Friar Basketball

Kris Dunn is the Best in the Big East

Dunn post DePaul

DePaul’s Billy Garrett Jr. is one of the top guards in the Big East. He was the league’s Rookie of the Year last season, was named Preseason 2nd Team All Big East by the league’s coaches in October, and he’s a big reason why the Demons have seen a resurgence since the beginning of conference play.

On Thursday afternoon at the Dunk he was no match for Kris Dunn. More accurately, he wasn’t in the same stratosphere.

Garrett wasn’t alone. The Providence point guard out-rebounded DePaul by himself in a first half that saw him finish with 10 points, nine rebounds and seven assists, and Dunn eventually finished with PC’s first triple double in nine years after flirting with one in each of the previous three games.

It’s starting to look easy for Dunn. The drives through the lane and a now automatic mid-range jump shot combined with a 3-4 night from 3-point range resulted in 27 points. His 13 boards bumped him into the top five of the entire conference in rebounding in league play, and 11 assists only upped his nation-leading average.

Make no mistake, Providence has the best player in the Big East. No one else in the league has had this type of impact across the board.

Heading into Thursday’s win over DePaul, Dunn was fifth in the league in points per game in conference play (16.6), sixth in rebounding (7.0), and well ahead of everyone in assists (8.6).

And that was prior to his 27/13/11 stat line.

How is this for a four game run?

17/10/7 vs. St. John’s

21/8/7 vs. Creighton

20/10/8 vs. Xavier

27/13/11 vs. DePaul

Dunn now has six games in which he dished out 10+ assists, six games of eight rebounds or more from the point guard position, and six games of over 20 points scored.

He’s also leading the Big East in steals per game — coming up with at least two steals in 13 of PC’s last 14 games.

Finally, he’s been efficient with his shot. Dunn has made over 51% of his attempts from inside the 3-point line and he’s starting to stretch his jumper beyond the arc, making eight 3-pointers over the last seven games.

Providence fans knew losing Dunn was a major blow the past two seasons, he was named to virtually every high school All American team after all, but few had predicted this level of explosion once he rounded into form.

Ed Cooley swore up and down that Dunn was still shaking the rust off in November, despite long stretches of very good play mixed in with moments of inconsistency. Now Cooley is warning that this is just the beginning, “I still think he’s just scratching the surface. Kris has a lot more development to go, but what he’s doing right now is enjoyable.”

More than enjoyable, it’s been remarkable. No one is playing better basketball in the Big East.

Twitter: Kevin Farrahar

 

 

17 Comments

  1. Edward Gonsalves

    January 30, 2015 at 12:18 pm

    I hope he’ll be back in a Friars uniform next season.

  2. Michael Caldwell

    January 30, 2015 at 12:20 pm

    Kris Dunn the beast of the big east beware

  3. Chipper Hox

    January 30, 2015 at 12:28 pm

    Only the 10 th friar all time to get a triple double ,last player was jeff mcdermott..

  4. Chipper Hox

    January 30, 2015 at 12:33 pm

    Hope to have kd next 2 yrs .break records needs to improve foul shooting canot be mcall amer. and not shoot free throws. sorry so critical but shamgod ledo all made mistake to leave early polish your game and truly be the best lay off the booze and be a leader go friars

  5. Paul M. Castigliego

    January 30, 2015 at 12:37 pm

    Hope he doesn’t keep dominating too much because he may end up in the NBA next season

  6. Andrea 'Andi' Obert

    January 30, 2015 at 12:46 pm

    Dan Hahn, agree? I don’t…

  7. William Henry

    January 30, 2015 at 1:08 pm

    He needs to improve his foul shooting and reduce his number of turnovers.

  8. Lucie Fontanella Morse

    January 30, 2015 at 1:17 pm

    Keep it up! G

  9. Lucie Fontanella Morse

    January 30, 2015 at 1:17 pm

    Keep it up! G

  10. Thomas Walters Jr

    January 30, 2015 at 1:20 pm

    And he is young and saw what happens to so many that leave early for the NBA

  11. Thomas Walters Jr

    January 30, 2015 at 1:20 pm

    And he is young and saw what happens to so many that leave early for the NBA

  12. Thomas Walters Jr

    January 30, 2015 at 1:20 pm

    And he is young and saw what happens to so many that leave early for the NBA

  13. Joshua Michael Corrente

    January 30, 2015 at 1:57 pm

    one game at a time-

  14. Derec Lamendola

    January 30, 2015 at 4:15 pm

    LETS GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO WHY Evvery ONE Saying About Next Seasoin Now IM Geting Ackvadkit I’m Pissed Plerys COACH Ed Cooley HATS LAST GAME And This Geting Reudckis Vokks ON This Year Ww Are Grting Win Providcne Colllege Friars Mens Basket Ball Going IN That Dance This Year 2015 IM GETING GTETING GETING GETING GETING GETING GETING SO ANGRAY Tickit Off And Plerys We Need This Providence Colllege Friars We DO Who’s Last Year IS IT This Year Who’s Wonts TO Win This Year Dus Evvey One KNOW Steve Albint Went PERSKERT Providence Colllege Mens Basket Ball Going IN This Year All BIG East Are Now Over This Game Game Game Game Game Game Time

  15. Kevin Ebert

    January 30, 2015 at 6:32 pm

    Where’s Cotton’s Big East Commercial?

  16. Ryan Moore

    January 31, 2015 at 1:15 am

    .
    New Celtic?

  17. Ryan O'Keefe

    January 31, 2015 at 3:42 am

    Brad O’Keefe

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