When Kris Dunn graduated in May of 2016, he didn’t leave alone. Ben Bentil also declared for the NBA Draft, eventually becoming the Boston Celtic’s 51st overall pick. The departure of Dunn and Bentil has left a void that will impact Providence’s immediate future. Evidence of how different the 2016-17 season is expected to be for Providence can be seen in college basketball odds where Providence is +28000, or 280/1 to win the national championship. Last season the Friars were as high in some places as +6000, or 60/1.
Dunn, a two-time Big East Player of the Year, was the Minnesota Timberwolves’ 5th overall pick. The end of the Kris Dunn Era isn’t the end of the Friars, though; they have plenty of talent and a deep roster to keep the momentum of three straight NCAA Tournament appearances going. The Friars can avoid the pitfalls that have befallen many other teams that have lost major stars if they get the right level of development and improvement from players like Kyron Cartwright, Rodney Bullock, and Jalen Lindsey.
Continue reading Providence Season Preview: The Dunn Era Closes, a New Era Begins
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