Tag: Men’s Basketball
Sports Shorts Week of Nov. 8-Nov. 21
by The Cowl Editor on November 21, 2019
Sports
By Joseph Quirk ’23
Sports Staff
Men’s Basketball:
The Providence College Men’s Basketball Team had an up-and-down week. On Wednesday, November 13, the Friars fell to the Northwestern University Wildcats 63-72. PC struggled in all aspects of the game in the loss, but were particularly bad on offense where, at times, it appeared they could not even buy a bucket. The Friar’s leading scorer was Alpha Diallo ’20, who recorded his third double-double (15 points, 14 rebounds), but he only shot 6-21 from the field. PC turned things around, however, as they followed that loss with a win at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center on Saturday, November 16, where they beat Saint Peter’s University 68-47. This was a return to form for PC. The leading scorer for the Friars was David Duke ’22, who dropped 17 points in addition to six assists and two steals. The Friars went on to defeat Merrimack College 93-56 on Tuesday, November 19. Next, PC will host the University of Pennsylvania on Saturday, November 23.
Men’s Soccer:
On Wednesday, November 13, the men’s soccer team beat top-20 nationally ranked St. John’s University Red Storm 2-1 to advance to the Big East Finals. There, they would meet the third-ranked Georgetown University on Sunday, November 17. Unfortunately, their run ended there, as the Friars fell 1-3. The team played well enough to get themselves a bid into the NCAA playoff though, extending what has been a very dominant season here in Friartown. The Friars will host their first-round tournament on Thursday, November 21, and they will be playing the New Jersey Institute of Technology. Considering how hot this men’s team has been not only through the Big East tournament, but also the back end of the season, it is not unreasonable to expect the Friars to go deep into the tournament. Their season statistics and style of play further affirm this.
Women’s Ice Hockey:
The women’s ice hockey team also had an up-and-down week. On Friday, November 15, PC went on the road to take on the University of Maine. This was a Hockey East game, the first of two, that the Friars played this past weekend. That was a game the Friars unfortunately lost 4-5 in crushing fashion in overtime. The game was relatively close, until Maine scored in the final minute of regulation to tie it up. Maine would continue to score in OT, stealing the game away from the Friars. PC got redemption on Sunday, November 17, when they hosted the University of Vermont. The Friars played a good game as they scored twice in the third period, once to tie the game and once in the final minute to win it. The game winner was scored with 16 seconds left by Sara Hjalmarsson ’22. The ladies are back on the ice November 22-23, when they take turns hosting games with Merrimack College.
Sports Shorts Week of Nov. 7-Nov. 14
by The Cowl Editor on November 14, 2019
Sports
By Meaghan Cahill ’20
Sports Co-Editor
Men’s Basketball:
The team remains undefeated this season after they beat New Jersey Institute of Technology 76-47 on Nov. 9. David Duke ’22 scored a career high of 21 points during the game, while also registering five rebounds and five assists. In addition to Duke, both Alpha Diallo ’20 and Maliek White ’20 registered double digit points; Diallo finished the game with 15 points and White finished with 11.
Women’s Basketball:
After their first game of the season against Yale University was suspended due to a scoreboard malfunction, the women’s basketball team won their first game of the season against the University of Massachusetts-Amherst 72-63 on Nov. 9. After a close first quarter, which was tied until Andrea Cooper ’21 hit one of two free-throws in the final 0.1 seconds, the Friars pulled away in the second half of the second quarter after they went on a 10-0 run. The Minutemen managed to come back and it was not until the fourth quarter that the Friars were able to solidify their lead. Kaela Webb ’22 was a game standout, collecting 22 points during the game. This was the first time she surpassed 20 points in a single game in her career at PC. The win was Head Coach Jim Crowley’s 300th career win.
Men’s Hockey:
The team matched up against Boston University this past weekend, collecting a tie and a win against the Terriers. On Friday, November 8, despite gaining a 3-1 lead in the second period, the Friars let up two unanswered goals in the third; one at the beginning of the period and one at the end. Goaltender Michael Lackey’22GS made 35 saves. Greg Printz ’21 scored twice—first off of a deflection and the second was a snipe to the top right corner of the net—and Patrick Moynihan ’23 one-timed the third and final goal for the Friars. Saturday night was a back -and-forth game against Boston University, but the Friars solidified their 6-5 win early in the third period when they took a 6-4 lead over the Terriers. Jack Dugan ’22 notched four assists during the game and Max Crozier ’23 docked two goals; a redirect from Dugan’s shot and a slap shot from a pass from Dugan. The Friars are now 5-3-2 for the season.
