Coaches Name Council to Preseason 1st Team, Friars to Finish 15th

Perhaps no Big East team has more question marks than Providence heading into this season.  Optimists will point to Vincent Council and LaDontae Henton as two the most stable and productive returnees returning to the conference in 2012-13, but a front court littered with question marks, no backup point guard until Kris Dunn returns from offseason shoulder surgery, and a lack of depth on the wings were enough for fellow Big East coaches to place the Friars 15th in the 15 team league at today’s Big East media day.

Ed Cooley doesn’t agree, apparently.

The ranking comes on the heels of more optimistic outlooks from a cast of Big East beat writers (who placed Providence 13th) and national publications (Lindy’s preseason preview has the Friars finishing 9th this season).

It speaks to the questions the Big East coaches have about the roster beyond Council and Henton that they named Council a first team all conference player, yet still ranked the Friars so low.

One of the more underplayed Council stats heading into this season?  He’s scored more points, dished out more assists, and gathered more steals in Big East games than any other player returning to the conference this season.

Council is the third leading scorer returning from last season (his 15.9 ppg rank below just DePaul’s Cleveland Melvin and St. John’s D’Angelo Harrison), while Bryce Cotton (14.3) and Henton (14.3) are tied for fifth.

Henton also ranks third among returnees in rebounds per game (8.6) and three point shooting percentage (.393), while Council, of course, led the league in assists the past two seasons, and Cotton ranks fifth among returnees (.379) in three point shooting.

Email Kevin at kevin.farrahar@friarbasketball.com

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