Big East Player to Watch: Vincent Council (Providence)

Kim Klement-US PRESSWIRE

Kris Dunn is hurt and Ricky Ledo is just a partial qualifier, meaning he can’t play in games. But Providence still has Vincent CouncilLaDontae Henton, and Bryce Cotton.

Though Henton and Cotton help form a very talented trio, Council is Ed Cooley’s go-to player. The senior averaged 15.9 points and 7.5 assists per game in 2011-12, and for a guard, he rebounds very well — 4.1 per game. And if you want a real eye-popping statistic, Council played 38.7 minutes per game, once clocking every single minute of an overtime loss to West Virginia.

So even though he turned the ball over 3.5 times per game and shot below 40 percent from the floor, Council, with the ability to carry his team, was indisputably the Friars’ most valuable player last year. That should remain the same in 2012-13.

Things could get interesting when Dunn returns to the lineup, especially if one of the class of 2012′s top point guards is fully recovered from shoulder surgery. In high school, Dunn was characterized as a combo guard, so he and Council can switch off at the one and two. Both players will benefit from splitting ball handling duties, as both are prone to risky passes.

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