Women’s Hockey:
Also playing BU this past weekend, the women’s team was unable to pull off a win and fell to the Terriers 1-2. Neve Van Pelt ’20 was the lone scorer for the Friars. Sandra Abstreiter ’21RS was between the pipes and finished the game with 21 saves. Despite the loss, PC outshot BU 27-23. The team is now 4-5-2 for the season.
The Boys are Back
by The Cowl Editor on November 7, 2019
Sports
Friars Ready to Pick-Up the Pace
By Jack Belanger ’21
Sports Co-Editor
It would be an understatement to say it has been a tough past two years for center Emmitt Holt ‘19GS who has dealt with many ups and downs during his time at Providence College. After having a successful 2016-17 season, Holt suffered an abdominal injury that caused him to miss the entire 2017-18 season. Despite getting a full year to recover, he would only appear in six games the next season and would eventually red shirt once again to gain a sixth year of eligibility.
That made the moment all the more special when the home crowd gave Holt a standing ovation when he checked into the game for the first time in the opening half against Sacred Heart University. He brought the crowd to its feet shortly after when he made his first shot behind the three-point line. His play helped spark the Friars to jump out to an early lead that they would not relinquish for the entire game, beating the Pioneers 106-60. After the game, Holt spoke on the standing ovation he received.
“It was a great moment for me and my teammates. It’s great to be recognized for all the hard work I’ve been putting in at practice.”
Head Coach Ed Cooley was also really happy to see his veteran to come back after two years that challenged Holt mentally and physically.
“I was really proud to see Emmitt out there and how the crowd reacts to him.”
It was a dominant performance on both ends of the court for the Friars, a pleasing sight for a team that finished last season 7-11 in the Big East. Seven players scored in double figures for the team, led by Alpha Diallo ’20 with 19 to go along with his team-leading 14 rebounds. The team also showed a willingness to share the ball, witnessed by 31 assists on 39 buckets.
Coach Cooley raved about how experienced the team will be this year, noting that sophomores A.J. Reeves ’22 and David Duke ’22 have matured a lot since last year. The two combined for 26 points, 12 assists, and, most importantly, no turnovers.
Newcomer Luwane Pipkens ’19GS got the start in his first game for the team. The former University of Massachusetts-Amherst guard came out firing on all cylinders, scoring 11 points in the first half with five assists. He also showed off on the defensive end with three steals throughout the night — an effort that sparked the team emotionally.
“It’s a blessing for me,” Pipkens said on coming to PC. “I’m enjoying myself. I’m happy to be here and try to win some games.”
Going into halftime, the Friars nearly doubled the Pioneers’ score, leading 59-30, as Diallo, Pipkens, and Holt all had 11 or more points. Top recruit Greg Gantt ’23 entered the game with about four minutes left in the half and scored his first college points on a fadeaway a minute later. He would hit the first three shots of his career and finish with seven points.
“He has an ‘it’ factor,” Cooley said of the freshman. “He has a very active body. He has never worked this hard in his life.”
PC’s defense put together a complete 40-minute effort that stifled anything Sacred Heart was trying to do with the ball. Holt and Kalif Young ‘20 provided the Friars with strong interior defense that held Sacred Heart to only 24 points in the paint and 32.2 percent shooting from the floor. Young, who got the start in place of the injured Nate Watson ’21, recorded two blocks and steals apiece and after the game was praised by Cooley as one of the best defenders in the country.
In the second half, the Friars raised their intensity on defense and extended their lead to 49 points at one point. PC scored 30 points off of 19 turnovers. The team also pushed the pace on offense, highlighted by the team’s 16 fast break points, which is a new change Cooley plans to emphasize this season.
“We want to try to score off our defense more. Normally some of our teams have played a little slower; we are trying to be one of the fastest teams in the country endline-to-endline.”
With such a deep team this year, Cooley is not worried about wearing his team down early on.
As PC was able to extend their lead late in the game, Cooley was able to give his bench some extended minutes as nine players got 10-plus minutes of action. Even walk-ons Drew Fonts ’21 and Tommy Dempsey ’23 got multiple minutes at the end of the game. Fonts took advantage of the extended minutes and scored five points and recorded an assist.
The Friars will now prepare for their next game against New Jersey Institute of Technology on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. The game will once again be at home and PC will be looking to start the season 2-0. Cooley and the team hope Jimmy Nichols ‘22 will be able to return after he was not feeling well enough to play in the home opener.
