The Providence College Friars men's basketball team represents Providence College in NCAA Division I competition. They were a founding member of the original Big East Conference from 1979 until 2013, and are now a member of the current Big East Conference. They play their home games at the Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence, Rhode Island.
The Friars have made two Final Four appearances in the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament, in 1973 and 1987. Four former players or coachesDave Gavitt, John Thompson, Rick Pitino, and Lenny Wilkensare enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. In addition, two-time NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament champion, current Chicago Bulls head coach Billy Donovan, helped lead the Friars (as a player) to the Final Four in 1987.
Providence Friars basketball can be traced back to 1921, when the four-year-old school fielded its first basketball team on an informal basis. This first team only lasted two years, however, and did not return until the 1926âÂÂ27 season when Archie Golembeski, the school's football coach, led to the team to a win over St. John's before devoting his time to football the next year. He was replaced by Al McClellan, who coached the team to four New England championships â 1929, 1930, 1932, and 1935 â and had an overall winning percentage over .700. In 1938, McClellan left and was replaced by Ed Crotty, who led the team to a 15âÂÂ5 record in 1942âÂÂ43 before the team suspended play the next year after the outbreak of World War II. After the war, the NCAA divided its teams into two divisions, the University Division and the College Division; with a smaller enrollment and no home court (the team played in an on-campus auditorium and then local high school gyms), the Friars were placed into the College Division and no longer faced the opponents they once played.
In 1949, Vin Cuddy was hired as the team's head coach, leading the team to a 14âÂÂ9 record in his first season and qualified for the NAIB regional tournament in 1951, behind the school's first 1,000-point scorer, Jim Schlimm. By 1955, Cuddy's record fell to 9âÂÂ12 and he was replaced by Joe Mullaney; at the same time, the school opened its first on-campus gym, Alumni Hall. In 1959, Mullaney and the Friars defeated ranked Villanova on the road, leading to their first-ever National Invitational Tournament bid.
The Friars reached the NIT Finals in 1960 with future hall-of-famer Lenny Wilkens being named MVP in his senior season before winning the tournament in 1961 behind Vin Ernst, John Egan, and Jim Hadnot. Two years later (1963), led by another future hall of famer, John Thompson, as well as future Boston Mayor Ray Flynn, the Friars won their second NIT title. With a 24âÂÂ2 record in 1964âÂÂ65, the number four ranked Friars reached the Elite Eight of the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament. In 1966âÂÂ67, Jimmy Walker led the nation in scoring and became the school's first 2,000-point scorer as well as the first New England player selected first overall in the NBA draft. That season also marked the last in Mullaney's run of nine consecutive 20-win seasons. Two years later, Mullaney was hired as the head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers of the NBA.
Following Mullaney's departure, Dave Gavitt, an assistant under Mullaney who then became head coach at Dartmouth, took over as the Friars' head coach in 1969. In his second year, Gavitt began a string of eight consecutive 20-win seasons. For the 1972âÂÂ73 season, the team began playing in downtown Providence at the brand-new 12,000-seat arena, the Providence Civic Center (renamed the Dunkin' Donuts Center in 2001). That season was the Friars' best to date; led by Ernie DiGregorio and the troubled center Marvin Barnes, the team went on a 17-team game winning streak that ended in a Final Four loss to Memphis State. The next year, the Friars posted a 28âÂÂ4 record and made their second straight Sweet Sixteen appearance. The team continued its top-flight status with back-to-back 20-win seasons in 1976âÂÂ77 and 1977âÂÂ78, earning NCAA tournament bids each year, one coming after defeating top-ranked Michigan in 1976. After a 10âÂÂ16 season in 1978âÂÂ79, Gavitt left Providence to become the first commissioner of the Providence-based Big East Conference. He finished his 10-year career at Providence with a 209âÂÂ84 (.713) record.
After spending the first six decades of their existence as an independent, the Friars joined the Big East in its inaugural season, 1979âÂÂ80. The conference originally consisted of Providence, Boston College, Georgetown, St. John's, Seton Hall, Syracuse, and Connecticut. New head coach Gary Walters led the team to an 11âÂÂ16 record in 1979âÂÂ80, and was replaced by Mullaney in 1981. His next stint with the Friars would not be as successful, and consisted of only one winning season (1983âÂÂ84, behind Otis Thorpe) against three losing.
In 1985, New York Knicks assistant coach Rick Pitino was hired as the latest Friars head coach. In his first season the Friars compiled a 17âÂÂ14 record and made their first NIT appearance in a decade. The next year, 1986âÂÂ87, the Friars posted a 25âÂÂ9 record behind Billy Donovan and made their second-ever Final Four appearance in the 1987 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament. After losing to Syracuse, Pitino left the school and re-joined the Knicks as their head coach in 1987. The Friars have not returned to the Final Four since Pitino's departure.
