by Andrew Vines ’29 on February 5, 2026

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Sports Shorts

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Men’s Basketball 

On Jan. 30 the Friars traveled to Villanova University to take on the Wildcats in a Friday night Big East matchup. Corey Floyd Jr. ’26 joined the injury report before the game bringing the number up to five inactive for the Friars. Stefan Vaaks ’29 was the game’s leading scorer, totaling 25 points and going 5–11 from beyond the arc. The Friars’ defense could not stop Villanova’s 3-point shooting as the Wildcats went 13–29 from three on the way to an 87–73 victory. The team is now last in the Big East with a conference record of 2–9 and 9–13 overall. DePaul University comes to town on Feb. 7 for a late afternoon tip. 

Men’s Ice Hockey 

The men’s ice hockey team came into the week ranked No. 9. They traveled to Alfond Sports Arena to take on the No. 17 ranked University of Maine Black Bears on Jan. 17. The Friars went down 1–0 early, but tied it up soon after with a goal from Alex Rybakov ’29. At the end of the first period the Friars trailed 2–1. There was no further scoring until Andrew Centrella ’27 tied it up with 5.6 seconds to go to force overtime for the Friars. In overtime, Logan Sawyer ’28 called game for the second time in two weeks to extend the Friars’ winning streak to seven. The Friars are one of the hottest teams in the country now at 16–7–2 atop the Hockey East. They will visit the University of New Hampshire on Feb. 6 and host the University of Vermont on Feb. 7. 

Women’s Ice Hockey 

The women’s ice hockey team traveled to the University of Vermont this weekend to take on the Catamounts for two games. The Friars won on Friday night, Jan. 30, 4–1. Molly Farace ’29 scored the lone goal in the first period. After allowing a goal, the Friars closed out the game on a 3–0 advantage with goals from Hannah Clarke ’28, Kiara Kraft ’27, and Megane Quirion ’26. On Saturday, Jan. 31, the Friars completed the sweep with a 3–2 victory. Audrey Knapp ’27 scored a power play goal, and Reichen Kirchmair ’26 and Emma Hofbauer ’28 tallied the other two. Their record is now 9–17–2. They will take on the University of Connecticut and Merrimack College on Feb. 6 and 7. 

Men’s Lacrosse 

The men’s lacrosse team traveled to the College of the Holy Cross on Saturday, Jan. 31 to open their season against the Crusaders. This game was moved indoors to the St. Ignatius Indoor Practice Facility due to the weather. After a 5–5 first quarter the Friars outscored the Crusaders 10–5 to close out the game and win 15–10. Rhett Chambers ’27 and Jay Wilkerson ’28 both scored four goals. Chambers also had two assists. Pennsylvania State University transfer Matt Lazzaro ’27 had a hat trick. Big East Pre-Season Offensive Player of the year Richie Joseph ’26 scored two goals. The Friars’ home opener is Saturday, Feb. 7 when they look to go 2–0 against the Bryant Bulldogs. 

by Dorothée Durivage ’28 on January 22, 2026

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Sports Shorts

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Women’s Basketball

Our Providence College women’s basketball team’s first game of the week was at home on Sunday, Jan. 11 during which the Friars lost 85–55 to Villanova University. On Wednesday, Jan. 14, they traveled to Indianapolis for a game against Butler University where the Friars fell to the Bulldogs 62–52. For their return on the home court on Saturday, Jan. 17, the Friars won 80–77 against Creighton University. It was a good week for Providence’s Sabou Gueye ’26G who scored six points on Sunday, 22 points on Wednesday, and 22 points on Saturday. The Friars’ next game is on Tuesday, Jan. 20 away at Seton Hall University.