Men’s Basketball Returns Strong Core
by The Cowl Editor on October 31, 2019
Sports
Top Three Scorers Come Back To Make Another Run
By Liam Tormey ’22
Sports Staff
Last season, the Providence College Men’s Basketball Team finished with an overall record of 18-16, tying for eighth in the Big East with a 7-11 record. The Friars missed out on the NCAA Tournament for the first time in five seasons. Instead, the postseason for Head Coach Ed Cooley consisted of playing in the National Invitational Tournament as the fourth seed. The Friars were a first round exit, losing 84-72 to the University of Arkansas.
This season, the Friars are hoping for a lot more. And there is a lot to be excited about.
Isaiah Jackson ’19 and Makai Ashton-Langford ’21 both left from Coach Cooley’s team this offseason. Jackson graduated last spring, and Ashton-Langford transferred to Boston College to continue his career.
On the bright side, the core group of players are returning for the Friars, including their top scorers.
After Alpha Diallo ’20 withdrew from the NBA Draft this past summer, he returns for his senior year and is looking to be more productive than last year. Diallo finished last season averaging 16 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 3.1 assists.
Nate Watson ’21 will be back after a great season last year (averaging 11.7 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 0.4 assists). He hopes to show why he is one of the best centers in the Big East this season.
A.J. Reeves ’22 will be looking to stay healthy after suffering a foot injury which hindered what looked like a huge year for the sophomore. Reeves averaged 9.8 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 0.6 assists last season.
David Duke Jr. ’22 is also hoping to have a big year after averaging 7.1 points and 2.1 assists for PC last season. Expect Duke to have a lot of playing time on the court.
Even more exciting for the Friars is they will get back Emmitt Holt ’19GS who was granted a sixth year of eligibility by a medical redshirt waiver. In the Friars’ first exhibition game this season against Stonehill College, Holt finished with a double-double with 17 points and 13 rebounds. The team hopes Holt can give them more statlines like this thoughout the year.
There were some key additions over the offseason who will likely have a major impact on the way this season goes for Coach Cooley’s team. One of the big additions is Luwane Pipkins ’20GS, a graduate transfer from University of Massachusetts-Amherst. The 5’11’’ guard from Chicago, IL averaged 15.7 points, 3.7 assists, and 3.5 rebounds in his career at UMass. He hopes to add another offensive spark to the Friars’ game.
Another key addition to the team this offseason was Greg Gantt ’23. The 6’8’’, 205 pound-freshman was the number three recruit in the state of North Carolina according to ESPN. There is a lot of anticipation in what Gantt can bring to the team.
The Friars have been suffering from injuries in the past several weeks leading into the season. Watson has been unable to play due to a knee injury, although Coach Cooley hopes to see him return in the first couple weeks of November.
Gantt has been dealing with an Achilles tendon injury and will likely miss the opener against Sacred Heart University.
Pipkins has been battling a hamstring injury, but this past Sunday the Friars traveled to Indianapolis to play in a closed scrimmage against Purdue University, and Pipkins played 17 minutes for the Friars, scoring five points.
Providence won 60-53 against the Boilermakers. Diallo led the way with 22 points and 12 rebounds in 36 minutes of action. Fans can expect to see these types of numbers from Diallo most of the season.
The Friars open up regular season play next Tuesday, November 5 against Sacred Heart University at 7 p.m.
Prior to conference play in the Big East, the Friars have several games to note. In late November, Coach Cooley’s team will travel out to Anaheim, CA to compete in the Wooden Legacy Tournament, which is a combination of schools from all across the country. The Friars will open up that tournament against Long Beach State University. The annual rivalry game against the University of Rhode Island will take place on Dec. 6 at URI.
Just before the start of the Big East, Providence will be tested against two tough teams: Florida University and the University of Texas at Austin. These games will be great indicators of where the Friars are before starting conference play.
Big East conference play will begin Dec. 31 with the Friars’ home game against Georgetown University.
There is a lot of excitement surrounding the team this season. Coach Cooley hopes to get his team back into the NCAA Tournament come March. With many key members returning, anything can happen in Friartown, as long as the team can avoid the injury bug.
PCI: Which Winter Sports Team Will Have The Best Season?
by The Cowl Editor on October 31, 2019
Sports
Men’s Ice Hockey
By Eileen Flynn ’20
Sports Staff
Another winter is approaching and luckily at Providence College that means it is finally basketball and hockey season. Although both the teams have been preparing during preseason, the PC men’s ice hockey team is looking like they will have the most successful season.
