After several seasons of finishing back in the pack of the Big East conference, the Providence Friars are now in the hands of Keno Davis. Davis comes in fresh off a 28-5 season at Drake en route to Associated Press Coach of the Year honors. The first-year coach has Big East bloodlines as his father, Dr. Tom Davis, coached at Boston College when the conference was formed in 1979. The Providence program was left in decent shape after Tim Welsh was fired. The Friars return all five starters from a year ago, in addition to former All-Big East honoree Sharaud Curry, who is off a redshirt season after an ankle injury. Optimism is high but gains must be made if they plan to jump into the upper-half of the Big East.
Two years ago, Curry was one of the better point guards in the league, averaging 15.3 ppg and 4.4 apg but through nine games this season he has yet to regain his form (7.7 ppg). Most reports indicate he is not at 100 percent and will need more time to regain 2007's confidence. Senior Jeff Xavier, who led the Friars in scoring with 12.4 ppg last season, has also seen a dip in production through the first quarter of the season. After starting all but one game last season, Xavier has started only two games in 2008, while shooting a woeful 34% from the floor. He has failed to reach double-digits in four games and was held scoreless in a recent win over Rhode Island. Without Xavier and Curry playing up to their capabilities, it could be a long season in the Big East for the Friars.
And while it is early, the concept of “rebuilding” may not be that far fetched. A close look shows that through nine games, two of Providence’s top two performers this year were virtual no-names last season. Guard Marshon Brooks averaged just 3.4 ppg last year but finds himself as the team’s leading scorer (14.1 ppg) coming off the bench. Forward Jonathan Kale spent much of his career as a role player but is averaging a career-best 12.4 ppg. Weyinmi Efejuku has been a model of consistency during his four years and is on pace for another double-digit average. He is one of the few players who performed well last season and carried it over under Davis.
At 6-3, it may be too early to fully assess this team but the fact remains that many key players for whatever reason are vastly underperforming. The group of Xavier, Geoff McDermott and Brian McKenzie all got big minutes last season and combined to shoot a respectable 45% from the floor. This year, with Curry included, the foursome owns a combined mark of 89-of-264, 33%. If not for Brooks, Kale and Randall Henke chipping in at 120-of-208, 58%, there is no telling how bad a shooting team Providence would be.
It will be interesting to see what Davis’ approach is this season once Big East plays begins. Typically, when a new coach steps in and inherits a bunch of returning starters who see a decline in productivity, it may be a sign that said players are not in the future plans of the program. Keep a close eye on this team because the window to play against may not last long.
