30 replies to this topic

[redsahx]

Browsed the ESPNU recruiting rankings yesterday after signing day, and PC is currently ranked #6 overall, just ahead of UNC, Indiana and Kansas. Apparently Bryce Cotton is going to stay after all and not follow Coleman and Dixon out the door.

Still keeping my fingers crossed, but I just can't get my hopes up too high on Ledo. A friend of mine had him in middle school and knows other people who dealt with him elsewhere, and there is just no way he should be able to keep his head above water when it comes to academics without serious "help". Throw in the fact that he doesn't come across as mentally stable either. At least with Ed Cooley I have some faith a kid like that will be kept in line. If this were still the Keno Davis show, Ledo would almost certainly be a disaster.

[berniecarbo1]

At least with Ed Cooley I have some faith a kid like that will be kept in line. If this were still the Keno Davis show, Ledo would almost certainly be a disaster.

If this were still the Keno Davis show, PC wouldn't be getting any of these guys.

[redsahx]

If this were still the Keno Davis show, PC wouldn't be getting any of these guys.

I think Keno actually had a tentative commitment from Ledo originally (nothing official). He very well might have backed out eventually, but he is from Rhode Island, so I think he actually wanted to come to PC. His local handlers probably have been talking up PC to him as the ultimate goal since he was in 8th grade, not imagining he would have been an even bigger deal. People were pulling strings to get him into Hendricken way back when.

[god loves the sox]

Carson Desrosiers Transfers To Providence College From Wake Forest

http://www.friars.co.../051012aad.html

[god loves the sox]

PC lands transfer Tyler Harris




Comments 3 | Recommend 0
June 14, 2012 3:21 pm
By Kevin McNamara
PROVIDENCE - When Tyler Harris arrived at North Carolina State last summer, he was only 17 years old.
Last year he played limited minutes in 19 games for the Wolfpack, averaging just 1.8 points and 1.2 rebounds and starting three times. He chose to leave N.C. State and after visiting Temple, South Florida and Dayton and decided to complete his career at Providence College.
Harris, who now stands 6-9, has a size 18 sneaker and will turn 19 in September, will sit out this coming season and have three years of eligibility beginning with the 2012-14 season.
"He can play four positions but is just a player," said Harris' father, Torrel. "Tyler went to N.C. State at 17 years old and was 6-7, 190 pounds. Now he's 6-9 and 215 and if he gets another 10-15 pounds of muscle on him, Providence can go a long ways in the NCAA Tournament."

[SumnerH]

The old Providence topic was here: http://sonsofsamhorn...pc-hoops-10-11/

I figured it was time to close the 2010-2011 topic (which also has 11-12 in it) and start fresh for the new season, so splitting out all the posts from after March.

[pdaj]

I had put together a long post in this thread a couple weeks back; but, unfortunately, technical difficulties prevented my reply from registering. After last night's recruiting news, I'm trying again.

Before I get into all that, though, I wanted to recommend the following Friar-related sites:

1) http://www.friarbasketball.com

The owner/writer of this site is a diehard PC alum. He started the website a few years back, and it's developed into a must read. Check it out and enjoy.

2) http://www.friarblog.com

This Friar alum is a little more zany and less technical, but his site is a lot of fun; and he's sure to catch you up on everything Friar-related. I particularly love his in-depth pre-game contributions.

ANYWAY -- so where are we?

If you've noticed, the Friars have many suits on the sidelines during games at the moment. This is because Sidiki Johnson, Carson Desrosiers, and Tyler Harris (all sophomore transfers) are ineligible at the present time; while Ricky Ledo has been classified as a mere partial qualifier. Oh, and that other guy? Yeah, Vincent Council, PC's best player, will be out for at least another month due to a hamstring injury. He joins McDonald's freshman All-American, Kris Dunn, who is also on the shelf for a few more weeks recovering from a shoulder injury.

The Friars headed to the tourney in PR with only 6 scholarship players available, losing to UMass on a heart-breaking, last-second tip-in. Bryce Cotton, arguably the Friar's second best player was hobbled in that game, leading him to miss PC's next contest versus Penn St. the following night. With 5 scholarship players and 1 walk-on available, the Friars lost in overtime to the Lions. Cotton managed to come back after a day's rest to help Providence leave the island with at least one win vs. UNCA, scoring 30 points.

The Friars host Fairfield next at The Dunk on Friday, November 23rd.

Last night, Providence received some huge recruiting news, as 6'5" guard, Brandon Austin, committed to the Friars. Once a Penn St. commit, Austin re-opened his recruitment following the Sandusky/Paterno tragedy/debacle. He chose PC over UConn and Texas.

http://www.philly.co...Providence.html

ROUND TWO of the Brandon Austin Sweepstakes has been completed and the winner is . . . Providence.

