Projo College Hoops

Keno Davis: Hi Friar Fans, Coach Keno Davis here. I look forward to your questions today.

PCFANATIC: Coach, if some of the predictions that have the Friars finishing 15th and even 16th come to pass, it will mean some losses. Most of the new players come from winning programs and aren't used to losing. How do you deal with it, keeping the kids upbeat and motivated, if the losses pile up.

Keno Davis: Through a winning or losing streak it is important to not get too high or low as a team. We must focus on improving from game to game individually and as a team. The wins usually take care of themselves.

FriarJoe: Hello Keno

I think it's accurate to say that the recruitng by you and your staff has been great since you arrived on campus in the spring of 08 seeing how far behind the 8-Ball you were especially for the 2009 class. That being said can you give us a little head start by letting us know which newcomers are impressing you the most ? I must admit the physique of Kadeem Batts is impressive at his young age.

Good luck in 09/10 and keep up the great work.

Go Friars ! !

Keno Davis: I appreciate your kind words and our staff is working very hard on the recruiting trail. Every day a new player shows us improvement. At this point our incoming freshmen Johnnie Lacy and Vincent Council have given us a new dimension with a faster brand of basketball.

friarblog.com: What is one aspect of the team you think could be a big surprise this season?

Keno Davis: I think our depth this year is something that our opponents will have trouble preparing for especially in an uptempo game. Our defensive pressure must improve for us to be successful.

Captain: Having been here over a year now, how do you like life in Rhode Island? What are some of your favorite things to do in Providence?

Keno Davis: I have always considered this area of the country home and it is great to be in Rhode Island.

sting56901: whats the biggest difference do you see so far from last year to this year?

Keno Davis: We have a deeper team and therefore more competition during practice and for playing time.

anthonyk: Hey Keno hows it going? I was wondering if James "Greedy" Peterson will have a bigger role on the team this year?

Keno Davis: Jamine Peterson has been a bright spot in practice this year. He has been our best rebounder and brings a great amount of energy to the court. He was able to show great improvement during his red shirt year and our fans will be excited to see him play.

friar1981: Hey Coach, as a season tix holder I'm excited about this season as you try to integrate all the new recruits. With all these bodies, are you going to make the press a staple of your defense? Thanks

Keno Davis: We will use different forms of pressure defense this season because of our depth and quickness. We can utilize our talents in the full court and the half court to minimize any size disadvantage we might have in the Big East.

friarblog.com: Coach, In the offseason you've really gone full steam ahead into the world of social media (Twitter, Facebook, your website) -- Was this something that was highly encouraged by the school for all coaches, or something that you thought personally was just very important to get off the ground to build enthusiasm over the program? How do you plan to use social media during the season, and what do you see are the biggest positives and negatives about it?

Keno Davis: I have always believed that we need to be ahead of the curve in recruiting to get us to the top. CoachKenoDavis.com is a way for our fans to get information on a daily basis and promote Providence College across the world.

Sec 124: Keno, thanks for the time. Last year you redshirted two Friars. Admittedly, it's a different situation, but do you foresee any current players going the red shirt route?

Keno Davis: I could see us not redshirting anyone this year or up to two players. If a player can help us win games this season we would not red shirt unless there was a medical concern.

redcollfan: coach does the program have any plans to play in maui?

Keno Davis: We are looking at annual tournaments across the country and have expressed an interest in playing in the Maui Invitational among other prestigious events.

Captain: Since your arrival, the improvement to facilities has been remarkable...Calabria Hallway, Canavan Sports Medicine, Alumni Hall improvements, etc. Are any more on the horizon? What else is part of your "long-term" plan to be successful at Providence?

Keno Davis: In response to Captain -- There have been some great improvements on the PC campus and I believe we will see more in the near future. The renovation of Alumni Hall is something that will help us in the recruiting battles.

Jeff 99: Is Marshon Brooks ready to step his game up to another level this year?

Keno Davis: We have high hopes for Marshon Brooks not only as a scorer this year but someone who can make an impact on both ends of the court. He is a gifted talent who has unlimited potential.

mt.may08: Hi Coach. How's Dr. Tom doing nowadays? And do you seek his counsel from time to time?

