Tag: Providence Friars

Florida men’s basketball to compete in 2025 Rady Children’s Invitational

The Gators join Kansas, Providence and Wisconsin in the 2025 Rady Children’s Invitational.

Florida men’s basketball is set to participate in the 2025 Rady Children’s Invitational in San Diego, Sports San Diego officials announced on Thursday.

The Gators will compete alongside the Kansas Jayhawks, Providence Friars and Wisconsin Badgers, with first round games held on Thanksgiving Day and the championship and third place games following on Friday.

Tip off times and matchups will be revealed later, with all games set to air nationally on FOX or FS1.

“Quite simply this is an amazing field,” said Mark Neville, CEO of Sports San Diego. “It was our goal to bring top college basketball teams to our event and these teams fit that mold. We can’t wait for next year.”

Kansas is expected to be one of the headliners while Providence and Wisconsin bring strong traditions of success. For the Gators, this event offers an opportunity to measure themselves against elite competition early in the season.

With a national audience tuning in, the tournament could serve as a critical moment for the Gators to showcase their growth and build momentum for the season ahead.

The 2025 Rady Children’s Invitational is scheduled for Nov. 27-28, 2025. $5 from every ticket sold will be going to Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego.

Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

Projected lottery pick Devin Carter dealing with shoulder injury ahead of draft

Former Providence guard Devin Carter is reportedly dealing with a shoulder injury ahead of the draft.

Former Providence guard Devin Carter is reportedly dealing with a shoulder injury ahead of the 2024 NBA draft, according to Jonathan Wasserman of Bleacher Report.

Carter, the son of former 13-year NBA veteran Anthony Carter, averaged 19.7 points, 8.7 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.8 steals on 47.3% shooting from the field. He led the conference in scoring and finished 10th in the country in defensive rebounds (253).

The 22-year-old began the year viewed as a potential second-round pick. He improved his draft stock and is now projected to be selected in the lottery following a strong junior campaign and showing at the combine last month.

Sources tell Bleacher Report that Devin Carter is dealing with a shoulder injury, though it’s unclear how much it will affect his stock. If it’s not red-flagged, he should be in play in the Nos. 8-13 range.

Carter worked out with at least seven teams throughout the predraft process and proved himself as a lock to be a lottery pick, so it appears as though his injury likely won’t significantly hurt his draft stock in the first round on Wednesday.

He is considered one of the top perimeter defenders in the draft and has garnered interest from several teams, including the San Antonio Spurs. He was also reportedly said to have received a draft promise from a team in the lottery.

Carter expanded his offensive game this past season by improving his 3-point percentage from 29.9% to 37.7% on 6.8 attempts per game. He projects to fill several needs for teams in the first half of the draft and could develop into an impactful player at the next level.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=650262612]

Seton Hall lands high upside guard from Providence via transfer portal

Former Providence guard Garwey Dual committed to play for Shaheen Holloway and Seton Hall out of the transfer portal.

Garwey Dual is staying in the Big East. The former Providence point guard, who tested the NBA draft waters, committed to play for Shaheen Holloway and Seton Hall for his sophomore season.

Dual spent his freshman season playing for Kim English and the Friars, and while he came in with a lot of folks projecting him as a one-and-done talent, the 6’5 guard averaged just 3.3 points, 1.9 assists and 1.3 rebounds in 18.5 minutes per game, shooting 40% on two-pointers and 25% from 3.

Dual admitted he was hoping to find a spot that would allow him to play point guard, which he didn’t do at Providence thanks to the emergence of star Devin Carter, and Seton Hall might be just the place for him.

The Pirates lost Kadary Richmond to another Big East school, St. John’s, while Dre Davis bounced to Ole Miss.

Dual should get an opportunity to play big minutes right away, and Holloway’s hard-nosed, defensive focused style should help elevate his draft stock and allow him to showcase his versatile set of skills.

Holloway is stocking up on sophomores who didn’t play much as freshman, also adding Scotty Middleton from Ohio State, and if his gambles pay off this team may improve on last year’s NIT championship by competing in the Big Dance.

