2022-23 Providence College Hoops: AMPed for a Title Defense

CouchsideSteve

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That was a really disappointing loss at St. John’s. The fact that they lost on the road to a desperate and somewhat talented team is forgivable, but to dig themselves an 18-point deficit only to climb within 2 at the half, before relenting again felt like losing the game twice. The story was painfully simple: Shooting 24 of 72 doesn’t get it done in the Big East. Bynum and Locke were ice cold — those guys need to hit shots to create room for Hopkins and Carter to slash.

Big home tilt against Creighton on Tuesday to keep ourselves in the 5-6 seed convo, rather than the 8-9.
 

pdaj

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Hey, all ... something came up, and I'm not going to be able to make it to the game tomorrow night. I have two great seats available, for any Friars fans interested. Priced cheaply! Hit me up via PM.
 

CouchsideSteve

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Great bounce-back game, besting a *very* talented Creighton team in double-OT on Tuesday night. Bynum was off and Hopkins started slow, but Locke picked up the offensive slack, along with Carter who was tremendous on both ends. I also thought Cooley was an absolute maestro, swapping in Moore and Floyd for defensive purposes.

Big one tomorrow with Nova visiting the AMP. Though Nova has underperformed most of the season, they’re as talented as any Big East team aside from Creighton and playing better of late. A win helps solidify our chances of earning a 5/6 seed vs. an 8/9.
 

NoLastCall125

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Another good win. Even when the game was tight it felt PC was in control and was going to take this game.

As an aside - I have never seen the students behave like this on back to back nights. So many “fuck you ___” chants and the beer can tossing. Is this a new norm I missed memo from last week on or something? Really embarrassing.
 

moondog80

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Another good win. Even when the game was tight it felt PC was in control and was going to take this game.

As an aside - I have never seen the students behave like this on back to back nights. So many “fuck you ___” chants and the beer can tossing. Is this a new norm I missed memo from last week on or something? Really embarrassing.
Too bad because they do bring a great energy, but it's been getting worse for a while now, this (or worse) was inevitable. Would not be surprised to see an alcohol ban for the last two games at the AMP.
 

PC Drunken Friar

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Another good win. Even when the game was tight it felt PC was in control and was going to take this game.

As an aside - I have never seen the students behave like this on back to back nights. So many “fuck you ___” chants and the beer can tossing. Is this a new norm I missed memo from last week on or something? Really embarrassing.
We've come a long way since Buddy would chug Busch Lites with the students. Or someone throwing a dildo onto the court. Or a student spearing the Pitt mascot.
 

CouchsideSteve

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I think Cooley and Nap understand that they’ve caught lightning in a bottle with these crowds, so I would expect the Narragansett will continue to flow on game days, with tougher measures against the offending students.

Taking a step back, the home court advantage has been nothing short of incredible: 36-1 (!) over the past two seasons. In that span, the team has an overall record of 44-11. We‘ve been a mainstay in the Top 25 and aren‘t sweating the bubble — the debate is over seeding.

What Ed Cooley has built in Providence is nothing short of incredible.
 

CouchsideSteve

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Really disappointing second half meltdown at UConn, getting blown out over the last 15min. That said, it was a talented opponent in a hostile environment — not the end of the world. The kids bounced back nicely in a 20pt win at Georgetown yesterday. Even more impressive with Hopkins spending most of the first half on the bench due to foul trouble.

Consecutive home games to close out the regular season: Xavier on Wed night and Seton Hall at noon on Sat. We should be a slight favorite in the former, maybe a 6-7pt favorite in the latter. Win both to earn the #2 seed at MSG. Let’s go.
 

Mloaf71

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Even more importantly, 1-1 is necessary to avoid potentially an 8 seed in the NCAAs.

1-1 likely a 7, 2-0 a 6 heading to MSG?
 

shawnrbu

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Blown out at home by Seton Hall. This team is playing defense like a Keno Davis team. Probably need a win in the Big East tournament to not be worried about being in the First Four.
 

CouchsideSteve

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Blown out at home by Seton Hall. This team is playing defense like a Keno Davis team. Probably need a win in the Big East tournament to not be worried about being in the First Four.
Just an embarrassing effort on Saturday — I was flabbergasted. Worst home loss in the decade I’ve had season tickets. This was never going to be a elite offensive team, but the defense has/should play up with Carter and Croswell being outstanding man defenders. But they’re getting absolutely shredded on switches and the pick-and-roll, particularly when teams want to isolate Bynum. Cooley hinted at some changes to his rotation, which I imagine means starting Floyd for defensive purposes and playing fewer minutes with Bynum and Locke side by side.

