Tag: Friar Sports
PC Students Runs NYC Marathon
by The Cowl Editor on November 15, 2018
Friar Sports
By Scott Jarosz ’21
Sports Staff
Joe Rezuke ’21, from Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, recently participated in the 2018 TCS New York City Marathon on Nov. 4. Rezuke says he earned the opportunity to run in the marathon with the Home Base Foundation, a charity that is partnered with the Red Sox Foundation and works to help Veterans, Service Members, and their families who struggle with the mental effects of war.
According to the marathon’s official website, nyrr.org, the NYC Marathon is the world’s largest, with over 52,000 competitors in 2018. Of those who participated, 30,657 were men, and 22,151 were women. The average finish time for the marathon was 4:26:54 for men and 4:53:49 for women.
Rezuke finished the marathon with an impressive time of 3:35:42. He averaged a pace of 8:14 per mile and placed 15 out of 82 for the 19-year-old age group.
Rezuke discussed that the marathon was a rewarding experience. “It was a good time. Leading up to it, a lot of people say it’s one of the most beautiful races. It was really cool to run through all five boroughs (of New York City).”
Rezuke added that the incredible atmosphere of the runners and fans amplified the experience. “Everyone being there and screaming with a ton of runners was just a crazy experience.”
Although performing well is important for many marathon runners, it is certainly not the only reason to run a marathon. For a lot of runners, there are other contributing factors that motivate them to participate in a marathon and this was the case for Rezuke.
TCS New York City Marathon was not his first race, as he ran in the Boston Marathon back in 2017. Rezuke turned 18 years old just two days prior to the Boston Marathon and was the youngest person to participate that year.
Rezuke admitted that being the youngest person to compete in the entire marathon was certainly a contributing factor but cited a more important reason to run. “The charity I ran for was Be Like Brit. It’s an orphanage in Haiti and my family is really involved with that because my dad grew up with the owner of the orphanage.”
Rezuke said that he has been to Haiti three or four times and that this charity is very special to him. “Just having the opportunity to run for that organization that’s so close to home and that I’m really involved with, I immediately wanted to do it.”
Be Like Brit is a foundation that was created in honor of Britney Gengel, a native of Rutland, Massachusetts who passed away at 19 years-old after an earthquake struck Haiti in 2010 that killed approximately 300,000 people. Gengel was in Haiti with her school, Lynn University, compassionately serving children who were living in poverty.
The Be Like Brit Foundation was started by Gengel’s family to continue her mission by building an orphanage in Haiti that welcomes impoverished children and makes them a part of their family. Given the mission of this foundation and Rezuke’s relationship with its founders, it is easy to see why Rezuke was so eager to participate in this marathon. Not only was he able to be the youngest person to run in the Boston Marathon, but he was also doing so on behalf of a foundation that is special to him.
Rezuke plans to run more marathons in the future. “I definitely want to do more. The big six marathons are Tokyo, Berlin, London, Chicago, Boston, and New York. I definitely want to complete that because that’s a huge accomplishment for marathon runners.” Ultimately, Rezuke would like to compete in some Ironman competitions and push himself to see how well he can place.
Volleyball Celebrates Senior Night
by The Cowl Editor on November 15, 2018
Friar Sports
By Sullivan Burgess ’20
Sports Staff
On Sunday, November 11, Catherine Harding ’19, Allison Impellizeri ’19, Kara Mason ’19, and Megan Onyundo ’19 took the court in Mullaney Gymnasium one last time for their final home game for the Providence College Women’s Volleyball Team against Big East rival Georgetown University. Although the game was spoiled by the Hoyas’ victory in a 3-2 match, nothing was able to ruin the moment in store for all four seniors.
After falling 22-25 and 23-25 in the first two sets of the match, the Friars bounced back by winning the next two sets 25-22, 25-20. Unfortunately, momentum brought by each member of the team and the crowd was not enough to help secure the victory, as Georgetown finished set five with a 15-12 victory.
Impellizeri was the leader of the Friars’ offense with 20 kills, besting her previous career high of 18 kills. Allison Barber ’21 also led the team in 48 assists throughout the match.
