CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) RESOURCE CENTER Read More
Add To Favorites

For Brown basketball, the wait to take the court again was longer than most; Here's 4 takeaways from their Saturday scrimmage

Providence Journal - 10/16/2021

PROVIDENCE — Exactly who were these guys going up and down the Pizzitola Center floor on Saturday morning?

It's been a while since we've seen the Brown men's basketball team in action. Folks will almost certainly need a roster to keep up with a group of Bears who've been in hibernation since the close of the 2019-20 season.

More: Bill Koch's 5 early impressions as URI holds open practice

The Ivy League opted not to sponsor sports during the last academic year, prioritizing the public health response to the COVID-19 pandemic. That left Mike Martin with an agonizing wait to coach arguably his best team during his ninth season at his alma mater. Brown officially returns with a Nov. 9 matchup against Salve Regina before jumping into the deep end at North Carolina.

"There's so much we have to improve upon, but we have some really good new talent," Martin said. "We have some great returning players. I'm really excited about what we can be."

The holdovers and the newcomers matched up on two teams — Brown held on for a 73-64 victory over White. Here are four observations from two halves of entertaining action.

Jaylan Gainey was held out due to a right hamstring injury. He sat on the bench with a wrap around his upper leg, watching his teammates get back to work without him.

Gainey will be the focal point of the Bears' defense, an eraser at the rim thanks to his 6-foot-9 frame and leaping ability. He was the Ivy League Defensive Player of the Year in 2019-20 while averaging a blocked shot every nine minutes he played.

More: Providence College Friars take to the court at Alumni Hall with annual Black and White scrimmage

"We want to be really cautious," Martin said. "We don't want to have any kind of setbacks. We anticipate he'll be more than ready for November."

Nana Owusu-Anane and Malachi Ndur filled in for Gainey at the forward spots. Both could claim backup roles as freshmen, but at least 25 minutes per night from Gainey will be required for Brown to reach its ceiling.

Paxson Wojcik will be a major factor immediately. The transfer from Loyola Chicago led all scorers with 26 points, going 9-for-14 from the field. Wojcik was the top perimeter option for the victorious Brown team.

"He's disciplined, he's tough and he's really skilled," Martin said. "He's going to really help us."

Wojcik left the Ramblers after head coach Porter Moser accepted a job offer from Oklahoma. The left-hander played bench minutes for a program that reached the Sweet 16 of last year's NCAA Tournament and is the son of Michigan State assistant coach Doug Wojcik. His pedigree should be an immediate fit among a veteran Bears rotation.

Tamenang Choh is in fantastic shape. Brown's graduate student and leader looks well-prepared for a fifth season on campus. Choh collected 19 points, six rebounds and two steals for the winning Brown team.

"We're going to lean on our veterans," Martin said. "We've got a grad student. We've got three seniors with experience. We want our young guys to continue to gain confidence and get more and more comfortable."

Choh was one of seven players in the game to log more than 30 minutes, and his durability will be key for the Bears. He topped 79% of available minutes played in both 2018-19 and 2019-20.

Aside from Wojcik, who among Brown's guards will step forward?

The Bears are a bit green in the backcourt when compared to their veterans up front. Dan Friday and Perry Cowan are the familiar names among the returners. Former Moses Brown star Noah Meren finished 5-for-11 from the floor and is eligible after his transfer from Division III Skidmore.

Kimo Ferrari played 28 minutes and profiles as a backup point guard. Josh Watts flashed some athleticism with a pair of blocked shots — no small number for a 6-foot-4 shooter.

"We've got a team full of guys who can guard all over the court," Martin said. "We should be a great rebounding team. If we can take care of the ball and shoot it well, I think we can be really good."

bkoch@providencejournal.com

On Twitter: @BillKoch25

©2021 www.providencejournal.com. Visit providencejournal.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.