To be frank, I have no idea and I really don’t think anybody does. This is a team projected to be a top team in the Big East and even one of the top writers at CBS Sports said they were the 15th best team in the nation in the preseason. This, on paper, is arguably the most talented team Ed Cooley has had since taking over in his hometown. We’ve seen Cooley lead teams with much less to the NCAA’s and even a Big East title. They had a lot of returning talent, a highly touted incoming Freshman and even some help coming via the transfer portal, yet as of today they sit at just 6-6 with several losses that I don’t think anybody saw coming. My last "reason" for what is going on in Friartown was that the team had been playing down to their competition, really struggling against teams that they were double digit favorites going into the games. That myth was debunked this past Tuesday as PC was taken down by Florida (another team with high incoming expectations) easily 83-51. In the Friars’ defense, the Gators played great and the game was never close, but still no explanation as to what is happening. I feel like it’s pretty clear that the team as a whole is really lacking confidence, and at the end of the day we’re talking about 20 year old kids who have excelled at every level they’ve played at and this is more than likely the first time that as a team, nobody has been able to buy a bucket.
Alpha Diallo, a preseason All Big East member is leading the way in both scoring and rebounding but is really struggling from the line and with turnovers. David Duke has shown signs of being a star, while at the same time being a little inconsistent. Nate Watson is clearly still struggling with that knee injury and still showing flashes of being a dominant post player, while Kalif Young has handled a lot of the big man duties Watson was expected to have. Maliek White, AJ Reeves and Luwane Pipkins, in my opinion, have struggled the most. They are all very talented individuals who just can’t seem to get one to fall, whether it’s a three ball or a layup. Greg Gantt has been great, you can see how much raw talent he has. While Jimmy Nichols, Emmitt Holt and Kris Monroe battle their respective injuries. Like I said previously, this is a team that on paper, I feel most people believed would all but guarantee another 20-win season for Ed Cooley. If that’s still the goal, they really have their work cut out for them going forward.
Moving on, I do honestly believe this team could get hot and run the table, but I’m not sure how likely that would be considering just how much they’ve struggled and with Big East play being just around the corner. I do however want to say just how unfair it is to blame Ed Cooley for the teams struggles. I know the "players win, coaches lose" narrative is alive and well but if you actually watch what’s happening there’s really not much there for the Cooley hate. The guy came in and completely turned this program around just a few years ago. On Tuesday the Friars shot just 15/58 from the floor, 1/18 from three and another 14 missed free throws. Say what you will about Cooley, but I don’t think there’s much he can physically do about that. With all this negativity that I’ve spewed out today, it wouldn’t be all that surprising if this team ends up near the top of the Big East rankings come March.
Go Friars!