Men’s Basketball

The Providence College men’s basketball team played at Amica Mutual Pavillion twice this week. On Tuesday, Jan. 13, the Friars lost 88–82 to Villanova University. The Friars ended this week with a 93–88 win over Creighton University on Friday, Jan. 16. This brought the team’s record to 9–9 overall and 2–5 in the Big East. Stefan Vaaks ’29 was the only player to score over 20 points for each game with 21 points on Tuesday and 24 on Friday. Another top scorer was Jamier Jones ’29 with 24 and 18 points. On Monday, Jan. 19, the team will travel to Milwaukee for a game against Marquette University. 

Men’s Ice Hockey

This week, the Providence College men’s hockey team played against Boston College. On Friday, Jan. 16, the Friars traveled to Chestnut Hill for an overtime win of 4–3. On Saturday, Jan. 17, the Friars played in Schneider Arena and won 4–3. This completed their sweep of the Eagles for the first time since 2002. This weekend brings the Friars’ record to 13–7–2 overall and 8–3–1 in Hockey East. Logan Sawyer ’28 secured the Friars the win with his overtime goal on Friday and scored the final point on Saturday as well. The Friars’ next game is on Friday, Jan. 23 against Boston University.

Women’s Ice Hockey

The Providence College women’s hockey team traveled to Chestnut Hill on Friday, Jan. 16 for a game against Boston College. The Friars lost to the Eagles 8–2, bringing their record to 7–14–2 overall and 4–8–2 in Hockey East. The first goal was scored by Sarah Davies ’26, assisted by Audrey Knapp ’27 and Cristina Cavaliere ’26. The last goal was scored by Jessie Pellerin ’28, assisted by Peyton Blaney ’27 and Kiara Kraft ’27. This game brought Knapp and Pellerin’s points to 23 for the season. The Friars’ next game is Monday, Jan. 19 at Yale University.

by Flagg Taylor ’27 on November 20, 2025

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Sports

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The Providence College basketball program has never had a Big East Freshman of the Year winner for themselves. This year, No. 7 Stefan Vaaks ’29 is in a good position to make a real impact for the Friars and is set to become one of the top freshmen in the conference. Vaaks stands at 6’7” and weighs in at 205 pounds. From Estonia, Vaaks played for BC Kalev in the professional Latvia-Estonia Basketball League. In the regular season he averaged 15 points per game, 3.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.5 steals. Vaaks and BC Kalev also went to the ’24 Fiba Europe Cup where he averaged 14.8 points per game, 3.0 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.2 steals. 

In the first week of the season, Vaaks performed excellently. Against Holy Cross, he tallied 19 points, one rebound, two assists, and two steals in just 20 minutes. Vaaks was 5/9 from the field and a perfect 6/6 at the line. In a tough loss to Virginia Tech, Vaaks recorded 17 points, three rebounds, and one block. Vaaks was 5/13 from the field and, once again, perfect at the stripe going 3/3. At the end of regulation, Vaak’s game-winning three attempt went in and out of the basket again in a heartbreaking miss. 

Vaaks was awarded Big East Freshman of the Week for the first week of the season, averaging 18 points per game, two rebounds, one assist, one block, and one steal. As Vaaks improves as the season continues, the Friars may very well have their first ever Big East Freshman of the Year.

There are many other talented freshmen all around the Big East this season, including Providence’s Jamier Jones ’29, UConn’s Braylon Mullins and Eric Riebe, St. John’s Kelvin Odih, and Butler’s Efeosa Oliogu. The non-Friar that sticks out the most is Villanova’s No. 55 freshman Acaden Lewis. Lewis is a 6’2”, 180-pound guard from Washington D.C. with loads of talent. Kevin Willard will be relying on this talent heavily during the first season of  his tenure as Villanova University’s head coach. Lewis will play a huge role for the team, which gives him an easy platform to display his immense talent, making him a favorite to win Big East Freshman of the Year. 

Lewis played his senior season with the Sidewell Friends School in D.C. During his senior season, he put up 12.6 points per game, 3.9 assists per game, 4.1 rebounds per game, and 1.7 steals per game. 247Sports ranked him as the No. 48 overall player nationally in the 24/25 class and ranked him as the No. 5 point guard in the class. Lewis was rated a 94 overall four-star player by 247Sports, a top tier floor general from his class. 

