Black Padres

Seven teams are ranked in the preseason Top 25, four in the top nine. That depth wears on some teams but can help others shine. The good news for Davis is that in a league where you need an awful lot of ammunition, his first Providence team won’t be going to war empty-handed.

Providence Journal Links

2008-11-10T15:26:00.001-05:00

Friars' Keno Davis was grooomed to coach from the start

Defense still a problem as Friars fend off Slippery Rock

Kale comes on strong, fuels Providence Friars' romp in exhibition hoop game

2008-11-02T14:49:00.002-05:00

According to the Providence Journal, Jonathan Kale could be the biggest benefactor of the coaching change at PC.

A change in PC’s coaching staff could end up saving Kale’s career. In the first look at the Keno Davis Friars, Kale’s trademark aggression and toughness returned as he led Providence with 15 points and nine rebounds in the Friars’ 85-57 rout of the University of Ottawa last night at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center.

Men's basketball game notes vs. University of Ottawa

2008-10-31T11:27:00.001-04:00

The Outlook:

The Friars look to make the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2004 under first year head coach Keno Davis. Providence returns all five starters from the 2007-08 squad and welcomes back guard Sharaud Curry after an injury limited the point guard to only one game last season. The strength of the Friars this season should be the squad’s backcourt. Veterans Curry, Weyinmi Efejuku, Jeff Xavier, Brian McKenzie and Geoff McDermott all have started for the team and have
the ability to produce on the offensive end. The Friar frontcourt is filled with veterans who know what it takes to compete in the BIG EAST. Randall Hanke will fill the center position for the Friars. At forward, Geoff McDermott led PC in rebounding in 2007-08 for the third consecutive season. Senior John Kale and underclassmen Jamine Peterson and Alex Kellogg look to fill out the forward position.

Providence playing the odds with Keno Davis

2008-10-22T15:57:00.001-04:00

Is Providence College "Drake East-only with more weapons?"

Syracuse basketball should give fans a treat

2008-09-29T16:01:00.002-04:00

If your football team sucks, turn to your elite basketball program for happiness.

St. John's hoping to be born again

2008-09-25T19:53:00.001-04:00

Landing Lance "Born Ready" Stephenson could revive the Red Storm.

Pitt extends Dixon's contract through 2015-16

2008-09-25T17:44:00.002-04:00

Jamie Dixon's getting paid; maybe out of fear.

Dixon will receive a raise from his $1.3 million salary of last season, when he was the university’s highest-paid employee.

Pitt may have felt an urgency to extend Dixon’s contract so soon after giving him an extension through the 2012-13 season in March 2006 because other Big East coaches were beginning to sign more lucrative contracts.

Which teams will end NCAA tourney drought?

2008-09-25T17:14:00.002-04:00

It's possible the Friars play in the tournament this year.

PC has scheduled light. Outside of the Anaheim Classic and regional rivals Boston College and Rhode Island, there's not a lot to scare anyone. That means its NCAA future largely will be dependent on its Big East performance. Which, of course, will be a bear in this particular season because there are nine other solid NCAA Tournament contenders in the league.
Verdict: Yes — if the committee can swallow admitting nine or 10 Big East teams.

Georgetown guard Rivers transferring to Indiana

2008-05-31T12:50:00.002-04:00

In case you missed, it Jeremiah Rivers, son of Celtics coach Doc Rivers, will transfer to Indiana because the Hoyas didn't utilize his talents.

Louisville's Holloway diagnosed with Marfan syndrome

2008-05-29T16:59:00.002-04:00

Cardinals' center Clarence Holloway ended his playing career after being diagnosed with Marfan syndrome, a genetic disorder marked by lengthened features and cardiovascular defects.

Holloway had hoped to return to the Cardinals in the fall after sitting out his freshman year following open-heart surgery to repair the wall of his aorta and the aortic valve.

The 7-foot-1 Holloway, who is from Chicago, will remain enrolled at Louisville.

Marfan syndrome is a disease of the connective tissue. Patients typically are tall and lean, with disproportionately long arms, legs, fingers and toes, plus a variety of skeletal, eye, lung and heart problems. Diagnosed patients who show signs of aorta trouble often are told to not exercise vigorously.

