What Coach Cooley's offseason moves mean for the future of Providence College basketball
PROVIDENCE — Ed Cooley doesn’t plan to change.
Last season represented a breakthrough for the Providence men’s basketball coach. The first Big East regular-season title in program history, a long-awaited return to the Sweet 16, conference and national Coach of the Year honors — it was a storybook 2021-22 campaign.
That said, Cooley didn’t get to this point in his profession by being satisfied. His next group of Friars is already on the floor for summer workouts at their gleaming practice facility. Seven new scholarship players — five transfers, two freshmen — are getting acclimated to what Cooley expects.
“We won’t deviate from who we are,” Cooley said. “We’re going to defend, we’re going to rebound and we’re going to execute. We’re going to do those three things at a high level. Hopefully, that gives us a chance to win.”
More: Remembering Johnny Egan, one of PC basketball's early stars
Providence’s roster last season stuck to Cooley’s particular brand of basketball better than most. The Friars ran their most efficient offense since 2014-15, committed their fewest turnovers since 2015-16 and shot their best percentage from 3-point range since 2016-17. They played 2-point defense better than any Providence team in nine years and allowed assists on just 46% of opposing field goals — the best mark since Cooley’s hiring away from Fairfield in 2011-12.
The Friars were mature and connected. Can they foster the same identity over the course of 2022-23? Jared Bynum, Ed Croswell and Alyn Breed all played a role in that success — Rafael Castro watched on from the bench as a redshirt freshman. Cooley is hoping their leadership and some hits on the open market similar to Al Durham and Justin Minaya will carry Providence from here.
“We have seven new guys,” Cooley said. “Trying to learn who we are and what we are. We’re basically at zero.”
More: Friars legend Jimmy Walker to be inducted into college basketball Hall of Fame
Clifton Moore and Noah Locke both have Power 5 experience at three different schools — two seasons at Indiana for Moore, four combined at Florida and Louisville for Locke. Their contributions will be vital. The Friars bet on the upside with three former decorated recruits in Bryce Hopkins (Kentucky), Devin Carter (South Carolina) and Corey Floyd Jr. (Connecticut). Carter was the most productive among that trio last season, averaging 9.0 points and 3.8 rebounds with the Gamecocks.
“They’ll be noticeable,” Cooley said. “I like to believe we coach their confidence versus coaching them personally. I think you’ve got to coach their confidence and let them know that they’re a good player.”
Jayden Pierre and Quante Berry will be wildcards as first-year players. Can Pierre evolve quickly enough as a point guard to give Bynum some rest along the way? Will Berry take some minutes from Breed, Locke, Floyd, Carter and Hopkins? Competition in the backcourt and on the wing beyond Bynum will be ongoing.
“Hopkins has stood out a little bit,” Cooley said. “But the biggest surprise to me has been Jayden Pierre. He’s been good.”
Providence will defend its title against a conference in flux. Jay Wright’s retirement at Villanova and Kyle Neptune’s hiring away from Fordham sent shockwaves through the sport. Neptune worked under Wright for nearly a decade, but there are always legitimate questions about how to replace a Hall of Famer.
“Major blow to the Big East — major, major blow,” Cooley said. “Not just how consistent (Wright's) program is, but him the person being an ambassador. Being an Olympic coach. His overall ‘it’ for our league.
“All of us have to pick it up.”
Sean Miller at Xavier, Thad Matta at Butler and Shaheen Holloway at Seton Hall — the darling of last year’s NCAA Tournament thanks to his Elite Eight run with Saint Peter’s — bring three noteworthy names into the conference. The Musketeers gave the Friars all sorts of trouble in a pair of nail-biting matchups last season. And, of course, there’s the team that knocked Providence out of last year’s conference tournament — Creighton could open in the preseason national top 10.
“I like our talent level,” Cooley said. “I don’t know where we are yet. But I’m so happy we have the summer to work through this.”
bkoch@providencejournal.com
On Twitter: @BillKoch25
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: What offseason moves the PC basketball team is making for the future
