MU #17 in KenPom 2020 projection

[Its DJOver]

They did. But before his injury, AJ Reeves was making 55.6% from 2 & 45.3% from 3. Emmitt Holt shot 57.1% from 2 & 34.4% from 3 when he was last healthy. And Isaiah Jackson & Makai Ashton-Langford, who combined to shoot 42.7% from 2 & 32.1% from 3 are gone.

Add in a proven distributor in Pipkins (top-25 in assist rate last year) and they'll be taking better shots from better positions. I think a top-50 offense and top-25 defense are realistic for the Friars.

And when was that?  He's on the Otule plan playing exactly six games since the end of the 16-17 season, and the last time he played us he scored 8 points going up against Matt.  Until he proves that he's back and fully healthy, I'd count on him about as much as we can count on Ike.

[brewcity77]

And when was that?  He's on the Otule plan playing exactly six games since the end of the 16-17 season, and the last time he played us he scored 8 points going up against Matt.  Until he proves that he's back and fully healthy, I'd count on him about as much as we can count on Ike.

That's fair. But the players that are better shooters and efficient offensive players are back and the ones that are worse shooters and less efficient generally left, and the position that has keyed Cooley's successful offenses should be better with Pipkins. I think expecting a significant offensive jump is fair. Moreso than teams like SHU & Xavier that are generally inefficient, didn't add much in terms of new players, and also have worse defenses.

[Marcus92]

Providence will certainly be an interesting team to watch this season. I agree they'll be better -- but a jump from #79 to around #30-35 feels right to me. Finishing somewhere between third and sixth in the Big East and earning a tournament bid in the 7 to 9 range.

If the Friars are better than that, it would likely be the best team Cooley has ever coached. His highest Big East finish was tying for 3rd in 2014, 2017 and 2018. All three of those teams finished 10-8 in conference and were ranked #48, #60 and #63, respectively, by Pomeroy.

Cooley's highest KenPom ranking came in 2015 when Providence was #27 after finishing 22-12 (11-7) and earning a 6 seed in the NCAA tournament.