Keno Davis: My father, Dr. Tom, is doing well, thank you. I use his knowledge of basketball and experience of issues surrounding basketball on a daily basis.

T-timeradioshow: We know last year you cosistently played eight players who got a significant amout of playing time, do you foresee the same thing with all of these young players?

Keno Davis: We have not yet determined the quantity of players in this year's rotation. I would guess that we will have a rotation of 9-10 players that will see significant time.

Darrin: Ray Hall has not played in 2 years, what can we expect from the Big Senior this season?

Keno Davis: Ray has obviously had a run of bad luck medically the last two years. I don't know what the future will hold for him, but I know he is working extremely hard in the classroom and physically to attempt to be healthy. I wish him the best as he is an incredible young man.

dherr07: Hey Coach, I must say I'm very excited about this season despite the predicted 13th place finish. Having been able to recruit most of the current roster, do you feel you can better run the type of system you are most comfortable with?

Keno Davis: We have an opportunity to be a better team in many different areas this season. What we lack in experience hopefully we can make up for in hard work and attitude. I would expect our fans to see a team that they will be proud of following.

voice: Coach - could you speak to the strategy of scheduling this year, in hopes of gaining the young kids experience?

Keno Davis: We are behind in scheduling as we must work ahead to acquire the best schedule possible depending on talent and experience. We have some challenging games in our non-conference that should prepare us for the always tough Big East.

FriarHistory: The level of recruitment of better players has picked up for the Class of 2010. Do you forsee a further effort to get commitments of an even higher caliber of player as a regular strategy?

Keno Davis: We are always going to try and raise the bar of the caliber of student athletes that we recruit at PC. My assistants are out working other staffs much like we expect of our players on the court.

djfox: How much do you expect Curry to play the 2? And how will it take him to adapt to not having the ball in his hands as much?

Keno Davis: Even when we have a smaller guard lineup on the court Curry is still a point guard. We just might two point guards on the court at the same time. Hopefully by releiving some of the pressure from him will allow him more offensive opportunities.

paul: Hi Coach, Do you think you will be using more man to man defense this year and do you think this team will be a good foul shooting team ?

Keno Davis: I think we will be using more man to man defense especially in the early part of the season. The key to foul shooting is to get your good shooters to the line much like Weyinmi did at the end of the season.

jeremy: Coach what made you he coach you are today where and how did you learn the most about coaching?

Keno Davis: Having a father as a coach gave me great insight to the profession and also opened many doors for me. Every coach is always learning and trying to improve their skills every year.

Friarso8: Coach, what are the focus positions on the trail for 2011?

Keno Davis: The best talent and fit for Providence College regardless of position on the court.

Laffinthedark: Are your current players aware of the PC legacy: all the great players that wore the Friar colors before them such as Jimmy Walker, Ernie D., Kevin, Marvin, and Billy D.?

Keno Davis: Our Joe Calabria Hallway of Legends is a great opportunity for our student-athletes to learn about the legacy of past Friars. We see it every day before practice and it motivates us to do our best.

Chickenhead: Who are you starting on Sat?

Keno Davis: Do you have any suggestions, Chicken Head?

djfox: Coach...some of your responses remind me of Bill Belichick. What other coaches have influenced you?

Keno Davis: I enjoyed reading Education of a Coach but that is probably the only connection I have with Coach.

PCFANATIC: The consensus seems to be that our backcourt will be our strength this year, in terms of experience, with the frontcourt being the most inexperienced. How do you think our forwards and centers stack up against most of the Big East schools? It seems like most of the really imposing big men...eg. Thabeet, Blair have graduated. Could the Big East, in general, be less imposing this year, giving us a better chance with our new kids?

Keno Davis: We will not be as big as some of the Big East schools such as Pittsburgh, or Syracuse but hopefully they will have as much trouble matching up with our speed as we will with their size.

Jeff99: Do you expect a bounce-back year from Brian McKenzie?

Keno Davis: Brian struggled with his outside shot last season but has improved in many areas entering this year. I expect him to be a leader on the court and in the lockerroom.

friarso8: Coach, a school could have a very successful recruiting class without leaving New England in 2011, and 2012. Is it a focus to keep that talent home?

Keno Davis: In recruiting to PC we must recruit nationally but also recognize that we must not be outworked in our own back yard.

