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A quick turnaround and a busy week at work ahead means I got an early start on this last night, enjoy!
Fresh off a marquee win at St. John’s, the 8–6 Friars picked up their first victory of the season against a top-80 opponent (0–6 prior to that win). While Providence has been a middling team that currently sits firmly outside the bubble discussion, the rapid improvement of freshmen Jamier Jones and Stefan Vaaks provides some upside as the season goes on.
Providence’s offense under Kim English emphasizes pace, spacing, and attacking off the bounce, with guards given freedom to make plays in transition and early offense. The Friars look to generate advantages through ball movement and dribble penetration rather than slow, post-heavy possessions. At times, that freedom can lead to uneven shot selection and stretches where the offense lacks structure late in possessions.
Defensively, Providence has struggled to establish a consistent identity, particularly when it comes to containing the ball and keeping opponents out of the paint. Much of that stems from defensive deficiencies in the backcourt (more on that later), which allow opposing passers to find interior looks while also making it far too easy to generate clean perimeter shots. Breakdowns in help coverage and transition defense have led to opponents getting comfortable and going on scoring runs. While the effort level is there, the group is still searching for cohesion and discipline on that end under a new system.
One of Providence’s biggest conundrums is the lack of balance across its roster. For example, the Friars’ three leading scorers—Jason Edwards, Jaylin Sellers, and Stefan Vaaks—average a combined 51 points per game, but all three are defensive liabilities.
Edwards is the team’s starting point guard and boasts a top-100 usage rate nationally, scoring 10+ points in every game this season. He shows the ability to score at all three levels, while his top-150 rate in fouls drawn per 40 minutes highlights his quickness and knack for getting to the rim and drawing contact. In terms of efficiency, he is extremely streaky, as he has shot under 40% from the field in half of his games.
Graduate transfer Jaylin Sellers is the team’s starting three-guard and fits the textbook definition of a one-way microwave scorer. Sellers has scored 12+ points in every game but one this season. With just 19 total assists on the year, when the ball is in his hands he is looking to shoot, but unlike Edwards, Sellers is a very efficient scorer who can get buckets in a variety of ways, takes smart shots, and limits turnovers.
Estonia import Stefan Vaaks has wowed on the offensive end, scoring in double figures in every game this season. However, his offensive efficiency has a strong correlation with team success, as Providence is 1–5 when Vaaks’ offensive rating is 104 or lower. He ranks as Providence’s second-worst defender. When he is at his best, he is a dynamic, all-around offensive weapon, logging minutes at the 2, 3, and 4. He has recorded 2+ assists in nine of his last ten games.
Not as flashy as the aforementioned players, senior Corey Floyd Jr. has developed into a dependable, multi-faceted guard who can score both inside and on the perimeter. He has shown the ability to create his own shot and make timely baskets when the offense needs a lift, especially as he has posted career highs in both usage rate and three-point percentage. Tough, strong, and competitive—and a solid defensive rebounder—Floyd has been counted on as a team leader despite playing a secondary role. He is easily the best defender in the starting backcourt.
The team’s biggest breakout has been top freshman recruit Jamier Jones, who has started the last two games at the four and has been on fire over the last five games. During that stretch, he is averaging 14.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 1.4 steals per game while making a shocking 85% of his field-goal attempts. An explosive athlete with a strong frame, Jones is a fantastic offensive rebounder and is primarily an interior finisher on offense and a capable secondary distributor and handler. He ranks as Providence’s second-best defender.
Fifteen pounds heavier than last season, Oswin Erhunmwunse is one of—if not the—best frontcourt defenders in the Big East and ranks as Providence’s top defender. An excellent rebounder on both ends of the floor, Erhunmwunse has the lowest usage rate among starters. His offensive game is very simple, as his low-post moves are limited and he excels in transition.
Part-time starter Ryan Mela plays similarly to the types of recruits Ed Cooley liked to bring in: offensively versatile, capable of playing the 3 and 4 (and even as a backup 5), and active on the defensive end. He currently ranks as Providence’s third-best defender. Similar to last season, roughly 75% of his field-goal attempts come from inside the arc, and he remains a weak perimeter shooter. Like Floyd, Mela is not a high-usage player, but he is a solid, all-around glue guy.
Now at his fourth school in four years, backup power forward Duncan Powell has not reached the offensive potential he showed last season, when he shot 36% from three at Georgia Tech. Still, he is a physical player who is willing to do the dirty work, ranking as Providence’s fourth-best defender and posting strong defensive rebounding numbers. He is not a shot blocker.
Backup big Cole Hargrove is a fantastic rebounder, particularly on the offensive glass. While he can block shots in bunches, he grades out as a below-average overall defender. Like Erhunmwunse, his usage rate is very low, and the center position as a whole remains more of an afterthought in English’s offensive system.
Ugh, fresh off a big win, the Dunk will be brewin’ and the fans will be thirsty to keep the Friars winning streak alive. UConn will be close to double-digit point favorites as they are clearly the better team.
