Providence point guard Vincent Council of Brooklyn never has made the game about him, never paid much attention to who was getting all the love. Point guards, he believes, are measured by wins.
And the surprising Friars are winning.
They bring an 11-2 record and a seven-game win streak into tonight’s Big East Conference opener against St. John’s at Carnesecca Arena. Council told The Post he believes this is his team, he is its leader and the Friars have not gotten nearly the respect they deserve.
“I’d rather be playing in the Garden,’’ said Council. ‘‘Carnesecca is a nice gym, but it’s not the Garden. We’re 11-2. We deserve more respect.’’
The same can be said for Council, although he’s reluctant to say it himself.
When he teamed with Lance Stephenson at legendary Lincoln High, Council was fine with his shooting guard getting all the publicity as long as the Railsplitters won.
When he got to Providence, the only Big East school to actively recruit him, Council was fine learning the Big East behind Sharaud Curry and last season setting up Marshon Brooks.
Now he is the lead guard in a troika of guards the Red Storm (6-5) will have to find a way to slow. Council, who plays the second most minutes of any player in the league, is averaging 16.9 points and 6.9 assists.
Many of those assists go to Bryce Cotton (15.7 points) and Gerard Coleman (15.8). First-year coach Ed Cooley said Council is as fast as any point guard in the league rim to rim.
So what if the Red Storm try to press him 94 feet? What if they assign freshman Phil Greene or D’Angelo Harrison to check him one-on-one in the backcourt?
“I don’t think so,’’ said Council. “I think that will help us. We want to speed up the game. We want a fast tempo.’’
The first league game always is important, but Council said he believes the Friars have more to gain. They are the road team, the ones that will dress in the cold cinder-block locker room in the bowels of Carnesecca.
The Red Storm have a nice, new locker room in Taffner Fieldhouse. The Red Storm freshmen — Greene, Harrison and Moe Harkless of Queens — have been remarkably confident, but the “Second Season’’ is about to begin.
“Freshmen are always confident,’’ said Council. “But this is their first taste of Big East play. It’s going to be more physical than anything they’ve experienced. The refs will let us play.
“That’s an advantage for us,’’ he added. “We’ve been through it. We’re 11-2 and a win will make people take notice. It’s not about me. It’s about us.’’