After just a few short weeks, the PC men’s team has a record of 4-2, 2-1 in conference play. The difficulty of their schedule from the start foreshadows a strong season as the Friars have already faced Hockey East rivals University of Maine, Boston College and University of Massachusetts-Lowell. Their two wins against UMaine and BC were not close games, as the Friars managed to score a combined 13 goals against these two teams, proving that the team does not have trouble finding the back of the net.
A good team has a superstar, but a great team has talent spread through the second and third lines. This year, the Friars have already introduced multiple players that can pass the puck well and score when the team needs it. The underclassmen have proven to be an important asset to the Friars’ team as well. Starting with the freshmen, Cam McDonald ’23 netted the game winning goal against no. 10/9 Clarkson as well as scoring again against Boston College the following week. Michael Callahan ’22, Jack Dugan ’22, Matt Koopman ’22, and Tyce Thompson ’22 are four sophomores who have tallied multiple points since the season started. Dugan was awarded Hockey East player of the week after leading the conference in points (5) and assists (4).
The upperclassmen bring the experience aspect to this year’s squad. Last year, the Friars made it to the Frozen Four in the NCAA tournament. The team fell short to Minnesota Duluth, the No. 1 seed after a long, impressive season. This was the Friars sixth season appearing in the NCAA Tournament and this year should be no exception.
The Northeastern University Huskies came up on top in the Hockey East Tournament in 2019, this year the Friars will want to beat the reigning champions. Boston College was the team that knocked PC out of the Hockey East running last year. The Eagles won the series 2-1. This past week the Friars beat Boston College 6-2, showing a glimpse of a promising season from PC.
There is no doubt the Friars will be tested this season, but their revenge tour might just give them the push they need to make it even further this year. Nate Leaman enters his ninth season as head coach for the Friars, and since it has been several years since his 2015 National Championship title, he is ready for another one.
Men’s Basketball
By Joseph Quirk ’23
Sports Staff
As October draws to a close, we are reminded just how close winter is. Winter is an especially exciting time in Friartown as some of Providence College’s best sports open their seasons and begin their quest for NCAA glory. However, of all of the winter sports, men’s basketball will have the best season this year.
Arguments can be made for a couple of different teams here as several are coming off successful seasons. In reality however, all eyes are on two squads, the men’s hockey and basketball teams.
Men’s ice hockey, lead by Nate Leaman for the ninth season, is five years removed from a national championship and one year removed from a Frozen Four appearance. The squad was ranked No. 7 in the nation before Saturday’s loss to University of Massachusetts-Lowell and boasts a young roster with six players currently having their draft rights owned by NHL teams. All this being said, men’s ice hockey will not be the most successful team on campus this winter.
Something is brewing in the Dunkin’ Donuts Center and will be the big NCAA tournament run the Friars men’s basketball team has been expecting for some time now. The Friars will be led by ninth-year Head Coach Ed Cooley. Cooley returns after several rumors this offseason of him being considered a favorite for the Michigan coaching position, but ultimately withdrawing his name and signing an extension with PC. That was followed up with some big offseason acquisitions including University of Massachusetts-Amherst star graduate transfer Luwane Pipkins ’19G, transfers Noah Horchler ’20 and Jared Bynum ’22, and Greg Gantt ’23.
The Friars also expect a jump and improvement from David Duke ’22, Kris Monroe ’22 and AJ Reeves ’22. The Friars are also returning star center Nate Watson ’21 and seniors Maliek White ’20, Kalif Young ’20, and Alpha Diallo ’20, who even tested NBA waters this offseason.
This new Friars roster is filled with experience and new talent and has potential to far surpass last year’s team. Gantt was a four-star recruit and ranked no. 67 in the nation before joining the Friars. Diallo was considered an NBA prospect but has decided to keep his talent in Rhode Island. Pipkins is a very experienced and talented guard who scores with ease and is expected to start for PC this year. It would be wrong to assume this is not the best team on campus this winter.
Former Friar Lands Local Coaching Job
by The Cowl Editor on October 24, 2019
Sports
Rubin Garces ’97 Named as Local Head Basketball Coach
By Liam Tormey ’22
Sports Staff
Ruben Garces ’97, originally from Colón, Panama, is 46 years old. He is the newly-named head basketball coach at St. Raphael Academy, a high school in Pawtucket, RI not too far from where he spent his college days playing for the Providence College Men’s Basketball Team. The Cowl staff had the chance to sit down with the former star and discuss his journey back to the Ocean State.