In Villanova’s season opener against No. 8 Brigham Young University, Lewis struggled. He played 22 minutes, only scoring five points and recording just two rebounds and three assists. Lewis shot 1/4 from the three-point line and 1/6 total from the field. Villanova fell 66–71 in a close loss to BYU in their first game. However, in the second game of the season, Lewis bounced right back. Willard did not lose any trust in his star freshman, playing him for 34 minutes. Lewis did not disappoint, recording 21 points, four rebounds, four assists, and three steals. Lewis shot a much-improved 9/13 from the field. This game was much more emblematic of Lewis’s potential for stardom on Villanova this season. Watch out for him to continue balling out and being a real favorite to win Big East Freshman of the Year. Looking at the upcoming season of Big East play, both Vaaks and Lewis seem likely to become the Big East Freshman of the Year.

by Connor Whalen ‘28 on October 9, 2025

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Sports

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If you paid attention to Kim English’s upgrades to his team this offseason, you are already fully aware of the excitement this year in Friartown. If not, this article will help familiarize you with this year’s team, as I will lay out what I predict to be the team’s rotation to start the year.

Jason Edwards ’G26 and Jaylin Sellers ’G26 are guaranteed to feature in the backcourt together as the two most dynamic scoring threats on English’s roster. Edwards should see the most field goal attempts on the team, able to create his own looks and shoot off the dribble. Sellers is a capable secondary scoring option and should alleviate some of Edwards’ offensive responsibility. Corey Floyd Jr. ’26 is another expected starter and, as the only returning senior on the team, his leadership and experience will be crucial on and off the court. Floyd will serve as another primary ball-handler and should get open looks from behind the arc with defenses focused heavily on Edwards and Sellers. This backcourt is outrageously explosive and athletic, and, on the defensive end, will be a tough matchup for opposing offenses. 

Duncan Powell ’G26 looks suited to slide into the Friars’ power forward role. At 6’8” and 240 pounds, Powell gives the team another rebounder and a physical defender. He should serve as the third scoring option for the team, mostly cashing in on catch-and-shoot looks and post-up situations. Next to Powell, sophomore returnee Oswin Erhunmwunse ’28 looks set to round out the starting five at the center position. Standing at 6”10’ and weighing in at 235 pounds, he showed promise in his freshman year as a rebounder and shot-blocker. With one year of experience under his belt, and seemingly having put on some muscle, Erhunmwunse’s development could be crucial to this team’s success on defense. 

Jamier Jones ’29 will receive significant minutes from day one; the freshman is one of the most exciting prospects to ever commit to PC, and his athleticism and raw talent gives English a burst of energy off the bench. He could even start for this team by March if all the hype around him truly was real. Stefan Vaaks ’29 is another intriguing freshman set to come off the bench to begin the season. Scouts and analysts have praised English’s move to bring in Vaaks, a potential hidden gem from Estonia. He is a three-level scorer and an able ball-handler, and his background as a pro in Europe makes him NCAA ready off the bat. Daquan Davis ’28 is a gifted playmaker and rugged defender off the bench. He provides backup to Sellers and Edwards as a ball-handler and should get solid minutes. Ryan Mela ’27 returns, giving English the perfect depth option at the small forward /power forward position. Mela displayed impressive playmaking and rebounding skills in his freshman season, offering this team a unique skillset off the bench. Lastly, Cole Hargrove ’26 provides cover for Erhunmwunse at the center position. Measuring at 6’8” and 245 pounds, Hargrove is certain to play tough defense and give the Friars an energy boost off the bench. 

