts when the Friars play got ragged at key moments and had his team attacking the basket out of the half opening with high screen and rolls leading to layups, two drives by Marshon Brooks, and free throws by Vincent Council on the Friars' first five possessions.  The Friars cut down on the silly 3s in the second half and it paid off.

Brian McKenzie's timing: With 1:30 left in the first half McKenzie hit a 3 that lead to an 8-0 PC run that turned a nine point St. John's lead into a one point game at the half.  Two more clutch 3s came as PC trailed by eight with under 15 minutes to play.  He misses more often than he hits, but when BMac is hitting it is a huge boon to this offense.

Peterson around the basket: Didn't always finish when he got the ball around the basket in the second half, but that's where he belongs.  With surprising strength, Greedy had two key and-1s as Providence pulled away.  4-9 in the second half after a perimeter filled 1-6 first.

Bilal Dixon: Seven 2nd half rebounds with 5 blocks and 3 steals for the game.  His back to the basket game has a ways to go, but a good energy big as a freshman and stepped up defensively in the second half.

Vincent Council's passing:  Still waiting for the breakout game, but he flashed a few no look passes.  An impactful 1-5 performance.

Down:

Greedy's jumper: Were the oohs and ahs after his first two 3s at the Dunk the worst thing to happen to him?  Shot selection is hurting my eyes.

Dixon's back to the basket game: It gets ugly at times.  Stick to put backs and face up jumpers for now, Bilal.

Russ Permenter's enthusiasm: Who slipped Russ a sedative? 

Bench production: 8 points against Notre Dame and 5 tonight.  Still waiting for Johnnie Lacy to flash some play making skills.

Looking Ahead:

This was a nice swing win for a Providence team searching for an identity.  It's always nice to get a win on the road, but a loss tonight and a tough one ahead against Louisville at home Wednesday and things would have started to look grim in Friartown.  Losing conference games can quickly become a habit and the sooner a young team can get off of the snide the better. 

The 2004-05 Friars opened 0-3 in Big East play after blowing a double digit second half lead at Boston College (a 12-0 team featuring three current NBA players), losing a heart-breaker in overtime to a great Villanova team (junior year Foye team), and got nipped by four at home to #7 Syracuse. 

All three losses were to very good teams, but that was no consolation to a PC team looking for an identity.  The losing trend had started and they lost their fourth Big East game to Rutgers (ironically, PC's fourth opponent this season).  The Big East slide didn't stop until Providence's 10th Big East game.  The team that played three contenders tight early in the conference schedule had lost all confidence along the way and started 0-9 in the conference in Ryan Gomes' senior year.

Getting that first win will leave the Friars feeling like they're in a good spot.  Even if they lose to Louisville they have Rutgers, DePaul, Marquette, and South Florida following, so they should hover around .500 in the conference into late January.

One to Watch

Looking for a potential sleeper big man if a 2010 scholarship opens?  The Kent School in Connecticut has a big man who is flying under the radar that might be worth a look.

Theodore Boyomo is a 6'9 Cameroon native with a developing game.  New England Recruiting Report named Boyomo the top defensive center in New England last summer, noting:

The big man is as college ready of a defensive anchor as there is in New England. He does it all on this end of the floor with the size and strength to guard opposing low post scorers without help on the block, the mobility and timing to erase teammate’s mistakes with his help-side shot blocking, and nose for the ball to finish plays by cleaning up the glass.

ESPN rates Boyomo as an 88 and last summer reported:

Boyomo is a game changer on the defensive end who is starting to show some signs offensively. Physically, he's got everything including good size, length, strength, mobility, and athleticism. He's a big time shot blocker with good timing, especially when coming from the weak side of the floor, and is also tremendous on the glass, rebounding in traffic as well as out of his area. His offense remains behind his defense but is rapidly improving.

Talent Upgrade to Come

Chin up, Friar fans.  Help is on the way. 

The defensive lapses were hard to take against Notre Dame on Wednesday night, but what stood out in watching the game again this morning (available on espn360.com if you're into torture) was the lack of offensive options the Friars have.

Greedy Peterson is the default go-to guy right now, but he'd be better served as a second or third option who has offensive created for him, not the step back jump shooter that he often was against the Irish.  With Marshon Brooks not scoring as he did early in the season the offensive options are limited on this team.

There isn't a big man to dump the ball into, Vincent Council may be the only true creator on the roster, and while they have a few kids who can get hot from beyond the arc the closest thing this team has to a true shooter is Duke Mondy.

In 2010 Providence welcomes a top 60 slasher in Gerard Coleman (Tilton School), a potential top 100 guard in Joe Young (Yates High School), and muscle around the basket in Ron Giplaye (Notre Dame Prep).