Onyundo and Addison Root ’20 were able to provide the Friars with a defensive effort of 11 and 10 digs, respectively. Root and Lindsey Schaible ’20 each had two of the team’s five aces.
For Onyundo, this moment was more than just volleyball. “It was closing a great journey in my life,” stated Onyundo, “I have always wanted to play Division 1 sports and this was the end of me achieving my goal. This game meant a lot to me because all my friends and family were able to see me play one last time at home, after supporting me through countless hours of games and scrimmages.”
For Cayla Veverka ’20, the seniors were much more than teammates. She stated, “Our seniors are a huge part of our team and will be missed next year! They are some of the most dedicated and amazing players I have ever been on a team with. All of them have made huge impacts on the volleyball program and have made us all better players. Our seniors are truly my role models and I am forever grateful for everything they have done for the team and myself.”
One of the goals the seniors had in their four years was to create this drive for greatness that would continue for years to come in the program, Onyundo stated, “We want everyone to be seen as a player rather than be separated by class year to create a connection on the court. This was able to drive us to always put up a fight on the court. Our class was very competitive, and the drive we all had is what helped drive us to always strive to persistent in our goals.”
Head Coach Margot Royer-Johnson said, “It’s always about the grit and gratitude.” Harding, Impellizeri, Mason, and Onyundo were able to provide this grit in their years at Providence, and will be truly missed for all the time and effort they brought each week.
Men’s Basketball Plays in Veterans Classic
by The Cowl Editor on November 15, 2018
Friar Sports
By Karlene Cudak ’19
Guest Staff Writer
Within the last week, the Providence College Men’s Basketball Team has taken on Wichita State University and the College of the Holy Cross. Beginning last Friday, November 9, the team fell to the Wichita State Shockers in the Veterans Classic with a score of 80-83.
The Veterans Classic is an event held annually to honor our nation’s veterans and showcase the U.S. Naval Academy. PC was chosen along with three other teams to participate in these games.
During the game against the Shockers, David Duke ’22 scored his first points in the Friars uniform during the first half of the game as he hit two free throws. He continued to score by making another layup where he was fouled. Duke was sent to the free throw line where he scored another point to make it a three-point play.
The Shockers went on a 10-0 run scoring enough points to take the lead back from the Friars leading into the halftime score of 44-39.
After the halftime locker room pep talks, the Friars came back for the second half ready to fight for the win. Isaiah Jackson ’19RS had a steal at 19:23 that was followed by a dunk by AJ Reeves ’22 assisted by Duke.
This brought the team within a three-point deficit, only to be decreased once again after Alpha Diallo ’20 stole the ball and finished the play with a fast-break layup. The Shockers were victorious in the end after a hard-fought game. However, this did not discourage the Friars as they prepared for their next game against Crusaders from the College of the Holy Cross.
The Friars prepared for a home game on Nov. 13 against the Crusaders, taking notes from their last game on how to improve in order to win. The records of the two teams were tied at 1-1 going into this game, and at the half, it looked as though the Crusaders would take the win to make their record 2-1.
The Crusaders came out of the gate with a three-court press, which caused 10 turnovers and contributed 12 of their points in the first half. Holy Cross led by four points at halftime with a score of 37-33.
The second half began with another four points scored by the Crusaders, bringing the score to 41-33, an eight-point lead over the Friars. At minute 12:51, Duke tied the game at 48-48 after the Friars fought hard to regain control of the game. They continued to hold the Crusaders at the same score, while the Friars went on a 9-0 run. Head Coach Ed Cooley credits this second half explosion to their switch to a zone defense. “I thought our defense tonight actually won us the game, which I didn’t think they could, based on the first 26 minutes of the game,” commented Cooley.
The Friars’ willpower and fight, along with Diallo’s team-high of 18 points and rebound to end the game, allowed the team to defeat the Holy Cross Crusaders 70-61. Look for more from our Friars as the play in the Hall of Fame Tip-Off Tournament at Mohegan Sun Nov. 17-18 beginning with a matchup versus the University of South Carolina.