As a result of Jones’ arrival as one of the top recruits in PC history—and all the noise surrounding it—Jaylen Harrell’s ’29 commitment naturally, but undeservedly, lived in its shadow. Harrell is an exceptionally well-rounded player, averaging 22.1 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 7.2 assists per game in his senior year of high school. The two-time Massachusetts player of the year can score anywhere on the court, whether in the post, off the dribble, or on catch-and-shoot looks. As of right now, the Friars have a really deep team loaded with tons of talent, and I have Harrell getting little to no minutes to start the year. I do not expect that to remain true by the end of the year, as I truly expect the freshman to earn himself meaningful, regular minutes. Richard Barron ’28 returns and adds wing depth as a capable shooter on the bench. Peteris Pinnis ’29, a 7’0” force from Latvia, is another center option, and a huge body that could see bench minutes if Erhunmwunse and Hargrove get in early foul trouble. Much of his game still looks somewhat raw, but as a freshman,with his size, he could certainly carve out a bench role and be an important player in future years. Nilivan Daniels ’28 returns after making last year’s team as a walk-on, and the always-smiling campus favorite’s presence adds a hard-working, energetic guard to the end of the rotation. Lastly, Jack Williams ’G26, a transfer from UCLA that managed their team, gives the team a veteran presence and smart basketball mind. 

These are only my predictions, and it remains to be seen how English will line his team up to start the year. The rotation will also change throughout the year, as many of the players have yet to see NCAA action and remain somewhat unknown. At any rate, this team is very athletic and will be fun to watch, and is genuinely poised to compete for a spot in the NCAA tournament in March.

by Sarah Wolff ’28 on October 2, 2025

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Sports

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The 2025–26 season will mark a revival in Providence College athletics as they have officially reinstated the men’s golf program as an NCAA Division I varsity sport. The Friars had a golf team from 1960–2002 until the sport was dropped, along with other men’s programs, due to Title IX compliance. In revamping the men’s program, Providence is simultaneously creating a women’s varsity golf team. The revived men’s team is operating on a non-scholarship basis, and it is a way to strengthen the school’s overall competitiveness in the Big East and the expansion of all kinds of student athletes. The head coach of the new program is Lou Parente, who was officially named in October of 2024. Parente’s roster could be seen as relatively young or new to this level of competitiveness; however, that can be very promising. He has time to bring up his roster and build on it. The incoming class, announced in July 2025, includes three freshmen, three juniors, and two graduate students. The first graduate student is Logan Jaeger ’25, ’26G, who graduated from PC last year and was on the club golf team. In April 2024, he became a co-individual champion of the National Collegiate Club Golf Association, and in December 2024, he was a part of the team that won the National Collegiate Club Golf Invitational Championship. Jaeger will bring lots of experience and guidance to his team. The second graduate student is Kevin Legnard ’25, ’26G, who was also a part of the team that won the NCCGA Invitational, as well as the president of the Providence club golf team. The freshmen to look out for are Will Spring ’29, Callan Fahey ’29, and Liam O’Grady ’29. Finally, the juniors on the team, Joe Halferty ’27, Evan Buddenhagen ’27, and Campbell Skelly ’27, do bring prior competitive experience that should help the Friars stand out.

Although this is the first time in over 20 years that the program has been active, Providence has wasted no time getting some fall tournaments under its belt. Their first tournament was the Sacred Heart Fall Classic, where they placed No. 8 out of 13 teams. Then, just two weeks later, the Friars had already made great strides as they placed No. 6 out of 15 teams at the Ryan T. Lee Memorial Collegiate Tournament. Up next for them includes the UConn Invitational (Sept. 28–30) in Hampden, MA, the Bash in the Boro (Oct.  13–14) in Statesboro, GA, and the Crusader Invitational (Oct. 20–21) at Worcester Country Club. Reestablishing a varsity program from the ground up is—in just one word—tough. The team must build its chemistry and cohesion, be able to compete at a consistently high level, and with that, have the confidence to perform under pressure. There is no denying that the program entered with a strong momentum. The club team had huge success, including a national championship in 2024, and as that preceded the varsity switch, there is automatically an established team of culture and competitiveness. After more than two decades of inactivity, the Friars are teeing off once again, and expectations and intrigue for this team have not fallen short.

