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15 in 40: PC Predictions

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The staff of Friarbasketball.com makes more predictions — these specific to Providence.

Craig Leighton Predictions:

Record:  22-9

Team MVP: LaDontae Henton. Henton is going to wind up with over 2000 points and 1000 rebounds for his career at PC. He is going to be the Friars leading scorer and will be the go to guy down the stretch taking the tough shots in crunch time

Newcomer of the Year: Jalen Lindsey and Ben Bentil. Both players are going to be an integral part of the team, averaging 20-25 minutes per game. Lindsey’s outside game and Bentil’s inside game will be keys in several PC victories during the year.

Game of the Year: PC vs. Miami Dec 22nd at the Barclays Center

A victory over a very good Miami team in the Friars’ final non-conference game could be the difference between having a very good non-conference season and just an average one. This is the last chance at getting an additional non-conference win against a quality opponent before the Big East season starts.

NCAA Tournament? Yes. The Friars will finish with 22 wins including a couple of quality non-conference wins while playing a tough OOC schedule. They will also finish solidly in third place in the Big East with at least four Big East teams getting tourney bids.

BET finish: PC will win one game before losing in the tournament semi-finals.

Surprise performer: Kyron Cartwright

Kryon will wind up playing a lot more than most people originally thought and will be on the court at the same time as Kris Dunn a lot when Cooley elects to go with two ball handlers on the court at the same time. Kyron’s outside shot will also surprise many people and will give Cooley another threat from the three point line.

Craig Belhumeur Predictions:

Record: 20-11

Team MVP: LaDontae Henton. It’s his team and nobody elses. LaDontae will have his best season as a Friar and will finish the year nearly averaging a double-double. Expect 18 and 9.5 a game this season.

Newcomer of the Year: Ben Bentil. He will have an immediate impact in Ed Cooley’s system.

Game of the Year: December 10th at home against URI. The Ocean State rivalry has been sort of a dud in recent years. After the half-court scuffle between Ed Cooley and Danny Hurley last season and increased talent on both squads, this game should be one of the more exciting games on the schedule this season.

NCAA Tournament: I want to say yes here, but at this point in time, I just don’t think it’s fair to say that the current makeup of the Friars can replace the scoring of Bryce Cotton. I hope I am wrong.

BET finish: 2nd Round

Surprise performer: Junior Lomomba. Ed Cooley labels Lomomba as the team’s “glue guy”. The Cleveland St. transfer is rarely talked about. Look for him to open some eyes with his defensive ability and timely shot making.

Kevin Farrahar Predictions:

Record: 20-11

Team MVP: Let’s make it unanimous and go with Henton. Ed Cooley said they didn’t run much for Henton last season and that should change during his senior year. The ball so often ended up in Bryce Cotton’s hands late the last two seasons, but let’s not forget how clutch Henton was in the final two minutes as a freshman (see: game winner versus DePaul, two huge 3s in the final two minutes in the win over UConn) … and in the Big East title game last year. If the Friars finish top 3 in the league he could make his way into Player of the Year conversations.

Newcomer of the Year: Ben Bentil. The freshman brings a different dimension than others in the frontcourt — he’s a true power forward with strength and athleticism. Bentil will get numbers on will and energy. He’s the freshmen most physically ready to contribute.

Game of the Year: February 11 at home against Villanova. Nova comes to town during a brutal stretch in February in which the Friars play three of the top five teams in the league on the road (St. John’s, Georgetown and Xavier) and then returns home to play a Wildcat team with legitimate Final Four aspirations. If this one is anything like PC/Nova at the Dunk last season Friartown is in for a treat. If PC is lingering around a top 3 spot in the league the Dunk will be absolutely hopping.

NCAA Tournament: Mark me down as more worried about the out of conference schedule than most. The Friars should beat Albany, but Cooley will hold his breath in the opener as the Friars look for an identity early. PC plays four ACC teams on either neutral courts or on the road, Massachusetts won’t be a pushover and URI is an in-state rival that suddenly has depth in the backcourt and some talent up front. All that and no mention of #1 Kentucky on the road. We’re just eight days away from Notre Dame and Florida State at Mohegan Sun — two games that might be as critical as any all season. I’m going last four out for the Friars.

BET finish: I like the Friars’ chances of making noise again in New York. It is remarkable to think how far each of the last two teams came from where they were in December. Last season the Friars were a mess after the Austin/Bullock suspensions and the proceeded to get run by 30 at Nova. Two years ago they fell to a subpar BC team and Brown in back to back games. Those two Friar teams combined to win 42 games, however. Once this group figures out their roles PC will be dangerous. I’ll say they make a run to the finals which would really force the committee to make a tough call on them. Would 22 wins be enough?

Surprise performer: Is it too late to call Kyron Cartwright after his outstanding exhibition game against Stonehill? I’ll go with Jalen Lindsey, who may surprise people with just how athletic he is. He comes highly regarded, but many in Providence seem comfortable with the idea of Lindsey easing his way in. He will, but there will be 4-5 games in which he could be the x-factor.

5 Comments

  1. Mark Kendrick

    November 14, 2014 at 4:57 am

    I think I could live with all of the predictions

  2. Mario Teixeira

    November 14, 2014 at 5:33 am

    3rd place in big east. Big east championship appearance. Win round of 64 in ncaa tourney

  3. Sean McNamara

    November 14, 2014 at 11:56 am

    This team will dance. Dunn makes them special

  4. Derec Lamendola

    November 14, 2014 at 3:23 pm

    LERS GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO BIG East Championship We Going Dacing Rassier Banner Tommerrow IS Every One Rede IM Servis FRARA TWON FRARA FANS BEED Erle Tonght 10:30 PM Tonight IM Servis Got Get Go BEED Get Rede For BIG Day Tommerrrow IM GOING Dram About Friara TWON LET’S NOT Say Perdicktions Becuass Tommerrow BIG Day GO FRARS

  5. Anthony Razza

    November 14, 2014 at 4:41 pm

    P.C. will go 21-9 this season, with Kentucky as the biggest challenge! I hope we kick there arse, even by 1 point … hehe

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