Editor’s Corner
by The Cowl Editor on November 15, 2018
Friar Sports
Remembering Rick Pitino at PC
By Jack Belanger ’21
Sports Co-Editor
In the early 1980s, the Providence College men’s basketball program found itself in a much different state than what fans have witnessed this decade. Legendary head coach Dave Gavitt left his position at PC to help form the Big East Conference while becoming the league’s first commissioner.
Unfortunately for the Friars, they suffered through one of their worst stretches in the program’s history from 1979-1985. In this time PC only managed one season with an overall winning record.
Then, before the start of the 1985-86 season, something happened that would change the trajectory of Friars basketball history. Longtime head coach Joe Mullaney retired, which meant former athletic director Lou Lamoriello ’63 had to find a new successor.
Lamoriello found the right man for the job in 32-year-old New York Knicks Assistant Coach Rick Pitino.
Now most sports fans know Pitino for his coaching tenures at the University of Louisville or his disastorous tenure with Boston Celtics, but at the time he was best known for taking Boston University to the NCAA Tournament.
Pitino brought immediate changes to the team which had immediate results. Practices occurred three times a day, players were punished for being late to class, and film sessions became common.
With Pitino at the helm, the Friars had their best season since the inception of the Big East, finishing 7-9 in league play and 17-14 overall, and were fifth in the conference. While the team did not make it to the NCAA tournament, they did make it to the National Invitational Tournament. No doubt things were changing, and the next season got even better.
In 1986-87 Pitino emphasized shooting the long-ball and told his team to shoot at least 23-25 threes a game. The change in style lead the team to have an even more successful season than the year before.
That season the Friars, lead by Billy Donovan ’87, who scored 20.6 points per game, managed to make it to the NCAA tournament for the first time in nine years. For the tournament, the team was given a six-seed and made headlines around the country by making a Cinderella run all the way to the Final Four for the second time in school history.
Even though he bolted back to the NBA to coach for the Knicks after the season, Pitino will always have a soft-spot for the Friars. “Because of that Cinderella team, I believed for the rest of my coaching career that anything was possible,” he says. “Any comeback is possible, and any team can accomplish great things. Providence kept that alive for me.”
Despite such a short stint at PC, Pitino turned the Friars from one of the bottom teams in the Big East to a team that would always be in the mix for first. For a moment, leave out the rest of his career and appreciate what he did for basketball at PC.
No coach at PC has orchestrated such a quick turnaround, turning a team that finished eighth just two years before into one that would realize its full potential and make it to the Final Four.
Even after he left the College, Pitino’s influence remained. His son, Richard Pitino ’05, served as a team manager for two seasons while he attended PC. He also donated towards the construction of the St. Dominic Chapel. PC may have been one his shortest coaching jobs, but it may be where he had his greatest impact.
Friars Down Siena in Home Opener
by The Cowl Editor on November 8, 2018
Friar Sports
A.J. Reeves ’22 Scores 29 in Record-Setting Debut
By Sullivan Burgess ’20
Sports Staff
On Tuesday, November 6, the Providence College Men’s Basketball Team begin their journey for the NCAA Division I National Championship as they took on the Siena College Saints at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center in a 77-67 victory.
After winning both exhibition games over the past three weeks, and with plenty of buzz over a talented recruiting class, the Friars have much to look forward to this season.
The victory belonged to the entire team, thanks to the all-around effort on both sides of the ball, excellent passing, smart shooting, and excellent defensive abilities. One player whose performance stood out amongst others was one of the newest faces, A.J. Reeves ’22.
In his first career game, as well as his first game as a member of the starting five, Reeves contributed on all facets of the game as he tallied 29 points, two rebounds, one assist, one block and one steal in 30 minutes of playing time.
Reeves stated at the end of the game, “I just want to contribute to our team getting a W…They [teammates] have confidence in me shooting the ball…I just want to do my job.” Reeves’ contribution to the game included 10-13 field goals, 7-9 three point shooting, and even 2-2 on free throws, thus setting the school record for most points scored by a PC freshman in their debut.