I think shawnrbu has it right: A loss to UConn has PC ticketed to Dayton — which would have been a delightful outcome preseason, but feels bitterly disappointing relatively to where expectations were two weeks ago.
 

Mloaf71

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Rumors all over twitter and other message boards about Bynum checking out and a bad attitude.

Hope the adversity somehow wakes these guys up and brings them together.
 

CouchsideSteve

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It’s been an abrupt reversion to the talent baseline, I’m afraid. Bad shot selection and complete inability to get to the rim. UConn had a double digit lead and 90% win probability 9min into the game.

This year was the anti-Cooley team: Peaked in Jan, faded off the map in Feb and Mar.
 

Mloaf71

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Bryce Hopkins revenge tour starts Friday. If these guys can start playing like it’s January again they are on a path to MSG.

If they play like February and March they get run off the floor Friday.
 

Pablo's TB Lover

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Also Jacob Toppin finally plays PC for the first time since his freshman year in 2019 when with URI. I've been following Jacob and UK from afar since, and have to say PC should have a very good chance to win this game. Haven't been very impressed with Kentucky over the past few seasons.
 

Buck Showalter

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Also Jacob Toppin finally plays PC for the first time since his freshman year in 2019 when with URI. I've been following Jacob and UK from afar since, and have to say PC should have a very good chance to win this game. Haven't been very impressed with Kentucky over the past few seasons.
I think it was Jay Wright - during the selection show - that stated the winner of the PC-KU game could reach the Sweet 16.

Hopkins should have some motivation here and it would be good to see him play some 'hard-nosed' hoops.

Overall, I think he's kinda' soft and can understand why Calipari wasn't enamored with him once he wore Wildcat Blue as a Frosh.
 

Mloaf71

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With all the Cooley drama Friday is starting to feel like the 96 Super Bowl with Parcells!
 

HomeRunBaker

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With all the Cooley drama Friday is starting to feel like the 96 Super Bowl with Parcells!
Out of the loop. What’s the drama aside from the Georgetown talk or is that it? I’m not up there but has anyone been calling him out for refusing to take on Tyler Kolek not once but twice in two years after basically pleading with him to let him come to Providence?
 
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bsan34

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They have a really good draw so long as Cooley is using GTown for a raise and not actually gone. Think I read somewhere that Kentucky is 1-6 against top 20 offensive teams per kenpom (PC is 16). KSt is a weak 3 seed. And if we want to get really stupid, they’ve beaten Marquette this year and would get a hell of a crowd at the Garden.
 

Mloaf71

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Agree, they are the type of team UK has struggled against this year. Problem is if they play like they have in February and March they won’t beat anyone. They play like December and they will be playing at MSG.

As for Cooley, it’s the Gtown stuff. Lots of rumblings he is unhappy with the new AD and/or the NIL situation at PC. At the outset of it a couple months ago most insiders thought there was no chance he leaves, seems to be more 60% he stays, 40% he goes. Rumors are Gtown has thrown anywhere from $5.5M - $6M annually at him. He’s just under $4M at PC.
 

HomeRunBaker

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Agree, they are the type of team UK has struggled against this year. Problem is if they play like they have in February and March they won’t beat anyone. They play like December and they will be playing at MSG.

As for Cooley, it’s the Gtown stuff. Lots of rumblings he is unhappy with the new AD and/or the NIL situation at PC. At the outset of it a couple months ago most insiders thought there was no chance he leaves, seems to be more 60% he stays, 40% he goes. Rumors are Gtown has thrown anywhere from $5.5M - $6M annually at him. He’s just under $4M at PC.
Keep in mind that Eddie never went to school or worked outside of New England in his life. Stonehill (player), UMass-Dartmouth, Stonehill, URI, BC, Fairfield, PC.

Mid-life crisis?
 

moondog80

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Keep in mind that Eddie never went to school or worked outside of New England in his life. Stonehill (player), UMass-Dartmouth, Stonehill, URI, BC, Fairfield, PC.

Mid-life crisis?
I'll be sad to see him go if he does leave (and it feels real this time), but the program his successor would inherit is much, much better than the one Cooley got from Keno Davis.
 