Holloway averaged 15 points and 10 rebounds at the Chicago Boy to Men Math and English Academy in 2006 and filed for the 2006 NBA draft before removing his name.

Here's a really, really, really long look at why the Big East Conference should get bigger

2008-05-22T14:04:00.004-04:00

An extensive case why the University of Central Florida s hould become a member as a football and basketball school, and why Saint Louis University should become a basketball member.

(Hat tip: Orlando Sentinel.com)

UMass gains UConn guard

2008-05-19T17:17:00.002-04:00

Because he didn't "get a chance at UConn," Doug Wiggins will transfer to Amherst.

The University of Massachusetts men's basketball team is picking up a player from Connecticut.

Point guard Doug Wiggins, who played two years at UConn, will join the Minutemen as a transfer. He will have two years of eligibility remaining.

The 6-foot-1 Wiggins averaged 19 minutes, 6.7 points and 2.5 assists for the Huskies last season. UMass officials cannot comment on the transfer until the paperwork is completed.

W.Va. coach Bob Huggins signs contract

2008-05-02T17:21:00.001-04:00

Bob Huggins finally signed a contract with the Mountaineers.

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP)—West Virginia basketball coach Bob Huggins has signed an 11-year contract with the school that will keep him at his alma mater until he’s 65.

The deal Huggins signed Friday will pay him $1.5 million a year, plus incentives. When he arrived in April 2007, he was paid $800,000 in his first season.

Keno Davis' transition to PC has been a challenge from the start

2008-05-02T01:39:00.002-04:00

With a Big East paycheck comes great responsibility.

Davis has created a Des Moines-to-Providence shuttle that he’ll wear out for the next month. He’ll spend the weekdays in Rhode Island settling into a new program and then fly to Iowa for the weekends, where he’ll cut his ties to Drake University and prepare for a move to the Big East with his wife and young son. He hopes to be settled in Rhode Island sometime in June.

Besides those personal issues, the transition into a new coaching job, especially one half a country away, is a major challenge. Davis says he needs time to assess the talent the Friars have returning, jump into the always-swirling recruiting game, hire a staff, schedule games for 2008-09 and prepare to win next season.

Eye on the Storm

2008-04-24T09:06:00.002-04:00

If you can't turn your once mighty basketball program to its glory days, use a different sport: Quietly, St. John's becomes a baseball powerhouse.

Door is closed on Caracter

2008-04-24T08:58:00.001-04:00

Louisville's Derrick Caracter, who thought about entering the NBA draft, might not be welcomed back in Kentucky.

Derrick Caracter wants to come back for his junior season. He hasn't hired an agent, still is attending classes at the University of Louisville and sends coach Rick Pitino text messages almost every day.

But Pitino said yesterday that it's in the best interests of both Caracter and the program for the enigmatic 6-foot-9 center to move on.

"My plan is to see him get on to the NBA or get on to Europe and get on with his life," Pitino said. "He has a change of heart right now, but he's had two years to show he wants to be a student, he's had two years to show he wants to be an integral part of college life, and he has not shown that."
Caracter and Pitino agreed early this season that he would leave U of L after his sophomore year. During last month's NCAA Tournament run, Caracter said he was intent on trying his luck in the professional ranks.
His NBA prospects appear murky at best, however, after a season in which he averaged 8.3 points and 4.5 rebounds as a reserve. He played only five minutes in the Cardinals' 83-73 loss to North Carolina in the NCAA Tournament East Regional final.

UConn still waiting on Thabeet's decision

2008-04-24T08:56:00.001-04:00

What is Hasheem Thabeet to do?

Thabeet has until Sunday to declare for the draft. He projects to be a late lottery to late first-round pick.

"Hopefully I'll let you know soon," Thabeet said Wednesday while at the Capitol for Husky Day. "I've been talking with a lot of people, trying to get as much information as I can."

Davis' departure does not mean disaster for Drake

2008-04-19T10:24:00.002-04:00

Did Keno Davis leave Drake for more money? Will the Bulldogs be alright?