After spending two years at Navarro College in Texas, Garces transferred to PC in 1995 to play basketball. He said he was recruited by 29 different schools, and visited the likes of the University of Texas at Austin, the University of Connecticut, the University of Alabama, and West Virginia University. But there was something about PC that was different.
“All of those schools had class sizes with large amounts of students in each class,” Garces said. “At Providence, it was better for me to be in smaller size classrooms where I felt the teachers would be better able to help me.”
He mentioned that coming from Panama, he was a very religious Catholic and it added to his desire to come to a Catholic institution. He also mentioned the high student-athlete graduation rate at PC as a contributing factor in his decison.
Garces talked about his favorite memories at PC. For a student-athlete who went to the Elite Eight in the 1997 NCAA Division I Basketball Tournament for the Friars and beat Duke University in the second round, his favorite memories were surprisingly not about basketball.
Garces elaborated, “My favorite part for sure was the size of the school. It did not matter where you were from, everyone knew each other, and you felt a sense of family.”
He wanted nothing more than to just be like everyone else and said, “I went to all of the parties and to events on campus so I could be a student. It was important for me that everyone viewed me as someone who was not just an athlete, because I was a student as well.”
During his time at PC, Garces felt that he learned a lot, saying, “It taught me how to be diverse because it was very different from being in school in Texas.” His career as a basketball player was spent playing in multiple different countries, but Garces said PC “helped me to adapt to any situation, how to go to my friends, how not to be culturally shocked, how to be cool and go with the flow, and especially how to have a conversation with everyone.”
He then talked about his time playing professionally. When asked about his favorite memory, after playing in the NBA, in Europe, and in Latin America, it was tough for him to decide. Garces played for NBA teams Phoenix Suns and the Golden State Warriors and said being around the likes of Penny Hardaway and Jason Kidd was amazing.
However, Garces made it clear that spending nine years in Spain during his career was one of the highlights of his journey.
“Being in Spain and already speaking the language made it easier for me to adapt. There was a sense of family amongst the team. We went to barbeques together, we went to family parties, out to dinner with teammates, and it felt like Providence College all over again.”
Before talking about his time after basketball, Garces did not think his playing career would end as soon as it did. “It was very tough. I didn’t want to stop, and I think I could have played three to five more years,” Garces said. “But I knew my family needed me. My son was 12 playing basketball and my daughter was 10 playing the highest level of youth soccer. I wanted to make up time for me being away and help them reach their goals every day.”
For about a year after playing overseas Garces took a few years to himself and eventually became a financial planner for a financial company for a short period of time. After this stint in finance, Garces was a head strength and conditioning coach at a gym and now has moved to St. Raphael, where he is now a youth advisor and will begin his first year as head basketball coach this upcoming season.
Garces knows being a former basketball player is going to help him a lot with his players.
“I know how it feels to be a player. Sometimes you have good days, sometimes you have bad days. I think I know how to push them and to motivate them to be the best they can be. You know all the insides of being a player. I have been fortunate enough throughout my career to be around some great coaches and it will help me. For me it is more about mentoring, not everyone is going to play professionally, so mentoring kids to make the next step to make sure they can make the step is what I am excited for,” said Garces.
Garces is passionate about his new role, saying, “A lot of guys who just played middle school basketball think they can coach and know everything to the game. They think they can coach now. It was one of the things that motivated me to get into coaching.”
However, Garces emphasized his real purpose in coaching: “I want to make sure I can get my players ready not just for basketball, but for life.”
Garces begins his first year as head basketball coach at St. Raphael this winter.
Team USA Takes Bronze at the Pan Am Games
by The Cowl Editor on August 29, 2019
Sports
First Time Since 1975 Friars Earn Medal at the Event
By Sullivan Burgess ’20
Sports Staff
This past August, the Big East all-star team defeated the Dominican Republic 92-83 in the Pan American games in Lima, Peru while representing USA Basketball. This win secured a bronze medal for the summer games, the third straight Pan American games in which Team USA has won the bronze medal.
For those not familiar, the Pan American games is a multi-sport event that features numerous athletes and teams from all over North, South, and even Central America as well as the Caribbean. It is played every four years, in the year preceding the Olympics.