HomeRunBaker

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I'll be sad to see him go if he does leave (and it feels real this time), but the program his successor would inherit is much, much better than the one Cooley got from Keno Davis.
I don’t think that matters much in todays environment as half (more?) of the team would simply enter the protocol rather than play for a new coach who didn’t recruit them as they would be getting bombarded with the re-recruitment phase. Look at what’s happening at Notre Dame? I think they are down to 4 scholarship players and no coach yet.
 

moondog80

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I don’t think that matters much in todays environment as half (more?) of the team would simply enter the protocol rather than play for a new coach who didn’t recruit them as they would be getting bombarded with the re-recruitment phase. Look at what’s happening at Notre Dame? I think they are down to 4 scholarship players and no coach yet.
Short term impact of the move aside, the facilities and commitment to the program from the school will make it much easier for Cooley's replacement to attract kids than Cooley2012.
 

HomeRunBaker

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Short term impact of the move aside, the facilities and commitment to the program from the school will make it much easier for Cooley's replacement to attract kids than Cooley2012.
Isn’t one of the reasons Cooley is alledgedly considering leaving due to the lack of NIL commitment within the program? Personally I think this is more Michigan stuff to restructure his deal, give him more power, etc and they are in a battle. These things sometimes don’t work out the way you plan though. Fingers crossed.
 

Pmoose82

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Short term impact of the move aside, the facilities and commitment to the program from the school will make it much easier for Cooley's replacement to attract kids than Cooley2012.
The other factor that makes me optimistic about life post-Cooley is that the Big East isn’t the same as it was in the Keno Davis days. As great as Cooley has been, I don’t think it’s a coincidence that PC started having more regular season success when they stopped having to play Louisville, Syracuse & Pitt twice a year.
 

Mloaf71

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Hopefully they have Billy Donovan on speed dial in case Cooley bolts. Bring the kid home.
 

CouchsideSteve

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I think Cooley is seriously considering Georgetown for both professional and lifestyle reasons. No inside info, just my read of the tea leaves.

He’s a phenomenal coach and I’m not sanguine about the program maintaining its current altitude if he were to leave. The current college president isn’t nearly as enthusiastic about sports as Father as Shanley was — and Steve Nap, as nice of a guy as he seems, doesn’t have his predecessor’s sway or cachet. I fear a milquetoast replacement or perhaps even elevating Jeff Battle.

But today is no day to fret. It’s Saint Patrick’s Day and I’m down in Greensboro for the game. Down with Kentucky!
 

pdaj

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Big opportunity lost vs. Kentucky -- that was a very winnable game. 5 of 24 from 3 wasn't going to get it done, though.

The last few weeks of the season were absolute dog shit. It's hard not to wonder if the Cooley-Georgetown rumors contributed. Ed leaving PC for an in-conference program is incomprehensible to me. I think he'll regret the decision over the long haul … and more short-term, every time he visits the AMP. There's no question that it would damage his legacy at the school.

Cooley's done a lot for the program, but if it wasn't for last year's Sweet 16 run, his tenure here would have been slightly disappointing. I'm hoping the Friars program has gotten to the point where, with a strong hire, they can continue to build what Cooley started. Ed was paid very, very well.
 

GB5

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Ed has done an incredible job at PC. Incredible. From when he started to know, they have made massive improvements.
Perennial top 20/25 program. Recruiting and beating the big boys. Crushing it in the transfer portal. Amazing home court advantage. Ton of energy around this program.
His loss would be a big blow.
 

Pepper03

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Please no thanks. Loved him when he was here he seemed like such a great guy.

PC started out looking like the best team in the Big East and just dropped off I don't know why. In the end these are college kids I hope they are all ok.

Ed Cooley leaving will be very hard for the team and the state. He is loved here and people believed him being a Providence kid who came home and made the Friars better on and off the court he would stay and make this program national contenders. His loss is going to be crushing if it does happen.

I know the Marquette kid wanted to transfer here and Cooley didn't make any effort. It's a small state so I know one of his coaches. Cooley wishes he could redo that one all he had to do was call the kid would have come here it was his dream. Sure would look good now.
 

moondog80

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Please no thanks. Loved him when he was here he seemed like such a great guy.

PC started out looking like the best team in the Big East and just dropped off I don't know why. In the end these are college kids I hope they are all ok.

Ed Cooley leaving will be very hard for the team and the state. He is loved here and people believed him being a Providence kid who came home and made the Friars better on and off the court he would stay and make this program national contenders. His loss is going to be crushing if it does happen.

I know the Marquette kid wanted to transfer here and Cooley didn't make any effort. It's a small state so I know one of his coaches. Cooley wishes he could redo that one all he had to do was call the kid would have come here it was his dream. Sure would look good now.
Lots of people missed on Kolek. It is what it is.