Austin, a 6-7, 175-pound senior point guard at Imhotep Charter, Monday made an oral commitment to the Friars while adding that he intends to sign a letter of intent by the end of the early signing period this Wednesday.Austin committed to Penn State last February, then put himself back on the market in July."I'm really happy for Brandon and his family," said Imhotep coach Andre Noble. "This has been a long process. Providence is getting a winner."

With this addition, Providence's roster looks scary good for 2013-14.

http://friarblog.com...arship-tracker/

-

Not that I'm not still excited for this year ...

With Kadeem Batts and Bryce Cotton playing better than expected, the games in March could (at least) get a little interesting once Council returns and Sidiki Johnson and Kris Dunn are able to suit up. Plus, there's always a chance that Ledo could qualify for the 2nd semester. You never know ...

Edited by pdaj, 22 November 2012 - 07:55 PM.

[pdaj]

Anyone headed to Conte tonight?

[Dave Stapleton]

Pdaj ... Game is at 2pm.

[pdaj]

Pdaj ... Game is at 2pm.

Thanks Dave -- not sure how I mixed up the times between the BC and Brown game. Thankfully I was able to adjust my work hours!

[NickEsasky]

Rough couple of games for the Friars. Losses to two teams they should have beaten.

[pdaj]

Nice to see the losing streak end this past weekend with a nice road win vs. Seton Hall. Perhaps they can keep the momentum and play well @ Georgetown.

[redsahx]

I went to the Syracuse game last week and have to say I was dissapointed by the way the Friars played. The Orange tried to give the game away and the Friars couldn't take it.

PCs talent is there, but I was a bit surprised by how bad they were fundamentally. They played lazy defense. I'm sorry but to see a major division 1 team without a single player putting their hands up in a zone defense on basically every possession stood out like a sore thumb. Not only that, but despite the fact they were getting killed on the glass by Syracuse (often giving up 3rd and even 4th chance opportunities) I saw no effort throughout the course of the game to actually adjust and start boxing out. I would expect cuse to beat them on the glass, but this was a pathetic effort. They repeatedly let Syracuse players crash the board without even a slight effort to put bodies on them. It was the kind of effort I would expect during a pickup game or from a middle school team, Not a team hosting the #7 team in the country. The game stayed close because Syracuse shot poorly and didn't play with much energy themselves. If the Friars had done a respectable job on the boards, they would have won.

Yeah I know this sounds like some old curmudgeon complaining abut "the basics", but it really was that bad. They came across as one of the dumbest laziest teams I have ever seen. It rubbed off on the crowd who could barely get into it, despite the fact that an upset was within PCs grasp all night.

[Dan Murfman]

I've seen it all now. A game delayed by a bat

[Mloaf71]

Nice game by the Friars last night.  Two solid wins in a row.  Haven't seen Defense like that from them in a long time (03-04?).

 

Starting to really enjoy this team.

[pdaj]

MLoaf -- I agree 100%. The Cincy game was the "Cooley Effect" I expected to see all along. It looks as though it's gradually coming together. I'll take 55-52 grind-it-out victories over 101-105 losses any day of the week.

 

And what about Lee Goldsbrough? He suddenly looks like a player who can be part of the rotation and consistently contribute. Perhaps we can look forward to a solid Senior season next year.

[pdaj]

4 straight!

[Mloaf71]

The season gets interesting the rest of the way.  Playing for a NIT bid and an outside shot at the Big Dance.

 

Picked the perfect time to be on National TV this week.  The talking heads will have lots of positive things to say about Cooley and PC.

 

It's a fun team to cheer for and the first time I remember them not going in the tank in February (even in their last tournament year they limped down the stretch).

[terrynever]

PC has figured out how to close games out successfully at home. Next step is playing well and sometimes winning on the road. At Syracuse on Wednesday night will be a great barometer for where this team is right now. Batts is playing like a big-time scorer in the post. It's a fun team to watch come together, even for a non-alum like myself.

[NickEsasky]

Well that sucked. It boggles my mind that something like the 2-3 zone that was invented by the Romans in 36 BC still completely boondoggles basketball players at this level. Ball movement, high post, baseline cuts. It's not rocket science. Although I suppose going 2-56 from 3 point land is not a good recipe for success. 

[PC Drunken Friar]

This game just proved they aren't ready for Prime Time this year.

 

Hopefully they can close out the year with a few more BE wins, and maybe an upset in the BE Tourney to get a NIT berth.

