Friars Trying to Take Next Step
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The freshmen who were the face of the Providence Friars last season are now sophomores. It’s time to grow up fast just like they had to last season.
To be sure, the Friars aren’t just their sophomores – senior Herbert Hill and junior Charles Burch are also keys to this season – but the sophomores will get a lot of the attention. Guards Sharaud Curry and Weyinmi Efejuku and forwards Geoff McDermott and Jonathan Kale all got a lot of minutes as freshmen last season, with McDermott looking like a double-double machine waiting to happen and Curry showing plenty of promise running the show. Efejuku, a very athletic and versatile guard, has no shortage of potential but needs to have the mindset to be as good as he can be. Kale got most of his minutes in the latter part of last season and gives them a physical look inside.
Burch made good strides from last season and looks ready to lead the way at small forward, while Hill has nicely developed into a post presence. Add in freshman Ray Hall, who stands 6’11” and weighs in at 275 pounds, and you have a frontcourt that isn’t lacking in size.
“I don’t think anybody’s going to beat us up in the lane,” head coach Tim Welsh said.
Hall is sure to be a fan favorite. He will come off the bench and will never be a star, but he plays within himself very well and clearly knows the game well. He won’t try to do too much, runs the floor better than you might expect, and will make a hustle play or two. None of this is lost on Welsh.
“I can’t be more pleased with his development since he got here in May,” Welsh said of his big man. “He has a very good understanding of what to do, and he doesn’t force things out there.”
The Friars also have some options on the perimeter. Curry is a jet and has plenty of skill at the offensive end, and Efejuku could play either guard spot. Freshmen Dwain Williams, Brian McKenzie and Jamal Barney will all get their chances as well. Williams looked good in their first exhibition game, while McKenzie has been slowed by injury and Barney is still in the process of getting cleared by the NCAA. Welsh is optimistic he will be cleared, but knows the only thing that matters is the NCAA giving the okay.
All told, the Friars have a good mix. They can play small or big, the latter of which would come if Welsh gives Hill some minutes on the wing. They can go with a quick lineup or a physical one. That means they have options regardless of the matchup.
There are some strides to be made for this team with their experience. The Friars finished tied for 13th in the Big East last season, missing the conference tournament. The Big East doesn’t have the same look as last season, but it’s still a tough conference all the way through. Last year’s team certainly was able to play with others in the Big East, but winning is another matter. Entering this season, the hope is that the added maturity for what was a very green team last season will allow for them to take that next step and win more games.
Hanke Not Present
Junior center Randall Hanke was conspicuously absent from the Friars’ preseason games. In fact, he hasn’t been with the team for a few weeks now due to family matters at home. Welsh said he speaks with Hanke every day and is sure he will return.
“Right now, there is no timetable on his return. It’s just a matter of when,” Welsh said after their exhibition game against New Haven. “I know he’s really dying to get back here. When is the big question, but I couldn’t give you any guesstimate. He wants to be back here, and he will be back eventually.”
Hanke knows how to score inside, as he runs the floor very well for a big man and makes a large percentage of his shots. He would add another element to the good personnel mix they already have.
