Friars Transition Into the New Big East
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – It’s a transition year for the Big East, with five new teams giving the conference 16 teams total. One of the old members has a transition in store as well.
Providence now moves on to life after Ryan Gomes, as the school’s all-time leading scorer graduated and is playing just up the road for the Boston Celtics. He’s not the only player lost from last season’s team, as senior Donnie McGrath is one of just two or three returning starters. (The reason for the “two or three” part: junior Dwight Brewington started 22 of 23 games before a season-ending injury last year, and has been suspended recently.) The Friars don’t have a defined go-to guy, but there are plenty who could emerge in that role.
McGrath would seem the most likely candidate to be the go-to guy, especially since freshmen Weyinme Efejuku and Sharaud Curry are capable ball-handlers and will probably log minutes at the point. That will allow McGrath to play off the ball, which allows him to use his shooting more as he gets used to it.
“Weyinmi and Sharaud can both play the point,” McGrath said. “Sometimes I find myself coming back to get the ball, then this year I realize that I can run the wing and get open for some more shots, so that will definitely help us.”
Efejuku would seem to have the inside track on the position, as he’s very athletic and a solid defender. He also gives them size at 6’4″, giving the Friars one of the bigger backcourts in the Big East. If Brewington does come back, he gives them another talented backcourt player, though he’s had a rocky career thus far that has seen potential for stardom mixed in with suspensions.
The Friars have plenty of frontcourt bodies, led by junior Herbert Hill and sophomores Randall Hanke and DeSean White. Hill continued to improve last season, and may not need to provide much offense if some of the others emerge. Hanke scored 35 points in one exhibition game and looks primed to have a good year. He worked on getting stronger and more aggressive, and adding that to his ability to run the floor make him a key to the team’s success. White has always been an intriguing talent and made strides during his freshman season. Sophomore Charles Burch figures to be a role player, while freshmen Geoff McDermott is a solidly built athlete who impressed in exhibitions and Jonathan Kale will contribute.
With no clear go-to guy and the players having a lot to learn with the offense, the points of emphasis for head coach Tim Welsh are clear.
“Until we figure out who our go-to guy is, we’re really emphasizing getting it out on makes and misses, trying to get the ball up the court and run,” Welsh said. “That, and rebounding the basketball.”
Welsh is high on the freshmen, most notably in that they all come from winning programs. He notes that Efejuku played at national power Rice High School in New York before playing in the powerful New England Prep School Athletic Conference last year, McDermott and Kale played for top AAU programs and Curry played for a state champion.
“The only thing they don’t have is experience,” Welsh said. “They understand that they have to get in better condition.”
The Friars’ schedule is not a light one with a team consisting of eight freshmen and sophomores among their scholarship players and just one scholarship senior. They start out with games they should win, playing Vermont and New Hampshire at home, then traveling to Fairfield. After that is a tough stretch of games, as they travel to Wichita State and head south to take on in-state rival Rhode Island, before home dates with Florida and Memphis. Those games all come before final exams, after which comes Northeastern. San Diego State is also on the slate as one of the last non-conference games, then comes the very tough Big East – and the Friars didn’t get many breaks in that portion since they get Notre Dame and Pittsburgh twice, while getting West Virginia and Cincinnati on the road.
The rebuilding Friars may take their lumps this season, but they don’t figure to be an easy out for opponents. The talent is there for some bright spots along the way and some promise for the future.