T-timeradioshow: Is it harder to recruit top talent to the New England area especially since PC is a small school compared to the rest of the Big East schools that have whole buildings just designated for the basketball team and other better facilities.

Keno Davis: We have things to overcome at PC much like at any school trying to get to the top of their conference. The important thing is that we must improve all areas of our program annually to eventually reach our goal.

voice: Other than PC...who is your favorite to win the Big East this year? And nationally, what programs impress you the most?

Keno Davis: I agree with the preseason rankings that have given attention to Villanova and West Virginia. However, it will not surprise me for there to be a team from the middle of the pack to make a jump this year.

Chickenhead: I would reward Bilal and Greedy for working so hard in their redshirt year.

Keno Davis: Chicken Head, I will take that into consideration.

collegehoops: Coach I have heard great things about your coaching staff. With all the turnover in the industry to you see yourself being able to keep your staff in tact for the next 4-5 years?

Keno Davis: I think it is doubtful for me to be able to keep our staff together for that length of time. My staff has aspirations of being head coaches and I encourage them to look for those opportunities. Hopefully, they will stay intact until such an opportunity presents itself.

bigeastbooster: Coach: Do you think that PC will ever host their own tourney again which would draw "national" opponents (much like the bank-sponsored event when the Friars upset #1 Michigan)?

Keno Davis: If you have any contacts at Michigan or other powerhouses that you can influence to come to Providence for a weekend feel free to inquire about their interest.

Jeff99: What do you expect from the center position this year? Are Dixon, Permenter and Still ready for the challenge?

Keno Davis: Right now we have several inside players that feel they are ready for the challenge of the Big East. Fortunately, the Big East does not start for a couple months.

pc2010: Keno, last year the Big East as an entire conference was being heralded as a wrecking force coming into the season. Players left, players stayed, and players came. They first coaches poll for 2009-2010 has six teams in the top 25 from the BE. What do you think is the main difference in the conference this year? GO PC!

Keno Davis: I believe that although the conference may not be as strong at top there is more parity and more improvement from the second half than there has been in recent memory.

Mikedav92: How Does It feel To not have Weyinmi Or Geoff

Keno Davis: We will definitely miss the experience of last year's team, especially at the end of games. Hopefully, our young players will play with the confidence at the end of games as they do at the start.

coachjay: Hi coach, I have enjoyed working your summer camps since you've been at Providence and just wanted to say good luck on the season. I had one question. I recently moved to Boston and I'm looking forward to catching the team play at Northeastern on 12/1. I thinkn it is going to be a tough game and not too many people realize that. they have a very good team coming back... what do you think?

Keno Davis: I think you need to make sure you wear your Providence shirt to the game. I know we won't overlook a highly regarded, experienced Northeastern team.

yankeefriar: Coach, I know that you can not discuss specific players until they sign their letter of intent, that being said, are we still expecting three letters of intent to arrive next month?

Keno Davis: We are always hopeful to receive letters of intent. I can't say more as the NCAA is following this live chat!

gohardfriar: Coach, preseason polls aren't showing much love to the Friars because of the relative youth of the team and the loss of 5 seniors. Do you feel its an advantage to be under the radar and does it motivate the players to eclipse expectations?

Keno Davis: I think with a veteran team the disrespect card would be played more often. Our young players are just excited about seeing another team on the court after some intense preseason workouts and practices.

Sec 124: Coach Davis, are the student-athletes excited for an exhibition at Alumni Hall as the fans are? Are you showing clips from the halcyon days of the Hall?

Keno Davis: Around the country players are always excited about the tip off of the season. The anticipation of playing in Alumni Hall should increase the quality of the atmosphere surrounding an exhibition game.

Darrin: With almost half your roster comprised of freshman, which of the 7 freshman players are you expecting an immediate impact from?

Keno Davis: I am not expecting an immediate impact from anyone specifically but hoping for an impact from all seven as the season progresses. I will take one more question as we have reached 1 p.m.

redcollfan: coach keno what ideas do you have for a strong home court advantage?

Keno Davis: Our home court advantage is tied in to the size of our crowds and the noise that they can create. Our fans can have an impact when we having success on the court but also can help us during tough stretches. I think you will also enjoy watching our students this season as they impact the game. Thanks for everyone that joined us today.

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