GoLocalProv: PC Handles Brown 80-49. Garder Appeal Denied By NCAA

Defense, communication, effort. Oh, I’ve missed you so. Never ever gonna let you go.

-Ed Cooley has the Friars playing the way that he wants them to play which is light years better than last year’s team under Keno Davis. Providence actually puts in effort on the defensive end of the floor this season and they run a much more disciplined offense and share the ball more than they did last season.

-Former Friar Joe Hassett is among the many Friar faithful who believe in new head coach Ed Cooley. Hassett said that Cooley is as good a communicator as he has ever seen in college basketball.

Friar Basketball: Friars lock down Brown, improve to 7-2

Council had 16 assists versus Brown last year too. Next year playing with Ledo? I’m projecting anywhere from 40-45 assists versus Brown.

Council showed his offensive versatility on this night, carrying the scoring load in the first half (15 points), while spending the second stanza creating for teammates – specifically Bryce Cotton who connected on four second half three pointers on his way to 16 points in the half.

LaDontae Henton scored 19 points and grabbed nine rebounds. He’s now scored at least 16 points and grabbed as many as eight rebounds in each of the past four games. Henton has gathered nine rebounds or more in five of the Friars’ nine games this season.

Pawtucket Times: Providence College storms past Brown 80-49

Following Providence’s 80-49 runaway performance against an overmatched Brown team on Monday night, Cooley took the media inside the preparation his team goes through leading up to tip-off time. Focusing on the opponent’s tendencies is one area that’s obviously stressed – PC was going up against a Brown squad that prefers to play at a much slower tempo – yet there’s a little thing called self-scouting that Cooley believes is just as vital to the cause.
“We need to prepare for ourselves as much as we’re preparing for someone’s opponent,” Cooley said following the Friars’ third straight win to improve to 7-2. “The way we scout and watch film, I’m very grateful that our school spent a lot of money on an editing system. That allows us as a staff to go through every pass and shot a player makes. Everything can be micromanaged in practice so they can see themselves.”

The Sun Chronicle: Another solid game by the freshman has Friars at 7-2

I give him credit for laying off the fried ravioli there. Everything else, meh.

The freshman from Lansing, Mich., selected as the Big East Rookie of the Week, doesn’t spend much time around Raymond Hall, the on-campus dining facility for students at Providence College.

Instead, Henton has tipped the scales the other way, having shed some 23 pounds from his 6-foot-6 frame since becoming a disciple of Kevin White, the Friars’ strength and conditioning coach, then following the mantra of Friar basketball coach Ed Cooley.

The Arena Pulse: Player of the Night (12/5): Vincent Council (Providence)

One more rebound. Ugh!

However, as Providence fans are well aware of, junior guard Vincent Council is the motor that makes this squad go, and last night proved to be no different.

Council finished the game one rebound shy of a triple-double, ending the contest with a game-high 21 points and 11 assists. Council also grabbed nine rebounds in the victory.

Cox Sports Online: Vin Parise: Cooley not complacent

And we don’t even have Batts back yet!

Little by little the defensive end is coming along. Brown beat URI last week and last night shot 29% from the field vs the Friars. Yes the Bears had a cold shooting night; but the defense deserves credit as well. I think back to watching this team in October at practice, and they’ve come a long, long way.

The Brown Daily Herald: Men’s basketball endures back-to-back losses

The Friars were successful in shutting down Bruno’s dynamic guard tandem of Sean McGonagill ’14 and Stephen Albrecht ’12.5, who finished with a combined 10 points on 3-of-19 shooting.
“Those guys have had great games recently, and people are now game planning to take them out of the game,” Agel said.
“McGonagill does a great job of controlling this team,” said Providence College Head Coach Ed Cooley. “What we tried to do (last night) was disrupt their rhythm. We wanted to play a really up-tempo pace.”

ESPN Rumor Central: Will Providence wear down?

I’m thinking yes.

A closer look at Providence’s roster reveals that four Friars (Vincent Council, Gerard Coleman, Bryce Cotton and LaDontae Henton) have played 90 percent of the team’s available minutes so far this season, and one has to wonder how that will affect the Friars come February

Orange Fizz: Next Beasts of the Big East: The Fizz’s Top 5 Recruits in the 2012 Class

Not that we need any more validation to how awesome the new guys are, but here ya go anyway.

 4) Kris Dunn/ PG/ Providence
Dunn is Part I of what is one of the most groundshaking recruiting duo in Providence history. Teamed up with Ricardo Ledo under first year HC Ed Cooley, Dunn brings his leadership from New London, where he continues to set records in his senior season. Dunn is the second best point guard prospect in the country, and for good reason: he averages over 25 points per game at New London. Plus, he’s potent in the lane, finding space and putting himself and his teammates in scoring position. Anyone who makes room for Ledo to score is invaluable, as we’ll see next season.

1) Ricardo Ledo/ SG/ Providence
Ricky Ledo is far and away the best player-to-be in the Big East. Needless to say, Ledo is Part II of the best recruiting class the Friars have ever had. He plays pure basketball, and finds ways to get the ball in the basket. He has a deadly accurate shot, supreme passing ability, and an aggressive dribble. ESPN’s scouts say “Ledo’s talents are virtually limitless.” He gets by defenders one-by-one, knocking them down systematically. In the rare case that he needs help, his instincts to find open teammates come naturally. Ricky Ledo is a potential superstar and why he’s The Fizz’s top recruit of the 2012 Big East class.

Twitter: @CoachBobWalsh