A slashing wing who can play some 1 in a pinch?  A true scoring guard?  An underrated big man?  Where have I heard this before?

It was 2003 when Dwight Brewington, Gerald Brown, and Jeff Parmer joined an already solid cast of Ryan Gomes, Donnie McGrath, Marcus Douthit, Rob Sanders and Sheiku Kabba. That Friar team had finished 8-3 in their last 11 games and production from the three freshman in year one would have been viewed as a bonus, not a need. 

Still, it looked like a home run class for a Friar team short on athletic guards.  From Friar Insider on the Providence Journal in August, 2003:

Dwight Brewington, G, 6-5, 195, Lynn, Mass./Worcester Academy (#52 HS, #82 PS, #82 RV, #89 BG)



Gerald Brown, G, 6-4, 185, Baltimore, Md./Hargrave Military Academy (#64 HS, #72 BG, #73 RV, #134 PS)


Jeff Parmer, F, 6-7, 225, Niagara Falls, N.Y./Niagara Falls (#152 HS, #249 BG)


After the first four schools, the next three could be thrown into a hat... PC gets the nod as the number five pick because of the potential impact that backcourt players can make... Tim Welsh wanted depth at guard, and got quality depth with Brewington and Brown... Brewington can play the 1, 2 or 3, but loves the ball in his hands... He'll give smaller points nightmares, and shoots a rainbow jumper, but must value the ball... Brown is an explosive, strong, take-it-to-the-rim, two guard with a deadly outside shot... Parmer is a combo forward -- a power forward body with 3-man skills, and a solid rebounder... This class is another that has a real chance to make an immediate impact.

The 2003 class dealt a killer blow to Tim Welsh's stint at Providence.  His highest rated class was one of his least productive, as not one of them made it to their junior year. 

Parmer redshirted in year 1 and averaged 2 points per game on 26% shooting in his only season at PC.  Brown started a total of one game in his Friar career, while Brewington had a productive sophomore season (13 ppg), but never fully bought into his role at PC and transferred.

Providence's class of 2010 won't have the luxury that the 2003 class did.  With no production from any of the three freshman PC made the NCAA tournament.  There are parallels to be drawn between the three classes.

The Slashers: Gerard Coleman versus Dwight Brewington

Brewington has taken his share of lumps from Friar fans, but his high school career matched up well with Coleman's.  Ranked anywhere from the 50-80s Brewington was the best player on the Class A NEPSAC champions, Worcester Academy.  Coleman was the third option for the National Prep Champions, Tilton, and is the top dog as a senior.

Neither is a pure shooter, but what Coleman has over Brewington is better lateral quickness, he's better off of the dribble, and he's more willing to take contact than Brew was.  As much flack as Brewington took I would take 13 ppg as a sophomore from Coleman. 

Brewington was a handful at Providence and threatened to leave the school often.  With his head on straight he could have developed into the most productive guard of the decade at Providence.  Coleman is an even more talented version of Brewington (a quicker player with a far better handle) and who won't gripe about wanting to play point guard.

The Shooting Guards: Gerald Brown versus Joe Young

Brown was even higher rated than Brewington and after shooting 69% from the field and leading a 29-3 Hargrave Academy team in scoring why wouldn't he be?  Billed as a slasher who could hit the 3, Brown turned out to be a slasher with no outside shot.  On paper, Brown was a better get than Young.

I caught Young twice this week and while Friar fans were raving about his effort against an overwhelmed Kentwood team, I wasn't sold.  It was just too difficult to get a read against such an inferior team.  In the final of the T Mobile Invitational the next day Young might have played the best game of his career, with 29 first half points and I felt great about the signing.

Like Brown, Young is the leading scorer on one of the top teams in the country.  While not as athletic as Brown, his feel for the game and outside jumper are far more advanced.  Young reminds me of Randy Foye, a shooter who puts it up off of his right shoulder and doesn't explode to the hoop off of the bounce, but glides to where he needs to be, setting himself up for mid-range jumpers and floaters.

Shooters like Young are just tough to find nowadays.  His shooting ability is badly needed next year and he should get playing time right away because of it.

The Unheralded Big: Ron Giplaye versus Jeff Parmer

Parmer was a 6'7, 230 pound forward who fancied himself a 3 point shooting small forward.  Giplaye is a 6'7, 240 pound bruiser with no illusions of scoring outside of the paint.

Giplaye's offensive game is a work in progress, but he'll provide Providence with a toughness they lack.  Give me the big guy who wants to bang.

The Verdict:

On pure rankings, the 2003 class was rated higher than PC's incoming crop, but they were a bit of a mismatched group.  Brewington had visions of becoming a 6'5 point guard, but his handle and decision making weren't good enough.  Brown might have developed into a scoring 2 had he stayed for four years and fine-tuned his jumper.  Parmer teed up 3's when the Friars needed help in the interior.  There wasn't a shooter in the group.