One important aspect that contributed to Reeves’s successful shooting was the entire student body cheering for him and even chanting his name seven minutes into the first half, after he had just performed a chase down block on Siena. Friar Fanatic Vice President Joe Haughey ’20 stated after the game, “It is pretty incredible how a player such as Reeves is able to perform the way he does, and the energy he brings to us allows us to show that Friartown has his back, especially in his first career game, we are able to get the whole arena to chant his name within the first half, that’s pretty special.”
Throughout the offseason, and even in the beginning of the season, Head Coach Ed Cooley has been nothing but impressed with the development and skill of Reeves. Cooley even stated to his colleagues that Reeves has the potential to be the all-time leading scorer at PC.
After the victory last night, Cooley stated, “I didn’t expect A.J. to do what he did…I wish I was watching as a fan for this game.”
Another key player that stood out for the Friars, was Alpha Diallo ’20. Putting in 16 points, 11 rebounds, and five assists, Diallo was able to step up as the team’s leader in crucial moments throughout the game, such as scoring off an offensive rebound and a put-back layup in the last three minutes of the second half. Cooley stated on his behalf, “Leaders step up…I always tell my leaders, when we need a basket you have to be that person, and Alpha stepped up.”
While the Friars need to figure out a set rotation for all players, the team as a whole was able to compete and show their true strides of professionalism, which will be important for the rest of the season. The early victory in Providence is just one step towards achieving the team’s season goals.
Putigna ’19 and Murphy ’21 Lead Upset Over BC
by The Cowl Editor on November 8, 2018
Friar Sports
By Meaghan Cahill ’20
Sports Co-Editor
When the final buzzer went off on Nov. 3, the Providence College’s Women’s Ice Hockey Team had more than just a 4-2 win to celebrate; they had defeated the no. 5 nationally-ranked Boston College team for the first time since their 2016-17 season. The team’s win last Saturday was only the second time PC has been able to beat BC in the past four years.
Boston College, which is ranked first in Hockey East and known for their quick, high-scoring games, has previously beaten the Friars in lopsided games with scores such as 8-0 and 9-1. However, in the most recent contest between the two teams, there was no mismatch between them.
The first period was completely scoreless, with the shots on net evenly matched for both teams. BC closed out the period with two penalties that would give the Friars a 5-on-3 Powerplay for the first 42 seconds of the second period.
Maureen Murphy ’21 capitalized on the odd-man advantage and was able to snipe one past BC’s goalie from the slot just 18 seconds into the period, giving the Friars a 1-0 lead. The second period saw two more goals; another Powerplay goal from Christina Putigna ’19 and one from BC player Daryl Watts.
Murphy answered the call again not even five minutes into the third period. Later on, Putigna closed out the game with an empty-netter with only 10 seconds remaining in the third period.
Captain Kate Friesen ’19, who notched an assist on one of Putigna’s goals, said, “We knew BC was going to be a tough opponent, but we had a great week of practice so we were prepared with our game plan.”
The preparation definitely paid off, because when asked about what was different with this game compared to previous games against BC, Friesen commented that the team went into the game with much more confidence and discipline.
“The mood and energy of our team on Saturday night was great. I believe [our mood] was a big contributor to us being able to sustain pressure all game,” she said. “We kept our foot on the gas all night long and stuck to our game plan, which translated into chances that we were able to capitalize on.”
The win over BC shows great promise for the team this season and as Friesen stated, “We showed a level of play we are capable of so now it’s a matter of working hard to continue to improve as the season continues.”
In terms of improvement, Friesen acknowledges that the team needs to work on their puck possession both offensively and defensively to generate more scoring chances for the team and eliminate the chances for opponents.
Friesen stated that the team’s win was exciting, “I think that it shows growth within our program so it excites me to see where we’re headed moving forward this season.”
This weekend, PC will face off against the University of Maine at Schneider Arena before hitting the road for a Sunday game against the University of Vermont.