The latest 2024 NBA mock draft from The Ringer has Devin Carter with a reported promise

The Ringer reported that Devin Carter may have a first-round guarantee.

Providence Friars guard Devin Carter is one of the players who has improved his reputation the most during the pre-draft process so far.

Carter is one of the most NBA-ready, versatile prospects in this class and he is potentially ready to make a positive impact right away once he turns pro. Although he is already one of the older players among those projected in the first round, Carter would fit in very well on a team looking to win sooner than later.

In our first 2024 NBA mock draft after the lottery, we had Carter heading to the New York Knicks because we felt that he was an ideal fit with head coach Tom Thibodeau. But in the latest mock draft from The Ringer, NBA writer Kevin O’Connor had the Big East Player of the Year going much higher.

Here is what he wrote about Carter, who may have received a “promise” from a team selecting in the lottery of the 2024 NBA Draft:

“League sources say that Devin Carter has received a promise somewhere in the lottery. Could that team be the Bulls? Carter would be a great fit next to Coby White as a lockdown defender who can thrive with or without the ball on offense. Plus, DeMar DeRozan could leave in free agency, where he would fit with the Clippers if Paul George were to sign elsewhere, so there’d be an immediate minutes void that Carter could fill.”

His max vertical leap (42″) and standing vertical leap (35″) were both among the best among all participants at the 2024 NBA Draft Combine.

Not only was his lane agility elite but the junior also recorded the fastest three-quarter sprint (2.87 seconds) in the history of the NBA Draft Combine. Carter is able to use that speed and bounciness while playing on both ends of the floor, which will help his game translate to the next level even if he is a bit undersized.

He also measured with a wingspan six and a half inches longer than his height, which adds context to how he was able to become such a productive player on defense.

Perhaps he may be a bit redundant for Chicago with Alex Caruso already on the roster, but no team could ever have too many stellar defenders.

Make sure you check out our newest post-lottery mock draft, along with the official full draft order post-lottery. You can also read or watch our new interview with Carter.

Projected first-round pick Devin Carter declares for 2024 NBA draft

Carter was named the Big East Player of the Year after averaging 19.7 points, 8.7 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.8 steals with the Friars.

Projected first-round pick Devin Carter on Wednesday told Jonathan Givony of ESPN that he will forgo his remaining college eligibility and declare for the 2024 NBA draft.

Carter was named the Big East Player of the Year after averaging 19.7 points, 8.7 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.8 steals on 47.3% shooting from the field in 33 games. He led the conference in scoring and finished 10th in the country in defensive rebounds (253).

The 6-foot-3 guard began his college career at South Carolina, averaging nine points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists as a freshman. He transferred to Providence and saw steady growth in his game while playing two seasons with the Friars.

Carter, the son of former 13-year NBA veteran Anthony Carter, began the year viewed as a potential second-round pick. However, he established himself as a mid-to-late first-round pick with a sensational year, given his ability as a defender.

The recently turned 22-year-old was considered one of the top defenders in the country. He was named to the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year watchlist in February, ranking 10th in the country in defensive win shares (2.7) and 14th in defensive box plus-minus (plus-4.9).

Carter expanded his offensive game this past season by improving his 3-point percentage from 29.9% to 37.7% on 6.8 attempts per game. He hit several big shots throughout the year and used his size to get into the paint and finish.

The 2024 NBA draft will occur June 26-27 in New York City.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=650262612]

Bryce Hopkins ACL tear devastating blow for Providence

Bryce Hopkins suffered a torn ACL on Wednesday in Providence’s 61-57 loss to Seton Hall.

The Providence Friars not only suffered a tough 61-57 loss to the Seton Hall Pirates on Wednesday evening, but they were informed the following morning that star wing Bryce Hopkins suffered a torn ACL and will miss the rest of the 2023-24 college basketball season.

Hopkins exited the game in the second half, getting helped off the floor and heading straight to the locker room where he did not return. The worst was confirmed by the program on Thursday morning.

“We all feel for Bryce and his family in this difficult time,” Providence coach Kim English said, per a press release from the team.  “We will be with him throughout this process to help him come back stronger than ever.  We ask that all of Friartown keeps Bryce and his family in your thoughts and prayers.”

