Providence looks to bounce back from a down defensive season a year ago
Coming off of what most would agree was a down year defensively, a reconfigured Providence roster struggled to slow Fairfield in Tuesday’s season opening 80-73 victory.
Two days later against Sacred Heart, Ed Cooley swapped players in and out of the lineup looking for a combination that would defend up to his expectations. Providence eventually turned it around in the second half against the Pioneers, holding the Pioneers to 28 second half points on 34% shooting from the field and 26% from deep.
The defensive side of the ball had to have been a tremendous source of frustration for Cooley last season, especially considering how stingy this program has become under him.
Last season the Friars were ranked 74th in the country in defensive efficiency per Ken Pomeroy, marking the first time PC hadn’t been ranked in the top 50 in the country in that category since 2013-14.
The effectiveness of Providence’s defense under Cooley has been somewhat overlooked — or at least not put into appropriate perspective in comparison to the rest of the Big East since realignment.
From the 2014-15 through the 2019-20 seasons, PC was the only program in the conference ranked inside Pomeroy’s top 50 every year in defensive efficiency. Last year snapped that streak for the Friars.
Providence could make a strong case for being the second best defensive team in the Big East since the league reconfigured in 2013, certainly if Pomeroy’s numbers are being used to tell the story:
Average National Ranking in Adjusted Defensive Efficiency Since 2013-14:
Villanova — 35.1 (best finish: #5 in 2015-16; worst finish: #81 in 2018-19)
Providence — 47.7 (best: #27 in 2019-20; worst: #94 in 2013-14)
Xavier — 56 (best: #11 in 2017-18; worst: #102 in 2018-19)
Seton Hall — 58.1 (best: #10 in 2015-16; worst: #113 in 2014-15)
Butler — 64.2 (best: #8 in 2014-15; worst: #123 in 2018-19)
UConn — 67.5 (best: #10 in 2013-14; worst: #178 in 2017-18)
Creighton — 76 (best: #32 in 2020-21; worst: #138 in 2014-15)
St. John’s — 79.7 (best: #29 in 2017-18; worst: #131 in 2016-17)
Georgetown — 86.1 (best: #33 in 2014-15; worst: #133 in 2018-19)
Marquette — 95.6 (best: #45 in 2018-19; worst: #165 in 2016-17)
DePaul — 147.5 (best: #47 in 2020-21; worst: #223 in 2018-19)
Providence was flush with versatile guards and wing defenders two years ago, when they were ranked 27th in the country in defensive efficiency. They also benefited from the switch and recovery ability of center Kalif Young, who could not only move well laterally, but also served as an above average post defender.
Perhaps the biggest question mark facing the 2021-22 Friars on the defensive end is how their big men will defend in space. PC gave a number of players a shot at grabbing minutes at the four spot alongside Nate Watson last year, but they could never seem to find the right fit — which is reflected in the dip in PC’s defensive metrics.
The Friars were ranked in the 44th percentile in opponents’ points per possession last year, marking the first time they were below 60th since Ed Cooley’s first season at PC way back in 2012. The zone defense that finished in the 95th percentile two years prior fell all the way to 28th. Their numbers also dropped rather significantly in stopping pick and roll roll men and in slowing cutters.
Cooley was direct in his criticism of his team following the Fairfield win — in fact, it’s hard to remember him being so blunt this early in the year. In years past we’ve heard him talk about how hard it is to win against any Division 1 opponent after perceived lackluster efforts in November.
Not this year. Cooley spoke in the preseason of being more direct and critical of his team this season, and it’s hard to imagine he’ll wait patiently for his defense to set the bar back to where it had been previously.
Cooley spoke as though the biggest change for the Friars in the second half on Thursday night against Sacred Heart was in their mentality. That certainly could have been the case, but there are questions about how this frontcourt will defend — and what this group’s defensive upside will be — questions which will be answered in the coming weeks.
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