Fresh off a marquee win at St. John’s, the 8–6 Friars picked up their first victory of the season against a top-80 opponent (0–6 prior to that win). While Providence has been a middling team that currently sits firmly outside the bubble discussion, the rapid improvement of freshmen Jamier Jones and Stefan Vaaks provides some upside as the season goes on.
Providence’s offense under Kim English emphasizes pace, spacing, and attacking off the bounce, with guards given freedom to make plays in transition and early offense. The Friars look to generate advantages through ball movement and dribble penetration rather than slow, post-heavy possessions. At times, that freedom can lead to uneven shot selection and stretches where the offense lacks structure late in possessions.
Defensively, Providence has struggled to establish a consistent identity, particularly when it comes to containing the ball and keeping opponents out of the paint. Much of that stems from defensive deficiencies in the backcourt (more on that later), which allow opposing passers to find interior looks while also making it far too easy to generate clean perimeter shots. Breakdowns in help coverage and transition defense have led to opponents getting comfortable and going on scoring runs. While the effort level is there, the group is still searching for cohesion and discipline on that end under a new system.
One of Providence’s biggest conundrums is the lack of balance across its roster. For example, the Friars’ three leading scorers—Jason Edwards, Jaylin Sellers, and Stefan Vaaks—average a combined 51 points per game, but all three are defensive liabilities.
Edwards is the team’s starting point guard and boasts a top-100 usage rate nationally, scoring 10+ points in every game this season. He shows the ability to score at all three levels, while his top-150 rate in fouls drawn per 40 minutes highlights his quickness and knack for getting to the rim and drawing contact. In terms of efficiency, he is extremely streaky, as he has shot under 40% from the field in half of his games.
Graduate transfer Jaylin Sellers is the team’s starting three-guard and fits the textbook definition of a one-way microwave scorer. Sellers has scored 12+ points in every game but one this season. With just 19 total assists on the year, when the ball is in his hands he is looking to shoot, but unlike Edwards, Sellers is a very efficient scorer who can get buckets in a variety of ways, takes smart shots, and limits turnovers.
Estonia import Stefan Vaaks has wowed on the offensive end, scoring in double figures in every game this season. However, his offensive efficiency has a strong correlation with team success, as Providence is 1–5 when Vaaks’ offensive rating is 104 or lower. He ranks as Providence’s second-worst defender. When he is at his best, he is a dynamic, all-around offensive weapon, logging minutes at the 2, 3, and 4. He has recorded 2+ assists in nine of his last ten games.
Not as flashy as the aforementioned players, senior Corey Floyd Jr. has developed into a dependable, multi-faceted guard who can score both inside and on the perimeter. He has shown the ability to create his own shot and make timely baskets when the offense needs a lift, especially as he has posted career highs in both usage rate and three-point percentage. Tough, strong, and competitive—and a solid defensive rebounder—Floyd has been counted on as a team leader despite playing a secondary role. He is easily the best defender in the starting backcourt.
The team’s biggest breakout has been top freshman recruit Jamier Jones, who has started the last two games at the four and has been on fire over the last five games. During that stretch, he is averaging 14.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 1.4 steals per game while making a shocking 85% of his field-goal attempts. An explosive athlete with a strong frame, Jones is a fantastic offensive rebounder and is primarily an interior finisher on offense and a capable secondary distributor and handler. He ranks as Providence’s second-best defender.
Fifteen pounds heavier than last season, Oswin Erhunmwunse is one of—if not the—best frontcourt defenders in the Big East and ranks as Providence’s top defender. An excellent rebounder on both ends of the floor, Erhunmwunse has the lowest usage rate among starters. His offensive game is very simple, as his low-post moves are limited and he excels in transition.
Part-time starter Ryan Mela plays similarly to the types of recruits Ed Cooley liked to bring in: offensively versatile, capable of playing the 3 and 4 (and even as a backup 5), and active on the defensive end. He currently ranks as Providence’s third-best defender. Similar to last season, roughly 75% of his field-goal attempts come from inside the arc, and he remains a weak perimeter shooter. Like Floyd, Mela is not a high-usage player, but he is a solid, all-around glue guy.
Now at his fourth school in four years, backup power forward Duncan Powell has not reached the offensive potential he showed last season, when he shot 36% from three at Georgia Tech. Still, he is a physical player who is willing to do the dirty work, ranking as Providence’s fourth-best defender and posting strong defensive rebounding numbers. He is not a shot blocker.
Backup big Cole Hargrove is a fantastic rebounder, particularly on the offensive glass. While he can block shots in bunches, he grades out as a below-average overall defender. Like Erhunmwunse, his usage rate is very low, and the center position as a whole remains more of an afterthought in English’s offensive system.
Ugh, fresh off a big win, the Dunk will be brewin’ and the fans will be thirsty to keep the Friars winning streak alive. UConn will be close to double-digit point favorites as they are clearly the better team.
