Devin Carter continues to elevate his game, both in the box score and beyond

Already an elite defender, the Friar guard is now the only player averaging at least 15 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block per game in the nation this season.

As has become routine through eight games this season, Devin Carter was the tone-setter from the jump in Providence’s 84-69 win over Rhode Island on Saturday night.

In the first six minutes of the latest chapter between the Rams and the Friars, Carter had already blocked a pair of shots and come up with steals that lead to layups.

By the 11:30 mark of the first half, Carter already had eight points (on 3-4 shooting), four boards, two blocks, a pair of steals, and an assist as Providence took an early four-point advantage.

Providence head coach Kim English didn’t have much positive to say about a first-half Friar effort that saw his team leading, 35-32, at the break.

“We did not play well in the first half, by any stretch,” English said. “It was our worst half of basketball this season by a mile. We didn’t meet any of our metrics. We were bad on defense. We were bad on offense, missing layups. We weren’t focused. We were much better in the second half.”

Still, it was hard to ignore the tenor Carter set early on both ends of the floor. He buried a top-of-the-key three for the game’s first bucket, and knocked down a Harden-esque step-back 3-pointer four minutes later.

He didn’t relent for the rest of the night, finishing with 17 points and 11 rebounds on an efficient 7-12 shooting from the floor, and 3-5 from deep. An improved jump shooter, Carter hit a huge three in transition in what was a two-point game four minutes into the second half.

Even if Carter didn’t score a point, he would be among the most valuable players in the Big East due to his defensive capabilities, but he seems to be making an offensive leap under English this season.

Carter is one of a handful of guards in the country averaging over 15 points (15.3) and eight rebounds (8.6) per game this season. He has upped assist average from 2.5 to 3.5 this year, bumped his 3-point shooting to 34%, and he’s shooting 47% from the floor after hitting at 42% his first two seasons of college ball.

Carter has recorded a double double in three of Providence’s last four games.

The narrative heading into this season regarding the Friars was that the returns of Carter and Bryce Hopkins would give them a chance on any given night. As a result, much of the focus has pivoted to players like Josh Oduro, Jayden Pierre (who returned from a groin injury to play 22 minutes on Saturday), or Ticket Gaines, as we try to determine this group’s ceiling.

As a result, the outstanding play of Carter hasn’t necessarily been overlooked, but his effort and production almost feel like a given (English didn’t field a question on Carter until he was about 12 minutes into a 13-minute presser).

Still, production like Carter has given English and the Friars this season has far exceeded most reasonable expectations, given the sheer exhaustion he plays himself into while working at such a breakneck pace.

Over the past 20 years, Providence has been fortunate enough to watch genuinely special defensive guards like John Linehan and Kris Dunn on a nightly basis. Carter is equally as enthralling on that end of the floor.

Combining that defense with his improved offense makes Carter one of the best two-way players in not only the Big East, but the nation. He is one of just four players in the country averaging at least 15 points, eight rebounds, and three assists per game at this early juncture of the season — only two of them play at the high major level.

Carter is the only player in the country averaging at least 15 points, eight rebounds, three assists, one steal, and one block per game.

English noted after Saturday’s win that he feels like he’s beating a dead horse by consistently pointing out the challenge Carter, Hopkins, and Corey Floyd Jr. have faced in learning their third system, under their third head coach, in three seasons of college basketball.

When asked about Carter’s willingness to take hard coaching, English smiled, “He played for Frank Martin (at South Carolina), and his father is Anthony Carter. He’s as tough as they come.”

Carter made the SEC All-Freshman team under Martin, seamlessly transitioned to Ed Cooley last year, and has elevated his game in his junior season with English.

Carter and Hopkins were the givens heading into this season, but the production and endless energy of Carter are anything but the norm.