The Friars are 11-3 on the year and had started receiving Top 25 buzz before Wednesday’s loss, and the junior wing was a big reason why. Under English, in his first year at Providence taking over for Ed Cooley, Hopkins averaged 15.5 points, 8.6 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 1.0 steals in 14 games while shooting a career-high 53.3% on two-pointers.

Providence will now have to try to survive in the incredibly deep Big East without their second-leading scorer, putting more pressure on guard Devin Carter (16.2 points) and big man Josh Oduro (14.7 points) to help lead the charge.

Additionally, top freshman Garwey Dual – considered a sleeper in the 2024 NBA draft – will need to step up as well, as the 6’5 guard is only averaging 3.5 points in 21 minutes per game.

Providence heads on the road to face the Creighton Blue Jays on Saturday, January 6. The tip-off is at 3:00 PM ET.

Under the radar Providence team has opportunity for major upset against Marquette

The Providence Friars could use a big win to add to their resume, and a chance to face Marquette at home to open up Big East play is the perfect opportunity.

Big East conference play gets underway on Wednesday with a pair of games, including an exciting nightcap between the No. 6 ranked Golden Eagles of Marquette and the Providence Friars, a battle between a pair of 9-2 programs.

Marquette has drawn a ton of media attention as a borderline Top 5 team and with massive wins over then No. 1 Kansas and Texas.

However, Providence has quietly had an excellent season under new head coach Kim English, who came over from George Mason to replace Ed Cooley after he left for Georgetown.

The Friars may have the same record as Marquette, but outside of a big win over Wisconsin, their resume doesn’t carry a ton of weight, with an overtime loss to a struggling Kansas State squad and a blowout loss on the road at Oklahoma.

Still, Providence is a team that is flying more under the radar than they probably should be, and it’s thanks in large part to their stellar work on the defensive end of the floor.

The Friars are 21st in the country in adjusted defensive efficiency at KenPom, and third in the Big East behind UConn and Marquette. Guard Devin Carter is a big reason why, averaging 1.5 blocks and 1.3 steals along with 15.5 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 3.0 assists as one of the best stat stuffers in all of college basketball.

Coach English’s defensive focused club looks capable of beating just about anyone, and while they haven’t had many chances to prove themselves it would not be a surprise to see them give Marquette all sorts of trouble on Wednesday at home.

A matchup between Carter and All-American point guard Tyler Kolek will be the headliner, but this game could be won on the block between Marquette’s Oso Ighodaro and Providence’s Josh Oduro, who are both having stellar seasons.

The Big East is always chalk full of high level competition, and getting the season started with this matchup sets the table for another fantastic season.

Oklahoma Sooners named Team of the Week by Andy Katz

The Sooners men’s basketball team has been on a role lately and continued that with two big wins last week.

The Oklahoma Sooners faced two of their tougher tests this season last week and continued their undefeated season. They took on the [autotag]Providence Friars[/autotag] at home and the Arkansas Razorbacks in what was essentially a road game in Tulsa, Okla.

The Sooners dominated both teams, winning by an average of 15 points between the two of them. The offense was great in both games, averaging 75.5 points per game. The defense was also stellar in both games only allowing an average of 60.5 points per game. They allowed 31 points or fewer in three out of the four halves.

Their wins over the Friars and Razorbacks earned the Sooners college basketball Team of the Week from Andy Katz.

The Sooners also skyrocketed up the rankings as well. They were No. 22 last week in the USA TODAY Coaches Poll but are now all the way up to No. 12. In the AP Poll, they went from No. 19 to No. 11.

With another win this Saturday vs. the Green Bay Phoenix, they could be headed for a top-10 showdown against the North Carolina Tar Heels the following week. The most important thing is stacking wins. They have four games left until [autotag]Big 12[/autotag] play starts, and we all know how daunting that can be.

Realistically, the Sooners should win at least three of the next four games. North Carolina is the wildcard because even though it’s not technically a home game for the Tar Heels, it is in Charlotte, NC.

