What’s Ailing the Friars?

Let’s get this out of the way now for the “relax, it’s December” crowd. Yes, it’s early, and Providence is down a number of critical players.Back in September, I was certain Emmitt Holt would be this team’s “gotta-have-a-basket scorer,” believed Alpha Diallo could potentially be the most improved player in the conference, and figured a healthy Kyron Cartwright would push for 1st Team All Big East.

Two of those players weren’t on the floor on Saturday, and the third was a shell of himself.

If the past six years under Ed Cooley have taught us anything, it’s that his teams typically go through a December or January swoon before figuring it all out in February. Chances are, that will be the case…