In 1987âÂÂ88, the Friars posted a losing record under new head coach Gordie Chiesa, who was replaced by Rick Barnes after the season. Behind Barnes and 2,000-point scorer Eric Murdock, the Friars made back-to-back NCAA tournament appearances in 1989 and 1990, as well as an NIT bid in 1991. Following Murdock's departure and a losing season in 1991âÂÂ92, the team had an NIT semifinal appearance in 1993 and an NCAA tournament appearance in 1994, while also capturing the school's first Big East Tournament title. Following back-to-back 20-win seasons, Barnes left to become the head coach at Clemson in 1994. He was replaced by Pete Gillen. Led by Eric Williams, the Friars made consecutive NIT appearances in 1995 and 1996. In 1996âÂÂ97, the Friars posted a 24âÂÂ12 record, led by Austin Croshere and Jamel Thomas. After defeating Duke in the 1997 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament, the Friars reached the Elite Eight before losing, in overtime, to eventual champion Arizona. Following a losing season in 1997âÂÂ98, Gillen departed to become the head coach at Virginia.
Gillen was replaced by Iona head coach Tim Welsh in 1998. Led by Thomas, the Friars made an NIT bid in 1999. The team returned to the NCAA tournament two years later, posting a 21âÂÂ10 record behind John Linehan. While the Friars posted a losing record in Linehan's senior season in 2001âÂÂ02, the guard broke Allen Iverson's single-season Big East steals record of 67 as well as Murdock's NCAA career steals record of 377. Led by Ryan Gomes, the Friars returned to the NIT with an 18âÂÂ14 record in 2002âÂÂ03 and made another NCAA appearance in 2003âÂÂ04 with a 20âÂÂ9 record. However, Welsh's next four teams, without Gomes after 2004âÂÂ05, recorded one winning season, and Welsh was fired following the 2007âÂÂ08 season.
In 2008, the Friars hired Drake head coach Keno Davis, who won the National Coach of the Year Award in his first and only season as Drake's head coach. Davis' team posted a 19âÂÂ14 record, including a win at home over top-ranked Pittsburgh, in 2008âÂÂ09 en route to an NIT appearance. In 2009âÂÂ10, Davis' team lost their final 11 games to finish 15th in the Big East. The Friars averaged 82 points per game, the fourth highest in Division I, while also surrendering 85 points per conference game, the worst statistical performance in Big East history. In Davis' third season, 2010âÂÂ11, the Friars finished 14th in the conference despite having Division I's second-leading scorer in Marshon Brooks. Davis was fired after the 2010âÂÂ11 season.
On March 22, 2011, the Friars hired Fairfield head coach Ed Cooley, as the 15th head coach in program history. A Providence native, Cooley brought a reinvigorated energy surrounding the program and recruited six consensus Top 100 recruits in his first three years.
In his first season at Providence, Cooley led the Friars to a 15âÂÂ17 mark overall, posting an 11âÂÂ3 mark (8âÂÂ0 at home) in non-conference action and going 4âÂÂ14 in the Big East. That season, point guard Vincent Council was named All-Big East Third Team and forward LaDontae Henton earned Big East All-Rookie Team accolades.
In his second season, Cooley led the Friars to a 19âÂÂ15 record overall and a 9âÂÂ9 mark in league play. Included in the 9âÂÂ9 Big East record in 2012âÂÂ13 was a 7âÂÂ2 mark over the last nine games of the conference season, marking the second best turnaround over second half of the season in Big East history. The Friars played the season with a short roster with transfers Carson Desrosier and Tyler Harris having to sit out the year per NCAA transfer rules, five star Freshman shooting guard and Providence native Ricky Ledo sitting our per NCAA eligibility issues, and five star Freshman point guard Kris Dunn sitting out the first semester with a shoulder injury. Friars Freshman guard Josh Fortune, was the only incoming player in 2012âÂÂ2013 season eligible to compete. Cooley guided the Friars to the NIT where the squad posted a 2âÂÂ1 record, beating Charlotte and Robert Morris before losing in the quarterfinals to eventual NIT Champion Baylor. That season, combo guard Bryce Cotton was named All-Big East First Team and Kadeem Batts was recognized as a co-winner of the league's Most Improved Award and earned All-Big East Honorable Mention accolades. After spending one year at Providence without being able to play, Ledo declared for the 2013 NBA Draft and was drafted by the Minnesota Timberwolves, eventually being traded to the Dallas Mavericks.