For now, this has been a fun team to watch, but now it’s not just local fans taking notice. With the Team of the Week honor, the whole country is taking notice as well.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Jaron on Twitter @JaronSpor.

Oklahoma Sooners skyrocket in latest USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll

Oklahoma rose 10 spots in the latest USA Today Sports Coaches Poll and now sits at No. 12.

Oklahoma is on a heck of a run to start the season. The Sooners are stacking wins and building a strong resume that has them on the path to breaking their NCAA Tournament drought.

Oklahoma sits 9-0 and will have two games this week to continue building an impressive resume as the nonconference slate starts to wind down. The rest of the nation notices what Porter Moser is doing with his basketball team in Norman.

On Monday, the newest edition of the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll was released, and the Sooners had the most significant rise of any team in the top 25 moving from No. 22 to No. 12.

That 10-spot jump comes on the heels of Oklahoma dominating two Power Five opponents from two of the best basketball conferences in the country in Providence from the Big East and Arkansas from the SEC.

Oklahoma remains one of seven teams in Division 1 basketball that is unbeaten.

Arizona is the No. 1 team after they dismantled Wisconsin. The standard bearer of the Big 12, Kansas, is ranked second, while the newest Big 12 member, Houston, led by former Oklahoma head coach Kelvin Sampson, comes in at third.

Purdue and Connecticut round out the top five. Another undefeated Big 12 team, Baylor, ranks sixth, while Marquette and Creighton rank 7th and 8th.

Oklahoma will take on the now No. 9 UNC Tarheels in a massive matchup on Saturday. Tennessee and Clemson round out the schools right in front of Oklahoma.

Oklahoma has a chance to make a significant splash this week with a win in Charlotte, North Carolina in the Jumpman Invitational against a talented UNC squad led by Hubert Davis. A win there, and the Sooners could be on the cusp of a top-five ranking by the time the calendar turns to 2024.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Bryant on Twitter @thatmanbryant.

Sooners use explosive second half run in 72-51 win over Providence

Oklahoma used a massive run in the second half to secure a comfortable 21 point win over the Providence Friars.

Oklahoma may have something special brewing on the hardwood. After Thursday’s  win over the Providence Friars, the Sooners are now 8-0 for the first time since the 2015-2016 season.

Oklahoma came out, firing on all cylinders, and jumped out to an early 12-0 lead. Their first run of the game was spearheaded by the Sooners forcing three turnovers.

After the initial onslaught, the Sooners and Friars exchanged jabs for the remainder of the first half. Oklahoma went into the intermission up by four, led by 13 first-half points from guard Javian McCollum.

McCollum was a menace as he relentlessly attacked the paint and used his mid-range game to terrorize the Providence defense to get into the teeth of the defense. He also showcased his ability to shoot from range when defenders sagged off him or went under ball screens. He finished the game with 19 points, seven boards, four assists, and three steals to complete an excellent two-way effort.

In the first six minutes after halftime. the Friars looked ready to stage an upset as they took their first lead of the game at 40-39. From then on, the Sooners hit the same switch they showed in the Iowa game.

Oklahoma went on a 15-6 run to take an 54-47 lead into the under-eight media timeout. Coming out of the media timeout, the Sooners went on an 11-0 run, putting a dagger in any chance Providence had of upsetting the 22nd-ranked Sooners (No. 19 in AP Poll).

Oklahoma suffocated Providence from beyond the arc, limiting them to just 5-23 shooting from distance. The Sooners also held All-Big East first teamer Bryce Hopkins to just 8 points, forcing him into a team-leading four turnovers.

Milos Uzan finished with 17 points and 12 rebounds. Sam Godwin added 12 points and four rebounds, Otega Oweh finished with 13 points, and Pitt transfer John Hugley chipped in six points off the bench.

Oklahoma’s next game will be at the BOK Center in Tulsa as they take on future conference opponent Arkansas in a rematch of a game they played last year.

Tip-off between the Sooners and the Razorbacks is slated for 3 p.m., and the game will be broadcast on ESPN2.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Bryant on Twitter @thatmanbryant.