Friars Picked To Finish Fourth in Big East

Kyron Cartwright, a preseason Second Team All-
Big East selection, is also among the final 20
candidates for the prestigious Bob Cousy award.

NEW YORK–The Providence College Friars men’s basketball team has been picked to finish fourth in the Big East in a preseason poll of conference coaches. The Friars, who finished tied for third in the conference with a 10-8 record last season, received 59 points in the poll.

Villanova was selected by the coaches as the odds-on favorite to finish first with eight first place votes and 80 points. Seton Hall was picked second (71 points), followed by Xavier (63 points) in the third spot.  After the Friars at No. 4 came Creighton (fifth, 48 points), St. John’s (sixth, 36 points), Marquette (seventh, 34 points), Butler (eighth, 32 points), Georgetown (ninth, 15 points) and DePaul (10th, 12 points).

The Friars, who finished with a 20-13 mark last season and made their fourth-consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance—a school record—will open the 2017-18 campaign on Wed., Oct. 25, versus the UConn Huskies in an exhibition game at Mohegan Sun Arena. Tickets for all home games can be purchased Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. at the PC Ticket Office in Schneider Arena, at Friars.com, or by calling (401) 865 GOPC.

Cartwright, Bullock Named Preseason Second-Team Big East

Kyron Cartwright and Rodney Bullock were named to the 2017-18 Preseason All-Big East Second Team. Bother players earned All-Big East Second Team honors in 2017.

Cartwright, who was named one of the final 20 candidates for the 2018 Bob Cousy Award, had a productive season in 2017-18 to say the least.  He was named to the USBWA District 1 Team. Cartwright, who was the USBWA District 1 Player of the Year and Big East Most Improved Player in 2017, led the Big East in assists with 6.7 per game overall, and 6.2 per game in conference play. He also ranked fourth in the nation in assists per game. In addition, he averaged 11.4 points per game and 3.5 rebounds. For the season, the Compton, Calif., native had 222 assists in 33 games. He is just the 12th player in Friar basketball history to dish out 200 or more assists in a season. He picked 10 or more assists five times last season, including two games in which he registered 12 assists.

Bullock led the Friars in scoring (15.7 points per game) and rebounding (6.4 per game) last season, which ranked him No. 10 in the Big East in scoring, and third in rebounding. He was named Big East Player of the Week for the week of Dec. 5, 2016, and was named to the conference Honor Roll six times. The Hampton, Va. native recorded a team-best five double-doubles last6 season, and scored 20 or more points nine times, including a career-high 36 points in a win versus New Hampshire on Nov. 30.

Big East Preseason Individual Honors:

Player of the Year

• Jalen Brunson, Villanova, G, Jr., 6-3, 190, Lincolnshire, Ill.

Freshman of the Year

• Omari Spellman, Villanova, F, Fr., 6-9, 245, North Royalton, Ohio

Preseason All-Big East First Team:

• Kelan Martin, Butler, F, Sr., 6-7, 220, Louisville, Ky.
• Marcus Foster, Creighton, G, Sr., 6-3, 210, Wichita Falls, Tex.
• Khadeen Carrington, Seton Hall, G, Sr., 6-4, 195, Brooklyn, NY
• Angel Delgado, Seton Hall, C, Sr., 6-10, 245, Bajos De Haina, Dominican Republic
• Trevon Bluiett, Xavier, G, Sr., 6-6, 198, Indianapolis, Ind.

Preseason All-Big East Second Team*

• Markus Howard, Marquette, G, So., 5-11, 175, Chandler, Ariz.
• Rodney Bullock, Providence, F, Sr., 6-8, 225, Hampton, Va.
• Kyron Cartwright, Providence, G, Sr., 5-11, 185, Compton, Calif.
• Marcus LoVett, St. John’s, G, So., 6-0, 180, Fort Wayne, Ind.
• Shamorie Ponds, St. John’s, G, So., 6-1, 165, Brooklyn, NY
• Mikal Bridges, Villanova, F/G, Jr., 6-7, 210, Malvern, Pa.

Preseason All-Big East Honorable Mention

• Khyri Thomas, Creighton, G, Jr., 6-3, 205, Omaha, Neb.
• Desi Rodriguez, Seton Hall, G/F, Sr., 6-6, 215, Bronx, NY
• J.P. Macura, Xavier, G, Sr., 6-5, 203, Lakeville, Minn.

*A tie in the voting created an extra position on the second team.

Cooley’s Radio Show To Air on Saturday

Providence College men’s basketball head coach Ed Cooley’s Radio Show will air on Sat., Oct. 21, from 2 p.m.-3 p.m. on WEEI 103.7. The show will originate from Providence College’s Slavin Atrium, and also will be streamed at Friars.com.

The Friars will open the 2017-18 season on Wed., Oct. 25 in an exhibition game at Mohegan Sun in Arena against former Big East archrival UConn. Tip-off is at 7 p.m., and all proceeds will benefit hurricane relief efforts through the America Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. Tickets are now on sale at the Mohegan Sun Ticket Office, and cost $25 for lower bowl seating and $10 for upper bowl seats. Tickets are also available online through TicketMaster by clicking HERE.

The Friars will also play two preseason exhibition contests at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center—vs. Carleton University on Sat., Oct. 28 (4 p.m.) and Baruch College on Sat., Nov. 4 (2 p.m.). The Friars will open the 2017-18 regular season when they host Houston Baptist in the cozy confines of Alumni Hall as part of the 2K Classic. The Houston Baptist game will be televised on FSN and can be heard on WEEI 103.7 FM with John Rooke and Joe Hassett calling the action.

—Staff Reports