Men’s Soccer Falls to Georgetown in Semis 0-4
by The Cowl Editor on November 8, 2018
Friar Sports
By Cam Smith ’21
Sports Staff
The wind was whipping as the Providence College Men’s Soccer Team took on St. John’s University in the quarterfinals of the Big East tournament last Saturday November 3 on Chapey Field. Fans braved the unrelenting gusts to watch the Friars defeat the Red Storm by a score of 1-0.
Matt DePerro ’21RS scored the lone goal of the contest, tapping the ball into the net at the 15-minute mark after a header from midfielder Kevin Vang ’22 found DePerro sitting at the right post. The goal did not come without some controversy, as it was originally called back due to the assistant referee calling DePerro offsides. A discussion with the center referee caused the decision to be reversed, as a St. John’s player had slid out of bounds to situate himself firmly behind DePerro. After the dust cleared, both Vang and midfielder Brendan Constantine ‘19 were credited with assists.
The dominant Friar defense was the story of the night, as PC notched its ninth shutout of the season. The defensive unit has been strong all year long, allowing the third fewest goals in the Big East. Joao Serrano ‘20RS, along with Tristan Stowell ’21RS, Malcolm Duncan ’21, and f Ramzi Qawasmy ’22 have spearheaded a resurgent backline that struggled for much of the 2017 season.
On Saturday, the compact back four left little space in the final third for the Johnnies to operate, as the Friars prevented any semblance of link-up play. The visiting squad only registered five shots on the night, and star keeper Colin Miller ‘19RS made a tremendous save on the one ball that found its way to the post. Prior to Saturday’s game, the Friars had closed out the Big East regular season with two consecutive 1-0 wins over St. John’s and Villanova University. These two matches saw PC solidify their 6-2-1 conference record, a record good enough to clinch the third seed in the Big East Tournament.
Saturday’s playoff victory was a welcome development for a Friar team that suffered an uncharacteristic loss in the quarterfinal just a year ago to Xavier University. After the game, the boys in black and white had their sights set on a much loftier goal: the Big East crown and a potential College Cup berth.
Next up for PC in their quest for Big East supremacy: the number two seeded Georgetown University Hoyas. The two Big East powerhouses battled in the nation’s capital on Wednesday November 3 in the conference semifinals.
Weather played a factor in the game, as torrential downpours in the D.C. area made it a muddy affair on Georgetown’s grass field.
The Hoyas dominated possession in the first half, as the Friars seemed to have a hard time adjusting to the size of Shaw Field. Georgetown was able to switch the ball several times on offense, spreading out a Friar defense that had remained so compact on Saturday. The lack of possession for PC led to few offensive chances, as the team did not register a shot on net in the first half. Georgetown’s Kyle Zajec scored the lone goal of the half on a penalty kick after the ball bounced off of Klisman Sousa ‘19RS’s hand in the box.
The second half began on a good note for the Friars as they began to string together some chances, but their momentum was halted when Georgetown scored their second goal of the game with 30 minutes remaining in the half. Hoya forward Riley Strassner finished his own rebound after an unlucky bounce off of Miller’s save. The Friars never quite found their footing after that, and a Gil Santos ’22 red card with 20 minutes remaining in the half put the Friars down a man as they tried to claw their way back into the game. Georgetown would go on to add two additional goals, securing a 4-0 victory and a spot in the Big East championship.
PC ended their season with a 10-7-2 record. The Friars now look ahead to next year as a batch of exciting players return to build on a solid season.
Field Hockey Season Comes to an End
by The Cowl Editor on November 8, 2018
Friar Sports
Liberty Flames Too Much for Friars to Handle
By Sam Scanlon ’19
Sports Staff
This past weekend, the Providence College Field Hockey season came to an end in Lynchburg, Virginia as the Friars fell to Liberty University 0-4 in the Big East Semi-Finals. This marked the second straight 0-4 loss to Liberty, as the first came on Oct. 26 to wrap up the regular season.
Despite the disappointing defeat, the Friars still had a tremendously successful season. The 11-8 Friars finished their season as the third ranked team in the Big East, earning them their 19th Big East Tournament berth in program history.
