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| INSIDE THE NUMBERS |
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2000-01 record: 15-16;
6-10 in Big East (6th/East)
Postseason: None. Last NCAA appearance was in 2001.
RETURNING LEADERS
Points: Mills 14.5
Rebs: Gomes 7.8
Assists: Mills 2.6
FG: Gomes 55.9%
3pt: Anrin 35.2%
FT: Anrin 73.3%
01-02 Stats:
Providence | Big East
KEY LOSSES
John Linehan | 12.5 ppg
PROJECTED STARTERS
G | Sheiku Kabba | Junior
G | Abdul Mills | Senior
F | Maris Laksa | Junior
F | Ryan Gomes | Soph
C | Marcus Douthit | Junior
Player to Watch
Sheiku Kabba
Junior Guard
Gets first opportunity to fill Linehan's sneakers at point.
DATE TO REMEMBER
Providence and Georgetown plays just once, at Georgetown, so enjoy the interior rumble between the Hoyas' Michael Sweetney (6-8, 260) and the Friars' Gomes.
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PROVIDENCE FRIARS
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The Friars lost their pain, which is a good thing, but they also lost their pain, and that's a bad thing. John Linehan is gone after finishing his career as the NCAA's all-time leader in steals and irritability, but a number of players have their health back after a frustrating 2001-02 season that saw Providence go 15-16. The biggest key returner is 6-7 forward Romuald Augustin, who averaged 9.2 points two seasons ago but missed last season with a hip injury. Also, 6-9 Maris Laksa (9.6 ppg) should be at full health after battling foot and knee issues. Those two can score, providing a nice complement to the inside-outside tandem of 6-7, 240-pound forward Ryan Gomes (13.8 ppg, 7.8 rpg) and 6-3 guard Abdul Mills (14.5 ppg). Add underachieving big man Marcus Douthit, and coach Tim Welsh has some nice pieces for his fifth season at Providence
TOUGH ENOUGH..............................
Nobody saw Ryan Gomes coming last season, and if they tell you otherwise they're lying. Off the radar before the season began, Gomes became a no-brainer All-Rookie first-teamer in the Big East. An undersized interior scorer, Gomes racked up his points despite hitting no three-pointers and just 61 percent of his free throws.
TOUGH ENOUGH?..............................
The Friars haven't had to think about their point guard -- on offense or defense -- for three years because of the steady Linehan. Now, it's a major issue. Can 6-2 junior Sheiku Kabba (5.6 ppg) handle the job on a full-time basis? Or will it go to 6-4 freshman Donnie McGrath? Without a good answer to that question, the team goes nowhere.
BOTTOM LINE..............................
Linehan was great on both sides of the ball, but there is simply too much returning talent, plus the addition of Augustin after a redshirt year, for the Friars not to improve on last season's record. That means an NIT bid at the least, and if two or three players can make major strides -- are you listening, Kabba and Douthit? -- Providence could become a surprise team nationally.
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