By BRENDAN McGAIR

Sports writer

PROVIDENCE — Brian McKenzie admits there were times last season when he was unsure of what he could contribute when Keno Davis called his number. The hesitation befuddled McKenzie, Davis, and Providence College fans alike, all parties expecting far more than the nightmarish campaign the Brooklyn native endured.
Now a senior, McKenzie vows not to repeat the sagging slump that plagued him throughout last winter. After struggling to find steady footing at PC for three seasons, McKenzie views the upcoming campaign as a chance for atonement while at the same time serving as an integral piece on a Friar team that’s expected to lean heavily on young and untested players.
“You take 10 steps forward and 15 steps back, that’s how last season felt to me,” said McKenzie last week inside Alumni Hall. “I worked hard over the summer and I’m looking forward to having a great season.”
McKenzie’s primary motivation to make amends stems from several fronts. Davis labeled him the star of the preseason workouts going into last November, the second-year Friar coach recalling that there were sessions McKenzie was torrid with his shooting. The 21-year-old credited that to a summer of routinely hoisting jump shots.
Instead of a carryover, McKenzie stumbled. He followed up the 12-point effort he had in the season-opener against Northeastern with a woeful 3-of-25 stretch from 3-point land. The rough patch didn’t come without a price as Davis removed McKenzie from the starting lineup seven games in, a move that looking back made him try too hard to solve what was hampering him.

“I was so high at one point [going into the season], then I just lost my confidence. It was kind of hard trying to find it,” explained McKenzie, who saw his scoring average dip from 10.9 points as a sophomore to 4.6 while his shooting from downtown plummeted from 41 percent to 27. “It took me a whole year of trying to get adjusted to Keno’s ways.”
Things only grew worse for McKenzie as the season wore on. He went a 30-game stretch without even sniffing double figures before churning out a season-best 13 points in Providence’s loss to Miami in the NIT. The eight games leading to the date with the Hurricanes served arguably as McKenzie’s most arduous stretch in Black & White, one that saw him manage just four field goals and go scoreless on five occasions.
“It was a tough season for Brian,” said Davis matter-of-factly. “I know he would have liked to put up better numbers, but he’s the kind of kid who takes things to heart and will learn from last year.”
Davis wasn’t as much down on McKenzie’s shooting, a trait lauded as his strong suit when recruited by former PC coach Tim Welsh. What Davis stressed upon McKenzie was that there lurk plenty of areas where the 6-foot-4 guard could register an impact and help the Friars’ cause.
“What hurt him in the games when he wasn’t shooting well was that the rest of his game didn’t hold up,” said Davis. “You can’t have your shooting bring on your defense and rebounding. When you have those other things to fall back on, then there’s not as much pressure on the nights when you’re not shooting as well.”
McKenzie admits the travails of last year simply hardened his resolve, not question whether he still possessed long-range prowess. He once again put himself through a rigorous mid-summer regimen, which included working out with a personal trainer based in Chicago to flying out to Los Angeles. It’s in the City of Angels McKenzie, in between family reunions, scrimmaged with some members of Ben Howland’s UCLA team.
“My shot feels fine,” said McKenzie.
A year ago McKenzie felt at ease blending in on a senior-laden collection of Providence cagers. With Jeff Xavier, Weyinmi Efejuku and the rest of the departed Friars having left town, McKenzie knows he can no longer hide on a team calling out for guidance and direction. That’s fine, for serving as a de facto mentor, along with fifth-year senior Sharaud Curry, is a responsibility the product out of Xaverian (N.Y.) High has willingly embraced.
“With the seniors being here, it kind of made me become laid back a little bit. I’m not going to lie about that,” said McKenzie. “Having all these new guys, especially the freshmen, look up to me is definitely going to motivate me to step my game up even more. I want to be more of a vocal leader.”
McKenzie paused a moment when asked if PC followers have seen the best of him since arriving on campus in 2006. “They have in spurts and flashes, but I still think that my ability and my game can grow. I’ve only been playing since 10th grade in high school, which is the first summer I played AAU. Being a guard from New York City and to make it to the Big East, it’s been crazy.”  
McKenzie beamed with positive vibes when the subject turned to assessing the newcomers and the heights Providence can potentially climb this winter. Numerous preseason publications have harped on PC’s inexperience and how it’s a recipe for trouble for a team residing in such a high-profile conference. All McKenzie sees is a crutch he along with the rest Friars are eager to kick out.
“We have enough veterans and enough talent in terms of the new guys that we can make a lot of noise this year.”