Starting off the season with an 0-3 record on their West coast trip to the University of California, Berkeley, the University of California, Davis, and the University of the Pacific, the Friars needed a strong second half to have a shot at the tournament.
The Friars’ leading scorer, Allyson Parker ’20 touched on their slow start by saying, “We started the season on the road with three games in California. Losing all three of those games was not necessarily the start we wanted.”
However, the Friars battled back by taking victories in 11 out of their final 15 regular season games. “Coming out of that weekend could have gone two ways: we could have accepted a losing season or we could do something to turn it around.” Parker continued, “We decided that we were not going to dwell on those losses and treat each game as a brand new one.” That mentality certainly proved to be successful after the Friars quickly got their season back on track.
As the Friars finished the season with a 4-3 conference record, their Big East berth was well deserved as three of those victories were settled in overtime. The most dramatic victory came on Oct. 19 in Washington, D.C. against Georgetown University. After 90 minutes of regulation and two scoreless overtimes, a shootout was necessary to decide a victor. Maddie Babineau ’21, Amanda Collins ’22, and Mary O’Reilly ’20, who scored the Friars’ lone goal in regulation, each converted on their shootout attempts. Goalkeeper Lydia Rice ’19 denied all three Georgetown attempts and lifted the Friars to a 2-1 shootout victory. This essential win was the final of the Friars’ season, which clinched them a Big East Tournament appearance.
Parker was positive in her overall outlook on this past season as she added, “The biggest positive takeaway from the season would have to be how strongly each team member embodied our culture.” The Friars adapted a culture where leadership and cohesion were the main focal points. Parker explained, “at the beginning of preseason we took part in a military style training called ‘The Program’ with the mission being to create better leaders and more cohesive teams. [We] took the lessons [we] learned and applied them throughout the rest of the season.”
Parker will be returning next season and continuing her large role on offense, and she is looking forward to another successful season. She concluded, “I have a good feeling about next season. The spring is crucial for us in preparing for next season and I feel confident that our team is focused and determined heading into it.”
Look for Parker and the Friars to have another successful season next fall where they will aim to reach the Big East Tournament yet again and return to Friartown with the trophy.
Women’s Soccer Falls to Butler Once Again
by The Cowl Editor on November 8, 2018
Friar Sports
By Thomas Zinzarella ’21
Sports Staff
Last week, the Providence College Women’s Soccer Team fell in the Big East Semifinals to the Butler University Bulldogs. This is the second year in a row that the Friars have made the semifinals and dropped both games to the Bulldogs. However, this time around the Friars fared better at Indianapolis.
The Friars were defeated 0-3 last year and showed resilience in this year’s matchup. The Friars trailed 0-2 at halftime after two quick goals scored by the Bulldogs in the 19th and 35th minute. The Friars did not give in, as Camille Murphy ’21 put the Friars on the board and gave them some life. Butler once more extended their lead with a goal in the 79th minute.
Once again, the Friars showed perserverance with a goal by Amber Birchwell ’21 in the 87th minute. The Friars were unable to mount a comeback, but they continue to progress towards the ultimate goal of a Big East championship in future seasons.
It is safe to say that the Butler-Providence rivalry is just getting started in 2018. The Friars have been defeated by the Bulldogs in their last three playoff matchups. The Friars continue to get better and develop their up-and-coming talent. It starts with the top two goal scorers on the team in Hannah McNulty ’21 and Birchwell. Both combined to score 16 of the 26 goals that the Friars recorded this season. McNulty was 3rd in the Big East with 10 goals.
The Friars were led by their defensive back line that was one of the best in the Big East. They only allowed 16 goals this year, second in the Big East only behind the likes of Georgetown University who allowed seven goals. The Hoyas were the second best in the NCAA in goals allowed which is one of the reasons why they earned the number four national ranking and number one seed in the NCAA Tournament.
A valuable piece for the future is goaltender Shelby Hogan ’21RS. Hogan, who was third in the Big East with a .77 Goals Allowed per game, also recorded 10 shutouts, second in Big East. Due to Hogan’s performance in the Big East tournament, along with Birchwell, both earned Big East All-Tournament team honors.
