By BRENDAN MCGAIR
Sports Writer

PROVIDENCE — Before Keno Davis was introduced by athletic director Bob Driscoll and school president Rev. Brian J. Shanley to an enthusiastic crowd gathered at Alumni Hall, Davis met with the Friar players he stands to inherit for roughly 30 minutes.
The formal introductions was apparently more than enough time for Jeff Xavier, who knows a thing or two about meet-and-greets with coaches, to mold a glowing opinion.
“National coach of the year, so something has to be right,” said the Pawtucket native with a smile. “I’m glad we got the right guy.”
Davis becomes the third college coach Xavier suits up for. The former St. Raphael begun at Manhattan with current Seton Hall coach Bobby Gonzalez before transferring to PC and playing in what turned out to be Tim Welsh’s swan song at the helm.
Xavier had deep-rooted attachments to his previous coaches. Gonzalez instilled the importance of playing hard-nosed defense. Welsh gave Xavier the chance to come home and fulfill his childhood dream of becoming a Friar.
While Xavier wishes he wasn’t as well-versed in the coaching carousal, he’s already enamored with the one-for-all style Davis rode to an NCAA Tournament berth in his one season as Drake’s head coach.
“It’s going to be tough, but at the same time it’s going to be a great adjustment,” said Xavier. “[Davis’] teams are tough; they shoot a lot of threes, which I like.”   
The “right guy” comes on the heels of PC getting rejection notices from Jim Larranaga and Travis Ford in recent weeks.  While getting turned down was a bitter pill for everyone associated on Smith Hill to swallow, Xavier believed in his heart of hearts the right fit would eventually come along.
Not to say being regarded as basketball orphans since March 15 – the day Welsh was dismissed after 10 seasons – has been easy to deal with. Driscoll helped relieve some of the uneasiness by keeping the players abreast of where the coaching search was taking him, something Xavier appreciated.
“It’s been tough, but all of us stuck together,” said Xavier, who led the Friars in scoring (12.4 ppg) this past season. “[Driscoll] told us to stand behind him and that’s exactly what we did.
“We trusted him the whole way and knew he could get it done.”

Hanging around?

Driscoll publicly thanked Allen Griffin and Kevin Kurbac for overseeing the players in the weeks Providence was coachless.
The loyalty Griffin (assistant) and Kurbac (director of operations) showed in wake of Welsh’s firing was what touched Driscoll the most. “They both could have taken their pay and moved on, but they both willingly stayed on to work with the players,” said Driscoll.
“I cared about the players a lot and wanted to make sure they have the best experience they can have,” said Griffin.  
Griffin and Kurbac’s contracts run out in June. Driscoll plans to discuss with Davis the possibility of retaining both, but holds no promises.
“We’re going to provide them the opportunity to talk to the new coach,” said Driscoll. “We’re going to help them land on their feet.”
“Hopefully I can stick around. I love this place,” said Griffin. “Bob has been a real good mentor to me and an unbelievable person.” 

Keno’s one regret

Davis will at last get to address the Drake players upon flying back to Des Moines this morning.   
It’s something he admits he’s not looking forward to, especially since the news won’t be fresh to the Bulldogs.
“Before I had been offered the [PC] job, it was announced that I had taken it, which wasn’t the truth,” said Davis. “My phone was ringing off the hook, but I didn’t answer it. I had the assistants rely information on how I exactly felt about the players.
“I will try to apologize the way the situation went so at least they know what I was thinking. They knew there was a possibility of me leaving. They might not have known Providence or the timing of it, but I know they will be successful without me.”