by Flagg Taylor ’27 on September 18, 2025

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Athlete of the Week

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Roger McQueen ’29

On June 27, Roger McQueen ’29 was drafted tenth overall by the Anaheim Ducks in the NHL draft. Entering his freshman season for the Friars, McQueen is the first top 10 draft pick in the program’s history, and only the sixth first round pick in program history. Standing tall at six feet six inches, McQueen will play center and wear the number 29. Weighing just around 200 pounds, his size makes this righty center an imposing and dominant presence on the ice. McQueen joins the Friars among many other freshman and transfer signings after an impressive recruiting offseason by coach Nate Leaman and his staff. However, McQueen stands out from the rest as a historic signing for Leaman and Friars hockey. 

McQueen was born on Oct. 2, 2006 and grew up in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, a town in central Canada. McQueen was raised in a hockey household and looked up to his father, Scott McQueen, a former hockey player. At the age of two, McQueen began skating at the local river rink in his hometown. At the age of four he picked up a hockey stick and began playing at the river rink, honing his skills to eventually become an NHL star. 

At an impressively young age of 15, McQueen signed with the Brandon Wheat Kings in 2021. The Wheat Kings play in the Western Hockey League, a junior hockey league with teams based in Western Canada and the Northwestern United States. The WHL is one of three leagues that make up the Canadian Hockey League, the highest level of junior hockey in Canada. McQueen’s father Scott also played in the WHL. McQueen’s admiration for his father made playing in the WHL one of his first major goals. During McQueen’s rookie season in 2022–23, he scored four goals and 10 assists. McQueen’s breakout was the 2023–24 season where he recorded a staggering 21 goals and 30 assists in 53 regular season games. After an injury at the tail end of the season, he returned to lead his team in scoring in the playoffs with four goals. In McQueen’s last season with the Wheat Kings (2024–25), he scored four goals in the debut of the season. He continued on with 11 goals and assists before having a season ending injury after only eight games. 

McQueen has been selected to represent Canadian Hockey on multiple occasions. McQueen won a gold medal in the 2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup where he scored four goals and recorded three assists in five games. McQueen also won gold with Canada a second time, representing his country in the 2024 U18 world championship. McQueen’s stellar young career was guaranteed to be noticed by coaches in all NCAA division one and NHL locker rooms. McQueen was slotted in at No. 8 in the pre-NHL draft NHL Central Scouting final rankings. McQueen is scary fast on skates while standing at 6’6” with an enormous wingspan. His impressive physical attributes combined with his passing and playmaking allow him to control the game with ease and composure. He is an electric talent to watch. 

Every student at the school should be excited to see McQueen play hockey this season. He will join the team with former Wheat Kings teammate, Quinn Mantei ’29. McQueen also played with Hudson Malinoski ’27 in the 2021–22 season with the Saskatoon Blazers. The hype around McQueen is well deserved and he will make an immediate impact on the roster and on the ice. Although McQueen is expected to sign with the Anaheim Ducks directly following the 2025–26 season, in one year’s time McQueen could very well leave his mark as one of the greatest Friars to play hockey at Providence College.

by The Cowl Editor on October 7, 2021

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A&E - Music

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Providence College’s Pep Band Rallies Once Again

The Group’s Triumphant Return to Schneider Arena

Jack Downey ’23

The past weekend was an absolutely wild time at Providence College. From the festivities held for the class of 2020 to the arrival of many parents for the weekend, the last few days were vibrant and exciting. One major event that had many people in good spirits was the first men’s hockey game of the season. Facing off against Army in Schneider Arena, the line to get in stretched as far as the eye could see. Light up cups were handed out for a lightshow between periods. And, of course, the pep band returned.

This was particularly exciting because of the lack of action the pep band experienced last year. Thanks to the pandemic, there were few publicly attended sports games, meaning that the pep band did not get many chances to shine, only playing once or twice during the spring semester. However, with Schneider being open to spectators once again, the pep band took their spots in the stands as people began filing in.

