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| Dunn set a scoring mark, but defense could be a calling card |
1. Tonight Friar recruit Kris Dunn broke Tyson Wheeler's all-time scoring record at New London High School. He needed 30 points to tie, 31 to break, and ended up with 35, mainly on breakout layups and free throws against an overmatched Norwich Free Academy.
For as impressive as the scoring mark is, and he'll still have another 10-12 games to build on it, where Dunn figures to be an impact next player season is on the defensive end and in distributing the ball. Dunn plays with tremendous energy on defensive and has high defensive upside as a 6'3 point guard.
2. As the Friars are looking to upgrade their talent, much attention will be paid to the offensive numbers of potential recruits, yet what Providence has lacked in recent seasons is a team with capable wing defenders.
The last really solid defensive team PC fielded was the Marcus Douthit-led D that funneled the action to the 6'11 center, with 6'6 small forward Rob Sanders providing an athletic, physical small forward on the wing. While the loss of Douthit was key to that defense falling apart the next season, an unheralded aspect of the defensive collapse was also the departure of Sanders. The Friars really haven't had a physically gifted small forward since - and they just so happen to play in a conference that has been flooded with excellent 3s.
Ed Cooley hopes he can lure Jakarr Sampson to fill that void for Providence. Sampson has put up very good scoring and rebounding numbers in his second season at Brewster, but he is a versatile and potentially lockdown defender at the next level.
Tomorrow Sampson and Brewster travel to the home of a kid who could potentially carry the PC offense one day - Ricardo Ledo and South Kent.
In recent seasons South Kent has been stocked with talent (JJ Moore, Russ Smith, Mo Harkless, Ge'lawn Guyn, and Nemanja Djurisic are all BCS players from the past two years), yet they've not been able to win come March.
Consistency has been a problem this year. After capping a 5-0 start to the season with a convincing win over Tilton, they proceeded to lose their next four. They rebounded by winning six in a row before being blown out by Northfield Mount Hermon their last time out.
The loss of Chris Thomas hurts their offense, as the scoring burden falls heavily on Ledo. Saturday night versus Brewster looks to be a tough match-up, as the Bobcats enter 18-0, having thrashed every opponent not named Tilton.
While much will be made of the numbers Ledo puts up against Brewster, Sampson will undoubtedly be a presence on both sides of the ball. He's a tremendous talent.
3. Providence travels to South Florida on Sunday to take on a team that is off to a surprisingly 5-3 start in the Big East. They've won at the road against Seton Hall and DePaul and narrowly fell to Connecticut (60-57) in their Big East opener.
Freshman point guard Anthony Collins has been solid for the Bulls.
4. Jim Larranaga is 11-7 in his first season at Miami and got himself a three year extension through 2019? It's good work if you can get it. He returns to New England Sunday against Boston College.
5. Looking for something to do on Saturday? #23 Harvard heads to Providence to take on Brown. The Crimson will be coming off a 30 point drubbing of Yale.