I'll be sad to see him but he's given 12 great years here, I won't begrudge him if he wants to see what he can do at a place with a few more resources. What scares me is the thought that perhaps he's looking at the recent changes with NIL and thinking that winning at PC is going to be harder than ever.
 

Pepper03

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Lots of people missed on Kolek. It is what it is.

I'll be sad to see him but he's given 12 great years here, I won't begrudge him if he wants to see what he can do at a place with a few more resources. What scares me is the thought that perhaps he's looking at the recent changes with NIL and thinking that winning at PC is going to be harder than ever.
I won't either. Agree on Kolek I mentioned it more because that's one of the few negative things I've heard about him from anyone around here. These NIL changes are going to have a big impact on programs like PC even more on smaller programs.

Ed Cooley will always be a Providence guy. I think most around here will understand if he leaves. Hard to fault someone getting an offer to good to refuse.
 

CouchsideSteve

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Cooley is well within his right to explore other opportunities, and if he wants to experience something new, I’d normally tip my cap to him. But his handling of the past few weeks has been a disservice to his players and the program he’s leaving behind — really unsavory stuff. Allowing rumors to fester was an enormous distraction. He was obviously entertaining overtures from a conference rival while leading a nationally ranked team. That shit happens all the time, and perhaps it was the Georgetown camp leaking, not Cooley’s. So when the questions come up, you lie: “I have a many years left on my contract at Providence College, which I just signed last spring — I intend to be here next year.” That simple statement would’ve taken so much air out of the rumor, and he could’ve just acknowledged a change in heart later. Instead, he outwardly winked at the rumor in front of his players.

He’s going to play the lifestyle card and bemoan that Providence fans are taking his decision too personally — that there should be nothing but love. Don’t fall for it. He torpedoed a season in pursuit of his own ambition. Fine. Business is business. But Providence fans, who created one of the best home court advantages in the country post-pandemic, should be in the business of booing Ed Cooley mercilessly when he returns as the coach of Georgetown.
 

bsan34

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I didn’t think Ed would actually give the statue up at this point in the game.

Let's assume Pitino is too far down the road with SJU. (The more I think about it, there’s no way Shanley lets him leave the room without a contract after Rick already left him at the altar once.) Who are we interested in calling? Chris Mack has come up around the Scout forum.
 

moondog80

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The pouring-you-hear-out interview yesterday was a mistake but beyond that, I'm not sure what Cooley could have done differently. When one party desperately wants to stay together, there's no good way to break up.
 

Mloaf71

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Cooley is well within his right to explore other opportunities, and if he wants to experience something new, I’d normally tip my cap to him. But his handling of the past few weeks has been a disservice to his players and the program he’s leaving behind — really unsavory stuff. Allowing rumors to fester was an enormous distraction. He was obviously entertaining overtures from a conference rival while leading a nationally ranked team. That shit happens all the time, and perhaps it was the Georgetown camp leaking, not Cooley’s. So when the questions come up, you lie: “I have a many years left on my contract at Providence College, which I just signed last spring — I intend to be here next year.” That simple statement would’ve taken so much air out of the rumor, and he could’ve just acknowledged a change in heart later. Instead, he outwardly winked at the rumor in front of his players.

He’s going to play the lifestyle card and bemoan that Providence fans are taking his decision too personally — that there should be nothing but love. Don’t fall for it. He torpedoed a season in pursuit of his own ambition. Fine. Business is business. But Providence fans, who created one of the best home court advantages in the country post-pandemic, should be in the business of booing Ed Cooley mercilessly when he returns as the coach of Georgetown.
This is exactly my sentiment. Go to Michigan or Texas, do I after the season. But in conference where the flirtation plays a role in tanking from January to March is unacceptable.

Rumors are Billy Donovan will at least have a conversation…One can dream.
 

PC Drunken Friar

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This is exactly my sentiment. Go to Michigan or Texas, do I after the season. But in conference where the flirtation plays a role in tanking from January to March is unacceptable.

Rumors are Billy Donovan will at least have a conversation…One can dream.
Not to mention there may be a correlation between these rumors and the team playing like shit the last 4-6 weeks (or whatever it has been).
 

NickEsasky

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Cooley has handled this whole situation about as poorly as possible. Part of me hopes they throw the bag at Pitino, while another part of me would rather see a young up and coming coach. The only problem with that is that we’re just a stepping stone school again.