2014 NCAA Tournament Profile: Providence Friars
By Joe Nardone
Mar 14, 2014; New York, NY, USA; Providence Friars head coach Ed Cooley coaches against the Seton Hall Pirates during the first half of a semifinal game of the Big East college basketball tournament at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Providence Friars
Record: (23-11, 10-8 Big East)
RPI: 43
BPI: 46
Conference: Big East
How They Qualified: Automatic (Won Big East Tourney)
Talk about getting red hot at the right time. The Providence Friars always had the talent, but it just took them a little bit longer to get the talent translating into some on the court consistency.
Led by the Kemba Walker-like, Bryce Cotton, Providence might be the hottest team in the country right now. Outside of losing to Creighton in the regular season finale, the Friars next previous loss was in the middle of February.
It just seems like as Ed Cooley gets thinner, the Friars get better.
What You Need to Know
Leading Scorer: Bryce Cotton (21.4 ppg)
Leading Rebounder: LaDontae Henton (7.8 rpg)
Leading Passer: Bryce Cotton(5.8 apg)
Bad Losses: Maryland
Good Wins: Creighton (twice), St. John’s (Twice)
What to Expect
The world? Well, at the very least for Providence to be a competitive team as long as they are in the Big Dance. It also depends on which version of the Friars shows up. If it is the one we saw in the Big East Tournament, the sky is the limit. Unfortunately for their fanbase, if it is the team that lost four out of five in early February, the floor is the limit.
Regardless, the Friars are going dancing in the NCAA Tournament!