PROVIDENCE — Even after 11 games, the Friars continue to search for their true identity.

Some nights, they try to outscore opponents. Others they hope to play some lock-down defense. On still others, as many as four different players hold down the point-guard responsibility.

Yesterday was yet another example. The Friars played without Shared Curry, who is back in a mobilization boot for the next week, at a minimum. The team’s primary ball handler, Dwain Williams, was hobbling with an Achilles heel injury and struggling against Florida State’s pressure defense. That meant the point-guard duties shifted from Geoff McDermott to Weyinmi Efejuku to Jeff Xavier, from one moment to the next.

“It’s an adjustment but we’re all working on taking care of the ball,” said Efejuku, who had just one turnover in 33 minutes and continues to shine in his sixth-man role. “I think [Curry] is coming back in a week or two. We’ll be all right.”

It’s unclear if Efejuku’s optimism is warranted or not. What Tim Welsh needs to do is focus on getting his team ready for the Big East, with or without Curry. He’s clearly waited long enough and with only one more tune-up left on the schedule (Dec. 31 vs. St. Peter’s), time is short.

“We have to see who we’re playing and what type of defense we’re playing against,” Welsh said in response to a question about how the Friars run their offense. “With Randall [Hanke] back in the equation, that’s solidified us a little bit more up front. We still have to find a little more power down there at the defensive end and rebounding the ball, but we’re going to play against a lot of defenses like we played against tonight.

“When we play against Marquette, it’s the same type of defense [as Florida State]. They’re going to get up in your chest and try to rip your heart out every time you touch the ball. We have to keep working on hard cuts and spacing but we’ll also use Geoff at the point just to relieve pressure from our guards.”

Playing without a true point guard is a major challenge for the Friars and will be a potentially fatal flaw in some games. But the players are clearly getting used to changing on the fly, doing what it takes from one game to the next.

Hall of Famers announced

PC announced the newest additions to its athletic Hall of Fame and the 14-member class includes several big names in school history. The basketball representatives are Michael Smith from the men and Mary Burke and Britt King from the women.

Smith is one of the greatest basketball big men the school has ever produced. He’s the only player to win three straight Big East rebounding crowns and is just the fourth Friar to record more than 1,000 points and rebounds. In his three seasons, Smith averaged 11.8 points and 11.0 rebounds before moving on to the NBA.

Burke, now the women’s coach at Bryant University, is the school’s fourth-leading scorer with 1,672 points. King is the sixth-leading scorer and all-time leading rebounder. Among other athletes in the class are baseball’s Lou Merloni, hockey’s Cammi Granato, field hockey’s Cathy Gruden and Olympic distance runner Amy Rudolph. The class will be honored at halftime of the Feb. 16 game against Louisville.

DiGregorio, Barnes honored

One highlight of the day for the season-high crowd of 9,069 was a timeout interview with Ernie DiGregorio and Marvin Barnes. The two were introduced and thanked the fans for their long-time support and excitement over the upcoming retirement of their jerseys on March 8. PC will hold a dinner honoring the two greats, as well as Jimmy Walker, the night before.

Barnes is always quick with a line and he thanked PC faculty for assisting him toward graduation and also pushed PC to also retire Kevin Stacom’s jersey “before he dies.”

kmcnamar@projo.com