Providence basketball out to prove predictions wrong; Here's where Friars were picked
NEW YORK — Don’t expect Providence College’s men to put much stock in the preseason Big East predictions.
Tuesday’s Media Day at Madison Square Garden didn’t find the league’s coaches all that bullish on the Friars. Providence was picked seventh in a heavyweight lineup that included Marquette at the top and Creighton second.
PC's Bryce Hopkins was named to the all-conference first team and Devin Carter was tabbed for honorable mention. Those two players are known commodities entering this season under new coach Kim English. The Friars have a few more questions elsewhere, incorporating a new staff and multiple players who didn’t see as much of the floor during a 21-12 campaign in 2022-23.
More: Providence basketball coach Kim English has one philosophy that guides him; here it is
“My focus is on getting our team to be as tough as we can possibly be, to play as hard as we possibly can, to be as connected as we possibly can, to be as disciplined as we can possibly be, to execute at an incredibly high level,” English said. “If we can do those things to the best of our ability, I like our chances.”
Hopkins was a breakout star after a transfer from Kentucky, finishing seventh in the league in scoring at 15.8 points per game and pulling down 8.5 rebounds. That mark on the boards was good for second, and Hopkins racked up 10 double-doubles in his 33 games. His most productive effort was in a double-overtime home win against Marquette, as Hopkins piled up 29 points and 23 rebounds while playing 48 minutes.
“We know that we’re not the seventh team,” Hopkins said. “We put in a lot of work this summer and we’re going to prove people wrong. It’s just added motivation for us.”
Carter enjoyed his own turn in the spotlight after a move from South Carolina, developing into a two-way threat. He finished at 13.0 points and 4.9 rebounds a game while finishing second on the team with 81 assists. Carter shined at the defensive end, leading Providence in steals and finishing second in blocked shots.
“Every night you just have to bring your A-game,” Carter said. “At the end of the day, it comes down to who executes the most, who executes the best. Listening and being very disciplined — especially late in the year.”
The Friars roared out of the blocks last season to go 17-5 overall and 9-2 in league play. They looked set to carry their regular-season title defense all the way to March before hitting a wall, dropping five of their last six games. That included a loss to eventual national champion Connecticut at the conference tournament and a defeat against the Wildcats in the NCAA Tournament.
Ed Cooley left for Georgetown in the days following that 61-53 loss to Kentucky, and English was hired away from George Mason. He finds stiff competition in his new home — the Golden Eagles received seven votes for the top spot and return the Player of the Year in Cumberland native Tyler Kolek. The point guard has popped up on multiple All-American lists after putting up 12.9 points, 7.5 assists and the top assist-to-turnover ratio in the league.
“It’s a great league,” English said. “I think it’s the best league in the country. I think it’s remarkable what Dave Gavitt built a long time ago.”
The Bluejays earned four first-place votes to slot in second while the Huskies were tabbed for third place. UConn is fresh off a fifth NCAA title in program history, with Dan Hurley completing a journey that led him from Wagner to the University of Rhode Island to Storrs. He brought in the preseason Freshman of the Year in Georgia guard Stephon Castle, a McDonald’s All-American and five-star prospect who could test NBA Draft waters early.
Villanova, St. John’s under former Providence coach Rick Pitino, and Xavier were all slotted in ahead of the Friars. Cooley was tabbed eighth in his new home with the Hoyas while Seton Hall, Butler and DePaul took up the final three spots. None of those bottom four teams had a player named among the all-conference picks.
Creighton guard Trey Alexander and center Ryan Kalkbrenner, Red Storm big man Joel Soriano and Wildcats guard Justin Moore joined Hopkins on the first team. Huskies forward Alex Karaban and Musketeers big man Zach Freemantle were named alongside Carter to the honorable mention trio. UConn center Donovan Clingan, Bluejays guard Baylor Scheierman, Villanova forward Eric Dixon and the Marquette pair of Oso Ighodaro and Kam Jones made up the second team.
“I’ll study their teams and study their tendencies and we’ll try to get our guys prepared to be the best they can possibly be,” English said. “That’s where my focus lies.”
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This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Big East coaches pick Providence basketball to finish 7th in conference
