2011 Providence Friars Basketball


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2010-11 Results:

Overall: 15-17
Big East: 4-14
Conference Tournament: Lost in the first round of the Big East Tournament.
Postseason: None

After a 4-14 season in the Big East, Providence has brought in a new coach. Ed Cooley, who previously coached at Fairfield, is looking to turn around the Friars. This team has some exiting young players but will need to gel together for the Friars to improve on last year’s four conference wins.

People may have been deceived with the Friars getting off to a 9-1 start in non-conference play, but once conference play got underway the Friars couldn’t compete in the loaded Big East. Providence finished near the bottom of the standings prompting the firing of coach Keno Davis.

The Friars were the number one scoring team in the Big East last year at 75.8 points per game and 15th in scoring defense. Without Big East leading scorer Marshon Brooks it will be difficult for Providence to maintain those offensive numbers. Look for Cooley to push the Friars to work harder on the defensive side of the ball.

Roster

Returning Starters
Vincent Council
Gerald Coleman
Bilal Dixon
Kadeem Batts

Other Returning Players
Bryce Cotton
Ron Giplaye

Newcomers
Kiwi Gardner
LaDontae Henton
Brice Kofane

Head Coach
Ed Cooley

Key Losses

Marshon Brooks the Big East leading scorer and first round pick of the Boston Celtics will be impossible to replace. The Friars will have to replace him by committee. Additionally Providence will be without backup senior Ray Hall. Duke Mondy who averaged 7.7 points per game last season transferred to Oakland.

Schedule

Date Opponent / Event
25-Oct vs. Assumption #
5-Nov vs. UMass-Lowell #
12-Nov vs. Fairleigh Dickinson
14-Nov @ Fairfield
19-Nov vs. Florida A&M
22-Nov vs. Southern
25-Nov vs. Iowa State
26-Nov vs. Northern Iowa
29-Nov vs. Holy Cross
1-Dec @ South Carolina
5-Dec vs. Brown
8-Dec vs. Boston College
10-Dec vs. Bryant University
20-Dec vs. New Hampshire
23-Dec @ Rhode Island
27-Dec @ St. John’s *
31-Dec @ Georgetown *
4-Jan vs. Syracuse *
7-Jan vs. Seton Hall *
10-Jan vs. Louisville *
14-Jan @ Syracuse *
21-Jan vs. Marquette *
25-Jan @ Pittsburgh *
29-Jan @ USF *
1-Feb vs. Rutgers *
2/5/2012 vs. West Virginia
2/7/2012 @ Villanova *
2/11/2012 vs. USF *
2/15/2012 @ Cincinnati *
2/18/2012 vs. Georgetown *
2/25/2012 @ DePaul *
2/28/2012 vs. Connecticut *
3/2/2012 @ Notre Dame *
*Conference Games

2011-12 Preview

Cooley will try to get his young players to play together. He will try to develop a group of five freshmen. In the backcourt, Kiwi Gardner will challenge for playing time. The biggest concern for Cooley is improving the teams defense that ranked 15th in the Big East last year.

Backcourt

Providence will need to replace guard Marshon Brooks who was drafted by the Boston Celtics in the first round of the NBA draft. Cooley will count on Vincent Council and Gerard Coleman to fill the offensive void left by the departure of Brooks. Council led the Big East in assist last year while also chipping in 13.7 points per game.

Coleman started last year and scored 10.3 points per game and has proved to be a big time player. Bryce Cotton should see increased playing time this year after having averaged 15.3 minutes a game last year and 4.0 points. Freshman Gardner will also be in the mix for playing time.

Frontcourt

Brooks was also the Friars leading rebounder with 7 boards a game. Returning starters Bilal Dixon and Kadeem Batts will provide a tough inside presence in the rugged Big East and try to replace Brooks on the boards

Ron Giplaye who averaged 1.6 rebounds a game got some experience last year as a freshman and will look to contribute. Freshman forwards LaDontae Henton and Brice Kofane will also be in the mix. Henton should provide scoring from the inside and can block shots as well. Kofane needs to work on his shot but can provide the Friars with a large inside presence.

More Big East Basketball Predictions

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Seton Hall Pirates Connecticut Huskies Rutgers Scarlet Knights St. Johns Red Storm
Pittsburgh Panthers Villanova Wildcats Providence Friars DePaul Blue Demons
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