Helmed by long-standing leader Jeff Hoyer and newly-minted student conductor Joe Genest ’22, the band played a few tunes as people took their seats, and a sense of anticipation grew. After a while, the pregame practice concluded. The pep band proceeded to blast a lively take of the classic “When The Saints Go Marching In.” No other tune could have felt like such a fitting beginning to the hockey season. The atmosphere in the arena was full of joy.

Soon the game started and within a minute the Friars scored, taking an early lead. In response, the pep band played some upbeat anthems, such as Taylor Swift’s “Shake it Off.” Genest dutifully conducted the band, occasionally also playing guitar. Hoyer also played along with the band, alternating between trombone and keys. Throughout the rest of the game, the band continued to provide an excellent backing track to the proceedings as the men’s hockey team won, destroying Army 7-0. 

While this game was certainly a memorable one for PC’s men’s ice hockey team, it perhaps had even more significance for many of the musicians in the pep band. Current sophomores were able to truly experience the electric atmosphere that permeates Schneider Arena, something that they had missed last year. Learning so many songs only to not showcase them to anyone was undoubtedly a frustrating experience, so it must have been exhilarating to finally get the chance to play them at last weekend’s game. This game also reminded people why the pep band is such an important part of PC’s campus. Without them, so much of the excitement that comes with attending PC athletic contests would be lost.

There are many more games to come this season, and it will be great to hear the sounds of the pep band at them. Perhaps even more exciting is the prospect of returning to the Dunkin’ Donuts Center for basketball games, especially for the younger members of the pep band who have not experienced this yet.

by on March 18, 2021

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Sports

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Big Teams Hope to Correct the Course After Big East Tournament

By Luke Sweeney ’24

Sports Staff

The 2020-2021 NCAA basketball season has been one to remember, for all the wrong reasons. Having to adapt to the many new rules and regulations in place because of the COVID-19 pandemic, teams of every conference had a lot more to deal with than the regular stresses of an NCAA season.

Coach Ed Cooley and the Providence College Friars had a less than satisfying end to the regular season after finishing 13-13 and failing to make the NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Tournament. Getting a favorable matchup in the first round of the Big East tournament looked like a blessing for the Friars, but they were unable to capitalize as they lost to a 5-14 DePaul University Demons. In extremely rare form, coach Cooley stormed off the floor without addressing either team after this embarrassing loss, officially ending the Friars’ season.

With the 2021 March Madness Selection Sunday happening this past week, the NCAA granted four teams from the Big East a spot in the big dance. Villanova University finished the Big East tournament with a 16-6 record on the year after a loss on March 11 to a storied Georgetown University Hoyas, coached by the legendary New York Knick, Patrick Ewing. Villanova has played the month of March so far without their star point guard, Collin Gillespie, who had a season-ending knee injury.

The Wildcats have looked to other leaders on the team to carry Gillespie’s load, such as senior Jermaine Samuels Jr., who the team will continue to give bigger roles during the NCAA tournament. Villanova received a No. 5 seed and looks forward to playing the No. 12 seed Winthrop University Eagles in the first round on March 19.

Creighton University represents the Big East in the western side of the bracket at the No. 5 seed and is lined up to face off against University of California, Santa Barbara on March 20. Many are deeming this a trap game for the favored Bluejays as UCSB is hot off a Big West championship win over University of California, Irvine last Saturday. Santa Barbara finished the regular season 22-4 and were led by 6-foot-4-inch senior guard JaQuori McLaughlin, who put up 22 points against Irvine.

This could be a potential upset due to Creighton coming off a devastating loss to Georgetown in the Big East championship last weekend. Hopefully their lack of momentum will not lead to the loss of their season in the first round of the tournament.