The team’s overall record was 3-2. It consisted of various players from the Big East, including four members of our very own Providence College Basketball Team. These players were Alpha Diallo ’20, Nate Watson ’21, David Duke Jr. ’22, and AJ Reeves ’22, all while being coached by the Friars’ own Ed Cooley.
Seton Hall University senior guard Myles Powell showed nothing but love and respect for coach Ed Cooley, saying, “Since the first day I stepped foot on Providence campus (for training camp) he has shown me nothing but love.”
In the opening game of the event, USA claimed its victory over the Virgin Islands in a 119-84 victory. In this game Diallo led the team with 20 points and 11 rebounds, staking their ground in the games.
When asked about the victory and the team going forward for the rest of the event, Cooley stated to the press, “I thought our depth was an important factor today along with our 3-point shooting. We got contributions from everyone. We have to guard the ball a little better moving forward, but today was a good day for us.” Other Friar contributions in this game included Duke’s 13 points and six rebounds.
The rest of the trip included a win and a loss against Venezuela, and a loss against the games favorite Argentina, all leading to the bronze-securing game against the Dominican Republic.
In this victory, Diallo was 8-12 from the court and finished with 23 points and five rebounds. On top was Villanova’s Collin Gillespie, who led the team with 24 points.
At the end of the match, Cooley was nothing but proud and honored to represent the team he had in front of him. He stated, “We have been together for two short weeks and we asked a lot of these young men. The way they came together and competed for five consecutive nights was impressive. They represented our country with pride.”
With the first medal won for the College since 1975, Diallo, Watson, Reeves, and Duke can look forward to taking this experience and applying it to the upcoming season.
Saying Goodbye to Friartown
by The Cowl Editor on May 2, 2019
Sports
Hockey and Basketball Players Sign Pro-Contracts
By Meaghan Cahill ’20
Sports Co-Editor
There will be noticeable absences on the rosters of both the men’s basketball and hockey teams next year. Asides from the six graduating seniors on the hockey team and two seniors on the basketball team, hockey players Josh Wilkins ’20, Brandon Duhaime ’20, Jacob Bryson ’20, and Jay O’Brien ’22 alongside basketball player Alpha Diallo ’20 have all decided to pursue a professional career in their respective sports.
Bryson was the first player to announce his decision to cut ties with his college eligibility when, on April 15 he signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Buffalo Sabres. Having completed three full seasons with the Friars, the tri-captain of the hockey team recently earned Second Team Hockey East All-Star honors after a successful junior season that consisted of four goals and 24 assists (28 points total) in 42 games.
A 2017 fourth round draft pick (99th overall), Bryson has completed 121 games total with the Friars and notched 73 points during that time. He also was a two-time recipient of Hockey East’s Len Ceglarski Sportsmanship Award.
In place of completing both his junior and senior years at Providence College, Bryson will compete at an amateur tryout with AHL Rochester before his contract kicks in at the start of the 2019-2020 season.
Duhaime, like Bryson, also finalized an entry-level contract that will conclude his college eligibility. The fourth round, 106th overall 2016 draft pick was selected by the Minnesota Wild and will be playing for their AHL team, the Iowa Wild, on an Amateur Tryout Agreement. He dressed in 117 games as a Friar and during the course of three years, he totaled 22 goals, 50 assists, and a plus-18 rating.
Along with the April 16 announcement that he would not be continuing his career as a Friar, Duhaime made sure to thank the entire PC community, especially his coaches and teammates, for an “incredible” three years saying, “The memories made at Providence College were some that I will never forget.”
The last Friar who has decided to pursue a professional career is Josh Wilkins ’20, who signed a two-year, entry-level contract with the Nashville Predators.
“Been a crazy few days but I’m excited to sign my first NHL contract,” he announced on social media. “Thank you Friars hockey for an incredible three years.”
Wilkins posted 46 points (20 goals and 26 assists) this past season; this is the best offensive season a Friar has had in over 15 seasons. He is not just the only 20-goal scorer since 2002-2003, but Wilkins is also the 54th hockey player to reach the 100-point milestone (he totaled 108 points over the course of three seasons).
And finally, rounding out the members of the hockey team who will not be returning next year is O’Brien. The Philadelphia Flyers prospect has decided to leave the College after what he described as a “tough” year in terms of injuries and playing style. Wanting to “play more games” and “have fun playing hockey again,” O’Brien commented that he will be looking to play in either the United States Hockey League, the Canadian major junior level, or the British Columbia Hockey League to “get back on track.”
It may be the end of their career as Friars for Bryson, Duhaime, