2007-2008 Big East Conference Preview- #8

#8- Providence Friars

Dunkin Donuts Center, Providence, RI.

Last season: 18-13 (8-8). Lost to Bradley in NIT 1st round.
Head coach: Tim Welsh, 10th season, 127-114.
Associate head coach: Steve DeMeo.
Assistant coaches: Vince Cautero, Allen Griffin.

New additions: Marshon Brooks (2 star SG), Alex Kellogg (2 star PF), Jamine Peterson (4 star SF), Jeff Xavier (Manhattan transfer, 2 star PG).

Losses: Herbert Hill (18.1 ppg, 8.8 rpg, 1.5 apg), Jamal Barney (2.4 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 0.8 apg).

Roster: (#, Ht/Wt, Pos., Class, Hometown, last year’s stats)

21 Chris Baudinet 6-5/210 F Jr. Watertown, CT (0.3 rpg)
2 Marshon Brooks 6-5/190 G/F Fr. Tucker, GA
33 Charles Burch 6-7/225 F Sr. Dorchester, MA (2.9 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 0.8 apg)
10 Luke Burchett 6-0/185 G So. Western Springs, IL (2.0 ppg, 0.3 rpg)
4 Sharaud Curry 5-10/170 G Jr. Gainesville, GA (15.3 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 4.4 apg) (injured until December)
13 Weyinmi Efejuku 6-5/210 G Jr. Fresh Meadows, NY (14.1 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 2.5 apg)
55 Ray Hall 6-11/265 C So. Denver, CO (2.5 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 0.2 apg)
32 Randall Hanke 6-11/240 F/C Jr. New York, NY (DNP last season)
34 Jonathan Kale 6-8/245 F Jr. Mattapan, MA (7.0 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 0.3 apg)
0 Alex Kellogg 6-7/225 F Fr. Columbus, OH
11 Geoff McDermott 6-8/235 F/G Jr. New Rochelle, NY (9.5 ppg, 9.1 rpg, 5.1 apg)
23 Brian McKenzie 6-4/205 G So. Brooklyn, NY (3.7 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 1.2 apg)
15 Jamine Peterson 6-6/225 F Fr. Brooklyn, NY
5 Dwain Williams 6-0/170 G So. San Diego, CA (7.5 ppg, 0.9 rpg, 1.7 apg)
1 Jeff Xavier 6-1/185 G Jr. Pawtucket, RI

Backcourt:

Providence has a very solid team this year and I think they are a major sleeper in the Big East. The Friars are very balanced in both the backcourt and frontcourt, in addition to having depth off the bench. Sharaud Curry returns for his junior season. Although injured, he should be back in time for a key non-conference game with Boston College on December 1. Curry will be the driving force behind Providence this year, as he can score as well as get others involved. He’s your prototypical point guard and one of the more underrated ones in the nation. Weyinmi Efejuku should get the start at the two. One of the more athletic players in the league, Efejuku can do it all: shoot, drive, dish, and score. Also returning in the PC backcourt are Brian McKenzie and Dwain Williams. McKenzie didn’t see much time last year but he is a dead-eye three point shooter. Williams should see more minutes as well and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him average double figures this year. Another key off the bench will be Jeff Xavier. Xavier transferred from Manhattan College when Bobby Gonzalez left for Seton Hall in April of 2006. He sat out last year per NCAA rules and should be a big time contributor off the bench for Tim Welsh.


Frontcourt:

In addition to the balance in the backcourt, the Friars have four quality players in their frontcourt. They will need to replace Herbert Hill’s 18.1 ppg total, but it shouldn’t be as hard as it seems. Geoff McDermott, Jonathan Kale, and Randall Hanke return this year, and freshman Jamine Peterson should see playing time right away. Hanke sat out last year, but he was a big contributor for Providence’s 2005-2006 team. I expect him to have a very solid year. Kale is a serviceable 6-8 forward who should put up close to 10 ppg. McDermott, a preseason first team all-Big East selection, is a do-it-all forward. He just about averaged a double-double last year (9.5 ppg, 9.1 rpg), but he also dished out 5.1 assists per game. You can look long and hard, but you won’t find many 6-8 guys with those kind of stats. He can post you up or take you outside and shoot the three ball. At times he’ll even bring the ball up the floor on the fast break. McDermott is from New Rochelle, NY and somehow slipped through Jim Calhoun’s hands. Westchester County New York is one of Calhoun’s strongholds in recruiting, as that is where he got Ben Gordon from. (Mt. Vernon, NY, which is right next to New Rochelle.) Somehow, McDermott slipped under Calhoun’s radar, just like Ryan Gomes, although he was from western Connecticut. Tim Welsh does a good job recruiting in perhaps the worst job for a coach in the entire Big East Conference. Providence is a small urban school, and Rhode Island is not exactly a hot bed for basketball talent. The knock on Welsh is he can’t win in the postseason. In nine years, he’s only won one Big East Tournament game and has never won an NCAA Tournament game in his entire coaching career. This year may be make or break for Coach Welsh.

Schedule:

11/15- vs. Temple (San Juan, Puerto Rico)
11/16- vs. College of Charleston or Arkansas (San Juan, Puerto Rico)
11/18- vs. Houston, Virginia Commonwealth, Marist, or Miami (San Juan, Puerto Rico)
11/24- vs. Harvard
11/27- vs. Maine
12/1- at Boston College (T.D. BankNorth Garden)
12/4- at Rhode Island
12/6- vs. South Carolina (Philadelphia, PA)
12/9- vs. Brown
12/19- vs. Sacred Heart
12/22- vs. Florida State
12/31- vs. St. Peter’s
1/3- at Marquette
1/5- at DePaul
1/9- vs. Rutgers
1/12- vs. South Florida
1/17- at Connecticut
1/24- vs. Seton Hall
1/27- at Syracuse
1/31- at Notre Dame
2/2- vs. West Virginia
2/5- vs. DePaul
2/9- at St. John’s
2/12- at Pittsburgh
2/16- vs. Louisville
2/18- vs. Georgetown
2/23- at West Virginia
3/2- at Cincinnati
3/6- vs. Connecticut
3/8- vs. Villanova

Projected record: 21-9 (10-8).
Postseason: NCAA Tournament.