The biggest story coming out of the Big East this week is Georgetown, who defied the odds by beating a favored 20-8 Creighton team at Madison Square Garden. The Hoyas had a less than perfect season before the Big East tournament, finishing 12-12 and landing at the bottom half of the Big East rankings. Their miraculous run at MSG was headed by Coach Patrick Ewing. The No. 12 seed Hoyas will have a tough road ahead of them in the tournament, starting with No. 5 seed Colorado University on March 20.

The fourth team invited to the NCAA tournament from the Big East this year is the University of Connecticut, headed by sophomore James Bouknight who had been injured for almost half of the regular season. With Bouknight looking healthy heading into the first round of the tournament, the Huskies hope to dominate the University of Maryland in all aspects of the game on March 20.

Each team’s guards match up well against each other, so we should be expecting a deep-ranged shootout to decide the winner.

While it was not the dominating Big East that we are used to seeing this year, Villanova, Creighton, UConn, and Georgetown hope to make their mark on the 2020-2021 NCAA basketball season by advancing into the later rounds of the big dance. Both at the No. 5 seed, Villanova and Creighton are two teams to watch out for.

 

by The Cowl Editor on November 7, 2019

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Sports

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by Meaghan Cahill ’20

Sports Coeditor

The issue as to whether or not college athletes should get paid has been a heavily debated topic in both the sports and academic worlds. On Oct. 29, the NCAA started the process that will answer the question once and for all.

The NCAA’s top governing board voted unanimously to permit the 460,000 students participating in collegiate athletics the opportunity “to benefit from the use of their name, image, and likeness in a manner consistent with the collegiate model.”

This decision comes just weeks after the NCAA called California’s Senate Bill 206 “Fair Pay for Play Act”—which calls for student-athlete compensation and representation from both state and private universities—“unconstitutional” and an “existential threat.”

On the initial motions to put this new rule into effect on college campuses across the country, NCAA President Mark Emmert said, “The board’s action…creates a path to enhance opportunities for student-athletes while ensuring they compete against students and not professionals.”

Adamant that the student-athletes are not to become employees of the schools at which they play, the NCAA’s new rule only allows student-athletes to enter into contracts for merchandise and endorsements; they are in no way allowed to be paid for their athletic performance in efforts to keep up with the amateur aspect of college athletics.

However, it can be argued that despite the attempts made by the NCAA, all amateur aspects of play have been wiped off of the table with an alarming force, and, while the intent is to enhance the student-athlete experience, the new law will become nothing more than a hinderance on their collegiate career.

To expand upon Emmert’s words, student-athletes will be competing against professionals. Typically, the athletes that big-name companies look to endorse and create merchandised gear for are the ones who they believe have the best shot at a professional career. No longer will athletes be looked at as amateurs, but, rather, the ones who are able to attract deals off of their name, image, and likeness will be singled out more so than they most likely would have been prior to an endorsement deal.

Due to this professional mentality that will naturally arise, the experience of the student-athlete is put at risk because the pressure on them to perform well will only be intensified. While they may not be making deals based on their actual play, it is their playing skills that will get them recognized by any type of company. There is a great risk for high levels of stress amongst student-athletes because now, not only will they have to perform well for the team to win, but they will have the added pressure of performing exceptionally well each game so that they do not lose whatever endorsement deals they may have struck.

While much of the law still has to take a clear, definitive shape, there are already too many issues that can (and will) arise with its implementation. Instead of conforming to California’s Senate Bill, the NCAA should maintain their initial response and look to protect all of their student-athletes from the dangers that this new law can impose on them.

 

by The Cowl Editor on March 21, 2019

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Sports

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The Cowl’s Sport Staff Has The Tar Heels Upsetting Rival Duke

by Jack Belanger ’21

Sports Coeditor

Members of the sports staff came together to create The Cowl’s Second Annual March Madness Bracket. Thanks to Cam Smith ’21, who gave his analysis for the South Region, Scott Jarosz ’21 for the East Region, and Sullivan Burgess ’20 for the West Region, and to everyone for helping make the picks. I took on analyzing the Midwest Region, Semifinals, and Finals.