Another reason the future looks bright for PC is continued success from the coaching staff. Since his arrival at PC in 2014, Head Coach Sam Lopes has lead the Friars to five Big East postseason berths, along with five winning seasons including four straight seasons recording double-digit wins.
With talent and experience coming back to the team next year, expect the Friars to be in contention once again as they look to pursue a Big East title and a place in the NCAA tournament.
Men’s Basketball Reloads and Retools
by The Cowl Editor on November 1, 2018
Friar Sports
Friars Ready To Pick Up Where They Left Off
By Cam Smith ’21
Sports Staff
It’s been 244 long and arduous days since the Dunkin’ Donuts Center was last filled with the raucous chants and thunderous applause associated with college basketball. Luckily, for Friar Fanatics everywhere, the approach of Nov. 6 means that the Dunk will soon be electrified again. The noise will begin when the Providence College Men’s Basketball Team takes on Siena College next Tuesday on opening night of their 2018-19 NCAA season.
Last year was a resounding success for the Friars as they defeated both the number one seeded Villanova University Wildcats and the number five seeded Xavier University Musketeers in regular season play. The team advanced all the way to the finals of the Big East tournament, eliminating Xavier along the way before coming up short to Villanova in the final. Despite the outcome, PC punched their ticket to their fifth straight NCAA tournament.
Three key seniors from last season’s successful team have moved on from Friartown: Kyron Cartwright ‘18, Rodney Bullock ‘18, and the sweet-shooting Jalen Lindsey ‘18. With the significant loss of veteran leadership, PC will look to forge a new identity with a host of both familiar and new faces. One player who Providence will look to to take a leading role on the team is Alpha Diallo ’20.
Diallo made a huge leap in his second year with the Friars, going from scoring 5.7 points as a freshman to 13.2 points as a sophomore. His impact was felt on both sides of the ball as a talented slasher and pesky defender, and he also threw together a slew of magnificent performances in the Big East tournament. The 6’7” guard from New York, New York will look to continue his upward trend as the focal point of the PC offense. Diallo has already seen himself named to the 2018 preseason All-Big East First Team.
Diallo is far from alone in his quest to lead the Friars to their sixth straight NCAA tournament appearance. The roster boasts a surplus of talent and versatility, as 12 of the 13 players are listed as either guards or forwards. The lone center on the team, Nate Watson ’21, will look to continue the improvements he made as a scorer in the paint as last season progressed, and should be positioned for statistical improvements across the board.
The return of forward Emmitt Holt ’19 is also a major headline for the Friars, as Holt was the second leading scorer on the 2016-17 team before redshirting last year due to injury. Holt finished in the 87th percentile nationally in offensive efficiency two seasons ago; adding his versatility as a scorer will greatly benefit an offense that at some points last season lacked a go-to scorer.
Isaiah Jackson ’19RS, along with Kalif Young ’20, Maliek White ’20, and Drew Edwards ’20RS will also all have opportunities to bring leadership to a young squad. Each could potentially find themselves in the starting lineup at some point this season, as head coach Ed Cooley has fiddled with various lineups throughout the preseason. Jackson’s experience and solid three-point shooting (36 percent) likely gives him the edge to lead the foursome in minutes played.
Perhaps the most exciting aspect of the 2018-19 team is the addition of two top-50 recruits in guards David Duke ’22 and A.J. Reeves ’22. Providence native Duke is a talented ballhandler and playmaker who excels at creating his own shot. His AAU-teammate and fellow New Englander, Reeves, possesses a beautiful stroke and has great off-ball movement that is a perfect match with the playmaking ability of Duke. The two have the potential to become part of a prolific scoring backcourt that could ignite the Dunk for years to come.
The Friars capped off their preseason schedule on Saturday, October 27, where they defeated the Bowie State University Bulldogs 83-55. Watson led the team in scoring with 14 points, while four other Friars also achieved double-digit point totals. The evenly distributed scoring likely foreshadows things to come, as the Friars are a deep team with seemingly unlimited potential.