Copyright The Boston Globe
“I always hear, ‘People are saying.’ What people?,” English asks. “I was saying it in year one, year two and now again in year three. That’s what we do this thing for. That’s the reason you coach in the Big East. Every year we don’t (make the NCAAs) it’s a failed season. Injury or not, so what. The mission is still the mission.” The Friars have fallen short of that goal in English’s first two years, and that’s ratcheted up the pressure on everyone in the program to return to the sport’s Promised Land. There were legitimate reasons why Providence hasn’t run with the Big East’s upper crust, namely the fog of uncertainty brought on by a knee injury to star forward Bryce Hopkins. But Hopkins has exited, choosing to leave Friartown and grab a large money bag from Rick Pitino and conference rival St. John’s. But English never blinked, instead throwing oodles of money at assembling a roster that is dominated by nine newcomers, ranging from 23-year-old transfer graduates, to 21-year-old European imports and 19-year-old freshmen. The talent haul has opened eyes. The Friars were picked to finish fourth in the Big East in the conference’s coaches poll. Of course fitting all the new pieces together is the trick, but there is a palpable excitement about this group heading into Monday’s season opener against Holy Cross. “It’s a new season and a new group,” English said. “We made some changes. We have really good depth and I’m excited to hook it up.” To his credit English isn’t blaming last season’s 12-20 flameout on Hopkins’ rocky recovery from knee surgery that limited him to just three games. The fact that the All-Big East forward played three early-season games, sat out with a bone bruise, became fully active in February practices but chose to sit out and save another season of eligibility (and a million-dollar plus pay day at St. John’s) galled many PC fans. When asked about Hopkins, English says “players have the right to transfer,” and adds that last year’s troubles were program-wide. “I will say that it was difficult to not coach the team that you built around a talented, successful player like Bryce Hopkins. It’s difficult, for sure, but those are the cards you’re dealt as a coach,” he said. “No excuses. It’s a zero-sum game. We didn’t perform like we should have.” Last spring the NCAA settled a major antitrust case, House vs. NCAA, that paralyzed college sports for a few years. Rules now allow schools to share athletic revenue with student-athletes for the first time. That revenue is capped at roughly $20.5 million per school, and is in addition to scholarships and other benefits athletes already receive. Providence is revenue sharing with its men’s and women’s basketball teams, plus its nationally ranked men’s hockey and cross country teams. English’s budget is not known, but PC athletic director Steve Napolillo has frequently stated that the Friars will fund the program “at the highest level” and several rival programs have confirmed that Providence spent aggressively for talent in assembling this year’s roster. While being armed with enough funds to compete with Big East teams, spending over $10 million for their teams is the floor: That guarantees nothing. It’s still all about fit, team culture, sacrifice and other vital team building culture items. “It’s changed completely, it’s a different philosophy, a different sport in college basketball right now in regards to roster building and player acquisition,” English admits. Perhaps the most overlooked dynamic of this new world is what coaches view as the scourge of the unlimited right of players to transfer with no penalty. That’s made recruiting your own players a constant, and also virtually ends the chance to see a raw freshman mature into a successful senior star. “We’re focused on dealing with the minds of these guys, how to keep them focused, how to keep them committed to what’s important. Eliminate distractions,” English said. “There are players that are literally recruited all year now. One player doesn’t get his desirable minutes the first game of the season, people in his camp will talk to him about transferring. Right now. I think it’s happening with some players after exhibition games! “The best teams can get the guys to commit and focus and just try to be the best player and the best teammate they can be. That’s a new challenge that has not existed in college athletics before,” he said. Napolillo says PC’s season-ticket holders have returned in force, no doubt excited that last year’s struggles were washed away with the addition of so much new talent. English said he made sure to involve the five holdovers on his roster (Corey Floyd, Ryan Mela, Oswin Erhunmwunse, Nilavan Daniels) in the recruitment of players who arrive as instant starters. That group includes guards Jason Edwards (from Vanderbilt) and Jaylin Sellers (Central Florida), plus scoring forward Duncan Powell (Georgia Tech). All three seniors have experienced big moments on college basketball’s biggest stages. “They’ve been great. They’ve been exactly what we needed. It’s a welcome sight,” English said. Asked what this team’s best trait will be, English didn’t blink. While the group may lack some interior size and needs to find consistent 3-point shooting, he likes the depth of a group that also will see a spark from freshmen Jamier Jones (Florida) and Stefan Vaaks (Estonia). “Talent, top to bottom, is a strength,” he said. “Our top 11, every one of those guys will help us win college basketball games. Whoever ends up just outside of our rotation will be a really good player.” That’s certainly a good omen in helping quiet those boogeyman fans, who are always looking for more.