 

Next year is where this momentum can lead PC to the next level.  Hopefully Ledo stays and Batts continues his extraordinary development.  

 

Next year, they have landed a 6-6 SF in Brandon Austin (#56), a sleeper in 6'7 Rodney Bullock (ESPN grade 77, 35th best SF) have 2 big body transfers eligible next year (7'0 225 lb Carson Desrosiers from Wake Forrest, who blocked 1.8 PG there and Tyler Harris, 6'8 F from NC State).

 

2014 recruiting class looks like it could be a good one. They look to have a decent shot at adding 6-8, PF Abdul-Malik Abu (#53 Nationally, 7th PF),

 

There is also good word on a raw, 7'2 C in Paschal Chukwu that PC has been after for a long time and he might be blowing up very shortly in the new rankings. He isn't ranked by Rivals yet, but they do have him on their list at the #3 C in class of '14.

 

I am hoping they can somehow land PG Kaleb Joseph (6'2) and Jalen Lindsey (6'6 SF). Plus, Lindsey is from Tenn., so it would be a coup if Cooley can start recruiting nationally like that,.

 

If last night proved anything, we need size and shooters.

 

Last night sucked, but the future is beginning to look bright.

                      
               

Edited by PC Drunken Friar, 21 February 2013 - 11:15 AM.

[shawnrbu]

Nice bounceback win at Rutgers on Saturday night keyed by a 19-0 run to end the 1st Half.  PC will be favored in 2 of their final 3 Big East games.  9-9 in the conference would be significant improvement over the past three dismal seasons in the Big East.  If they can somehow take all three, then the Friars should finish in the top half of the conference.  If that happens, then the hiccups in the nonconference against UMass, Penn St, BC and Brown really start to hurt.  Win 2 of those and this is actually a bubble team.

Edited by shawnrbu, 26 February 2013 - 12:29 AM.

[pdaj]

Big game tonight at the Dunk vs. St. John's. If the Friars can head into their game @ UConn with a 9-8 B.E. conference record, it could make for an interesting weekend.

[Mloaf71]

Ugly but big win last night.

 

If we win the last two and finish 7th in the Conference in the regular season do we begin to get on the bubble?

 

I think 20 wins (this would include a win against Marquette or Gtown...no small task) and we have a decent shot at getting invited to the Dance.

[shawnrbu]

Nice to pick up a win.  I think PC has too many brutal losses (Penn St, BC, Brown, DePaul).  I suppose the committee could cut them some slack due to the Council injury in the non-conference.  Probably going to need to beat UConn on the road and pick up at least two wins against tourney teams at MSG to have a chance.

[PC Drunken Friar]

Another solid win (albiet against a not-so-good opponent).  Joe Lunardi in his latest projection has PC as the last team in the last four out.  A win Saturday at UConn might bump PC to the last out overall...and 2 wins in the BET, who knows?

 

But thats all for nought if they don't win Saturday.

 

Quite the turnaround, considering that a win could get them 7th place in the Big East.  Big Ed Cooley has to be considered for COY in the BE.

[Dave Stapleton]

Nice to pick up a win.  I think PC has too many brutal losses (Penn St, BC, Brown, DePaul).  I suppose the committee could cut them some slack due to the Council injury in the non-conference.  Probably going to need to beat UConn on the road and pick up at least two wins against tourney teams at MSG to have a chance.

BC is turning out to be not quite as horrible as you would have thought. There RPI is up to 118 and not in the same league as those other teams which are at or above 200.

[shawnrbu]

Agreed.  The BC loss doesn't look as bad right now. It is not in the same stratosphere as those three other teams (Penn St, Brown and DePaul).  At least, PC had a very good injury excuse for the Penn St. loss (No Cotton, Council and Dunn.  Only played six guys). 

 

Villanova winning tonight means PC must beat UConn to grab the 7 seed.  The positive of Villanova winning is that it, hopefully, strengthens PC's resume to have 2 wins over a team of that caliber.  Beating UConn on Saturday would be huge.

Edited by shawnrbu, 06 March 2013 - 09:17 PM.

[NickEsasky]

Looks like the Friars are NIT bound after Saturday's loss to Uconn. Definitely a game they could have had. I liked their defensive effort but they were done in by the turnovers and inconsistent offense. Rough games by Cotton and Council and they couldn't really get Batts going outside of a few stretches.

 

Uconn did a good job doubling down low every time the Friars went inside and PC just didn't do enough to make them pay for that by finding open shooters or cutting slashers. 

[Dan Murfman]

Ricky Ledo is taking his talents to the NBA


http://news.providen...o-decision.html

[NickEsasky]

Since he didn't play a minute for us it's tough to know if this is a loss at all.