South Region:

The South Region features the University of Virginia as the top dog, and the Cavaliers will be looking for revenge following last year’s disastrous first round loss to the University of Maryland Baltimore County. Also in the South is the University of Wisconsin and Purdue University, two veteran squads poised to make deep runs. The Boilermakers will in fact ride star shooting guard Carsen Edwards all the way to the Final Four, as they will knock off top-seeded Virginia in the Elite Eight. This minor upset may very well be overshadowed by the two major ones set to take place in the first round. The University of California Irvine, coming into the tournament scorching hot and on a 16-game win streak, will take down Kansas State University, a team that will likely be without All-Big 12 forward Dean Wade. Not to be outdone, the Colgate University Raiders out of the Patriot League will stun the University of Tennessee, an upset that is sure to bust brackets across the country.

East Region:

The East Region features some very intriguing matchups, as well as numerous potential upsets. One such matchup that could be interesting is the University of Maryland versus  Belmont University. Coming off an 80-71 win over Temple in its First Four game, Belmont is a team that should not be taken lightly. The Bruins boast a record of 27-5 and could very well upset Maryland in the first round. Another East Region matchup worth watching is LSU vs. Yale. Yale has played well as the underdog in the past, beating #5 seed Baylor in a first-round game back in 2016. If Yale can upset LSU, it can very well take down Belmont and advance to the Sweet 16. Although Yale could make a run in the East, it is hard to see them upsetting Michigan State. For the matchup in the East Region Final, we have Michigan State and Duke. Given that Zion Williamson is back and fully healthy, it is hard to see Duke being stopped by anyone in the East.

West Region:

In the West Region of the March Madness Bracket, Buffalo University, the sixth seed, will find their way into the final four facing against the #1 Duke University. Buffalo finished first in the MAC East at an overall record of 31-3 and are highly favored this year to even win it all. Syracuse University will also find a spark that usually occurs when they enter the March Madness tournament and will make a run until they face Buffalo in the Elite Eight. One highly anticipated matchup is Marquette University and Murray State; while Murray State may have the best player in college basketball, Marquette has the better team that will defeat Murray State, but will lose to the ACC Championship runner-up Florida State University. Lastly, Michigan University, who has been hot all season, will come to face Buffalo in the Sweet 16, yet Buffalo will find themselves favored to make their way to the Final Four.

Midwest Region:

With the likes of the Universities of North Carolina, Kansas, and Kentucky, the Midwest Region is full of blue-blood programs that know how to make deep runs into the Final Four. Out of the three programs, the Tar Heels have the easiest road to the Final Four and are one of the most balanced teams in the country. After winning their first game, Kentucky is going to fall to a red-hot Seton Hall University team, who took Villanova to the final seconds of the Big East Finals and had a chance to win the game at the buzzer. A potential first-round upset to look out for is Ohio State University over Iowa State University. The Buckeyes played in a much tougher conference this year, while Iowa States’s defense has been questionable. Also, first-year head coach Chris Holtmann had plenty of experience in the tournament when he coached for Xavier University.

Semifinals:

Syracuse will force the Blue Devils to shoot the three, which will keep the game close early, but Duke has simply too many weapons to be stopped in the second half. Once Duke begins to build a lead, Syracuse is going to have a tough time keeping up to make shots.

The other Semifinal game will feature a back and forth game between two teams who can score in a variety of ways. While Edwards will do everything he can to keep Purdue in the game, the Tar Heels will dominate inside the paint which will prove to be the difference, sending UNC to the finals.

Finals:

Duke may be the favorite to win it all, but UNC has been their kryptonite this season. The Tar Heels have beaten the Blue Devils twice during the regular season and played tough in the ACC finals. The Tar Heels have enough size inside to match up with Williamson and slow down Barrett and Reddish on the outside. Do not be surprised when you see UNC win their second title in three years.