In his third season at Providence, Cooley led the Friars to a 10âÂÂ8 mark in the Big East Conference and finished tied for 3rd with Xavier and St. John's. Transfers, Junior forward Carson Desrosiers and Sophomore forward Tyler Harris, were eligible to play their first season in black and white, having sat out the NCAA-enforced one-year period. However, in addition to former Senior point guard Vincent Council's graduation and Ricky Ledo entering the draft, Sophomore point guard Kris Dunn faced another shoulder injury and had to sit out almost the entire year as a medical redshirt, Cleveland State transfer Sophomore guard Junior Lamomba had to sit out the NCAA-enforced one-year period, and incoming Freshmen Brandon Austin and Rodney Bullock were suspended for the entire season due to an unspecified violation of team rules. The Friars finished the season at 23âÂÂ12 overall, the most wins in a season since 1996âÂÂ1997. Two players received regular season honors, Senior point guard Bryce Cotton was named All-Big East First Team and Senior forward Kadeem Batts earned All-Big East Second Team accolades. Entering the Big East Tournament, the Friars played as the 4th seed due to losing the tie-breaker with Xavier. They defeated St. John's in the Quarterfinals, Seton Hall in the semifinals, and Creighton in the thrilling final at Madison Square Garden, claiming PC's second tournament title in Big East history. By winning the Big East Tournament the team earned an automatic bid, removing any "bubble" fears. On their way to making history as the first tournament champion of the reconfigured league, Junior forward Ladontae Henton was named to the All-Tournament Team and Senior guard Bryce Cotton was named the tournaments Most Outstanding Player. On selection Sunday, the Friars were given the 11th seed in the 2014 NCAA tournament East Regional and faced the UNC. The Friars lost 77âÂÂ79, but en route Bryce Cotton scored a career high 36 points, making him the 4th all-time leading scorer in Providence College basketball history. Despite the loss, the season marked yet another major step forward by Ed Cooley & Co. in rebuilding the PC basketball program.
After a disappointing campaign the previous season marred by a COVID-19 shortened schedule and no fans, Ed Cooley led the Friars to their first regular season championship in Big East History with an overall record of 24âÂÂ4 and 14âÂÂ3 within the conference. The Friars clinched the title at home in front of a sold out Dunkin Donuts Center crowd. The Friars spent most of this season ranked in the AP and Coaches top 25 Polls reaching as high as 8/9 on Feb 14, 2022.
The Friars finished their season with a 13âÂÂ7 record in Big East play and a 21âÂÂ12 record overall, including a loss to UConn in the Big East tournament quarterfinals and a First Round loss to the University of Kentucky in the NCAA tournament. On March 20, 2023, Coach Cooley resigned as head coach at Providence to become the head coach at Georgetown University. Cooley's decision to leave Providence prompted intense backlash from students and fans that was described in a lawsuit by a former employee of the school's athletic department as "racially charged, abusive and intrusive." The school denied those charges.
On March 23, 2023, Providence hired George Mason University head coach Kim English as the 16th head coach in program history. On March 13, 2026, after 3 seasons without an appearance in the NCAA tournament, English was fired.
On March 22, 2026, Providence announced that University of South Florida head coach Bryan Hodgson would be the school's new head coach.
The Friars have appeared in the NCAA tournament 22 times. Their combined record is 17âÂÂ23.
The Friars have appeared in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) 20 times. Their combined record is 32âÂÂ21. They are two-time NIT Champions (1961, 1963).
The Friars have appeared in the NAIA tournament once. Their record is 0âÂÂ1.
The Friars played on campus at Alumni Hall from 1955 until 1972. Alumni Hall seated approximately 2,600 fans from 1955 until its renovation in 2012, and now seats approximately 1,850 fans. The team has played at the Amica Mutual Pavilion since its construction in 1972. It is an indoor arena located in downtown Providence, and seats approximately 12,410 fans for basketball games.
In December 2005, the Rhode Island Convention Center Authority purchased the building from the city of Providence and spent $80 million on an extensive renovation, which connected it to the convention center and a nearby luxury hotel. Renovations also included a new Jumbotron, luxury suites, HVAC chiller, upgraded concessions, concourse updates, new seating bowl and other amenities.
The two smallest schools in the original Big East, Providence and the Villanova Wildcats, currently battle at least twice each year during conference play. The two teams first met on February 15, 1936, resulting in a 46âÂÂ37 Friars victory. Villanova leads the all-time series, 67-42 since 1949-1950. The rivalry is elevated by the Catholic orders which run the schools; Providence's Dominicans and Villanova's Augustinians.
These two New England former Big East rivals now reside in separate conferences, but they still meet occasionally during non-conference play and met in the first round of the 2024 NIT tournament.
The only two New England schools in the Big East for its final eight seasons fought for local bragging rights until the 2013 season, when Providence and 6 other teams in the "Catholic 7" broke away to form the new Big East and UConn remained in the now-called American Athletic Conference. UConn joined the new Big East 2020, renewing the rivalry.
The Friars and Rams have met 134 times since the 1933âÂÂ34 college basketball season. The Ocean State Rivalry game is usually played in December, and the venue alternates between the Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence in odd-numbered years and the Ryan Center on the campus of the University of Rhode Island in Kingston in even-numbered years. Providence leads the series 78âÂÂ59.