2017 Big East Tournament: 6 Players To Watch For

Kyron Cartwright

Cartwright was a solid role player for Providence last season. He took a backseat to Kris Dunn, who was selected fifth overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 2016 NBA Draft. With Dunn moving on, Cartwright took over as the starting point guard and has been excellent.

Cartwright’s stats have improved across the board with the added responsibility and playing time. The most impressive improvement may be in his offensive efficiency. He has improved to 41.4 percent shooting after making only 36.3 percent last season and 38 percent as a freshman. He has improved his three-point shooting and free throw shooting as well.

That has made him an even better playmaker as teams have to respect his ability to score the ball. It has resulted in Cartwright handing out 6.8 assists per game, registering five games with double-digit assists; his 6.8 assists per game leads the Big East. He also averages 1.1 steals per game.

Cartwright and the Friars come into the tournament playing great basketball. They are riding a six-game winning streak, picking up a victory at Madison Square Garden in their season finale against St. John’s. If they continue that strong play, Cartwright will be a driving force behind it.