Inside The Big East: Providence

Providence basketball has a new sheriff in town, and Ed Cooley could have Friars back in Big East contention sooner rather than later. (Photo courtesy of ESPN)

USF started our team-by-team look at the Big East yesterday, and now it's time to put another team under the microscope as the road to Big East media day profiles an institution that has always been among the major programs in New England college basketball.

Providence Friars (2010-11 Record: 15-17, 4-14 Big East)
Head Coach: Ed Cooley (1st season at PC, 92-69 in five seasons at Fairfield)

Returning Starters: G Vincent Council (6-2 Jr., 13.7 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 36% FG, 34% 3pt, 72% FT, 5.9 APG, 1.7 SPG)

G Gerard Coleman (6-4 So., 10.3 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 42% FG, 54% FT)
F Kadeem Batts (6-9 So., 7.1 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 44% FG, 38% 3pt, 65% FT)
F Bilal Dixon (6-9 Jr., 5.7 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 51% FG, 45% FT, 1.4 BPG)

Other Key Returning Players: G Bryce Cotton (6-1 So., 4.0 PPG, 1.5 RPG, 39% FG, 78% FT)
Key Losses: G Marshon Brooks (24.6 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 48% FG, 34% 3pt, 77% FT, 2.5 APG, 1.2 BPG, 1.5 SPG)

Providence was the only Big East program to make a coaching change in the offseason after four schools switched leaders the year before, dismissing Keno Davis following a 15-17 record in just his third season at the helm of the Friars. Athletic director Bob Driscoll decided to stay local when hiring a replacement; and made what stands out in the eyes of many respected college basketball analysts as an exceptional hire by luring Ed Cooley away from his perch at Fairfield University, where the former Al Skinner assistant spent the last five seasons transforming the Stags from doormat to rising powerhouse in the MAAC. Cooley leaves new Fairfield coach Sydney Johnson with a wealth of talent in southern Connecticut that will contend for a MAAC championship and NCAA Tournament berth, and the 42-year-old has no regrets about returning to the city where he grew up as one of nine children raised by a single mother. In fact, Cooley is embracing the challenges inherent in resurrecting a once-proud basketball program still rich in tradition despite falling on hard times in recent years.

"I have a deep conviction about Providence itself because I was born and raised here," said Cooley in an interview with Sports Illustrated. "I have the ability to sell a dream and become part of that dream, part of that quest, and just the belief that I have that I can sell these young men that they can become more than just basketball players, they can become complete people."

For Cooley, there is no bigger challenge in the dream he is now living than that of having to replace one-man show Marshon Brooks, who was drafted by the Boston Celtics in the first round of this past June's NBA draft and subsequently traded to the New Jersey Nets following a senior season in which he set the Big East on fire, leading the conference in scoring with an average of 24.6 points per game while also averaging seven rebounds from the wing position. However, Brooks is really the only loss for the Friars this season, as all four other starters from last year's unit return under Cooley, who has virtually the whole team back for next year as well barring any transfers; since reserve guard Chris Carter, who plays sparingly as it is, is Providence's lone senior on the roster this season.

Brooks' spot in the lineup will be very difficult to replicate, but his two backcourt partners will attempt to shoulder most of the load. Point guard Vincent Council returns for his junior season after a sophomore year in which he made a marked improvement on both sides of the ball, averaging just under fourteen points and six assists per game to go with an average of nearly two steals per night as well. After a promising rookie season that saw him be the third player on the Friar roster to average double figures in scoring last season, Gerard Coleman comes back for his sophomore season to play off the ball alongside Council. Although he only shot 42 percent from the field and just 24 from three-point range, Coleman's shot selection should improve with experience; and he will be a threat with the ball in his hands sooner rather than later. Bryce Cotton, a fellow sophomore who was Providence's top guard off the bench last year, could see a starter's share of minutes this season if Cooley decides to go with a three-guard set more often than not. Up front, Kadeem Batts and Bilal Dixon, both of whom stand 6-9, anchor the paint once again to give the Friars an inside game that is experienced and capable of winning the battle on the glass despite their relative youth. Together, the sophomore Batts and the junior Dixon averaged nearly thirteen points and just over twelve rebounds per game combined.

The Cooley era begins at home on November 12th when the Friars welcome Northeast Conference opponent Fairleigh Dickinson into the Dunkin' Donuts Center, and Cooley's biggest game to date will come just two days later when he leads the Friars into the Arena at Harbor Yard to square off against the Fairfield team he left for his current group of players in the Ocean State, an agreement that was made between the former coach and current school when Cooley accepted the job at Providence. After four games in the South Padre Island Invitational, the Friars return home to face fellow New England program Holy Cross, and then go to Columbia to face South Carolina in the revamped Big East/SEC Challenge.

Four home games against intracity rival Brown, Boston College, in-state foe Bryant University and New Hampshire ensue before the annual battle of the Ocean State against Rhode Island; which will take place on December 23rd at the Ryan Center, just four days before the Friars travel to Carnesecca Arena for Cooley's first Big East game, which will come against Steve Lavin and St. John's. Last season, the Red Storm stole a road win against Providence on New Year's Eve on a Paris Horne three in the final minute that gave the Johnnies a 2-0 start to conference play at the time. The Friars next travel to Georgetown on New Year's Eve before opening 2012 with three straight home games against Syracuse, Seton Hall and Louisville, with a trip to the Carrier Dome awaiting them on January 14th to complete a home-and-home series with Jim Boeheim and the Orange.

A week off is next up for the Friars following the second Syracuse game, and Providence will host Marquette on January 21st before hitting the road for Big East showdowns with Pittsburgh and USF. Home games against Rutgers and West Virginia ensue before a trip to the Main Line on February 7th to meet Jay Wright and Villanova. From there, Cooley and Providence complete their home-and-home series against USF and Georgetown, with a trip to Cincinnati sandwiched between the two on February 15th.

The Friars start the final three-game stretch of the Cooley era with a trip to Chicago on February 25th to take on DePaul before returning to the Dunkin' Donuts Center three days later for their final home game; a matchup against Connecticut that will be the latest installment of a rivalry that the Friars have owned in recent memory, with three upset wins against UConn in the last four years. Providence's final regular season game takes place on a Friday night when the Friars travel to the Joyce Center on March 2nd to take on Mike Brey and Notre Dame.