Off court issues and inability to accept their roles defined this group.  Parmer simply didn't fit skills-wise and Brewington and Brown's issues at PC have been documented.

The 2010 haul mirrors the '03 class on talent alone, without the issues and better pure basketball skills (Giplaye's offensive rebounding, Coleman's slashing, Young's jumper) that will transfer to the D1 game from day 1.

How Providence Lost to Notre Dame

You’re a Providence fan. I tell you that you’re going into South Bend for the Big East opener and only six Notre Dame players will score. Big East preseason player of the year Luke Harangody will shoot 6-21 from the field and miss half of his free throws. Ben Hansbrough, Tory Jackson, and Tyrone Nash will combine for 29 points on 1-7 shooting from 3. Between the four of them they combine for 48 points and the only other players to score for the Irish are Tim Abromaitis (16 ppg) and Jonathan Peoples (6 ppg and shut out in both of ND’s losses).


You like your chances now, don’t you? At least, you feel like you should like your chances, but you know that there is always a catch with this Providence team. At least there has been over a majority of the past decade.

In my game preview I broke down how Providence could win and what would keep them from doing so. A closer look at those factors helps provide perspective on how Providence lost this one.

Depth: I gave Providence a shot in this one due to depth. Playing with six men (reserve forward Carleton Scott played 3 minutes) Notre Dame typically needs all of their regulars to perform in order to win. Not on this night. Any Providence fan would have taken their chances with Harangody, Nash, Hansbrough, and Jackson combining for 48 points and 1-9 from 3.

No one could have expected Peoples to go off for 5-5 from 3, in the first half, when he hadn’t hit more than two all season. Yet, Providence fans have seen this before and only the naïve or forgetful were shocked to see it.

The rim will be open: The rim was open, PC just didn’t take advantage of it. When the Friars moved the ball early in the second half they got good shots and went on a 13-1 run, but too often they forced up ill-advised 3’s or went 1 on 1. Greedy Peterson’s stat line (24 and 9) looks solid on paper, but he made a number of bad decisions and missed open shooters a few times. He deserves a ton of credit for working hard, playing hard, and his rapid improvement, but Peterson is still a work in progress and it showed at times last night

3’s will be there: 7-26 from 3 wasn’t exactly what I had in mind. The Irish haven’t defended the 3 all season and opponents were shooting just shy of 40% from the arc against them. 27% from 3 had more to do with forcing up bad shots than anything else. Again, when PC was patient and moved the ball they got good looks, but those occasions were few and far between.

Under “Why Providence Will Not Win” I listed:

Horror show halfs: The Friars were pathetic in the first half, shooting 31% from the field. They took a whopping 17 three pointers and hit only five of them. And what happened to attacking the rim? PC shot only four free throws in the first half. Defensively, ND shot 55% from the field and 56% from 3.

Recognition is going to be a problem for a young team, but the Friars feature two seniors, a junior and a third year sophomore and someone out there has to recognize that the best way to stem a run like the one ND was on is to get to the line and slow the game down. Instead, Providence took ill-advised 3’s and gave a tired defensive effort. There isn’t a team in America that can win consistently giving up 53 first half points.

Irish can really shoot:: Yes they can and they have a bunch of shooters. Even on a day when four of their top five scorers didn’t hit from outside they managed to connect on 11 three pointers on 50% shooting.

Harangody: Is Harangody’s 6-21 performance a positive, or is it even more troubling that PC was never in the game with him playing so poorly?

Welcome to the BE, rookies: Of the seven new Friars only Kyle Wright, Duke Mondy, and Bilal Dixon scored. Dixon had a nice run in the 2nd half (8 points), but just didn’t see the ball enough. More evidence that this team could have gone inside more.

No one is a bigger Vincent Council fan that I am, but 0-5 with zero points in 24 minutes and Sharaud Curry is getting eviscerated. Curry and Peterson combined for 47, but no one else seemed to want to join them.
Summary:

Want to know how little Providence attacked the rim on Wednesday night? They had zero fast break points according to the box score on Friars.com. Not a single fast break point for a team whose style is predicated on getting out and running. The Irish don’t turn the ball over to be fair, but not a single fast break point?

The Friars played 12 men, while ND went with six. Notre Dame’s bench outscored Providence 23-8.

The Irish were able to dictate the pace of this one, which isn’t all that surprising considering the experience of the Friars. As most reasonable Providence followers know, this is a rebuilding year, but part of that rebuilding is finding players to build the foundation with and defining a recognizable style of play.

It was only one game, but it didn’t happen for the Friars last night.