2000-01 record: 21-10; 11-5 in Big East (2nd in East) Final Ranking: NR Postseason: Lost to Penn State 69-59 first round of NCAA Tournament. RETURNING LEADERS Points: Mills 10.9 ppg | Rebounds: Douthit 4.0 rpg | Assists: Linehan 3.9 apg | FG %: Douthit 48.3% | 3pt %: Linehan 41.7% | FT %: Laksa 88.2% 00-01 Stats: Providence | Big East

		Monday, Oct. 29 The Friars must increase breakneck defensive pressure (if that is possible) led by conference defensive player of the year, John Linehan. Following the loss of 6-foot-8 Erin Maxey and 7-foot Karim Shabazz inside, the Friars must rely less on the 3-pointer and find some complimentary inside punch to free shooters.

Outlook
The Friars will go as far as their backcourt will take them. Good thing for Providence that guard John Linehan is accustomed to taking.

The 5-foot-9 Linehan, a senior who is the Big East's reigning leader in steals, and 6-3 junior Abdul Mills return from a team that went 21-10 last season -- one year after an 11-19 finish. That's the good news. The bad news is that leading scorer Erron Maxey and leading rebounder and shotblocker Karim Shabazz aren't back. Then again, this wasn't a team that relied on any one or two players last season (and if it did, the one player was Linehan).

Friars coach Tim Welsh built his team around depth, chemistry and unselfish play. Look at the Big East individual leaders from last season. Providence breaks into the top 10 in only a few categories (steals and free-throw percentage, by Linehan; and blocks, by Shabazz). The Friars spread the statistics around, and most of those recipients are back this season, including 6-7 junior Romuald Augustin (9.2 ppg), who started at small forward, and key reserves Maris Laksa (9.0 ppg, 3.2 rpg), Christopher Anrin (5.8 ppg), Sheiku Kabba (4.6 ppg) and Marcus Douthit (5.4 ppg, 4.0 rpg).

Laksa and Douthit, especially, ought to see increased roles this season, possibly as the starting replacements for Maxey and Shabazz.

What we like: Linehan is the peskiest defender in the country, bar none, and as long as he's around, the Providence defense will be nasty. And nasty defense will win a lot of games.

What we don't like: Then again, nasty offense will lose a lot of games, too. The Friars had better develop some consistent scorers.

The bottom line: The Friars could find themselves on the NCAA bubble in March. And even if they don't get in, Linehan and company probably will pop a few bubbles of their own along the way.

Key Players Returning
Player	Yr.	Pos.	Ht./Wt.	Comment
John Linehan	Sr.	G	5-9/165	PTS: 10.7 | REB: 2.4 | AST: 3.9
Abdul Mills	Jr.	G	6-3/190	PTS: 10.9 | REB: 3.0 | AST: 2.9
Romuald Augustin	Jr.	F	6-7/205	PTS: 9.2 | REB: 2.7 | AST: 1.7
Maris Laksa	So.	G	6-9/212	PTS: 9.0 | REB: 3.2 | AST: 1.2

Key Losses
Player	Pos.	Ht./Wt.	Comment
Karim Shabazz	C	7-2/230	PTS: 8.9 | REB: 7.4 | AST: 1.6
Erron Maxey	F	6-6/220	PTS: 11.4 | REB: 6.4 | AST: 0.7

Providence Signings
Player	Pos.	Ht.	High School/College
Rob Sanders	F	6-6	New London/St. Thomas More (Ct.)
Garnett Thompson	F	6-9	Islip/Suffolk CC (N.Y.)
Tuukka Kotti	F	6-9	Forssa, Finland
Ryan Gomes	F	6-8	Wilby/Fitchburg-ND (Ma.)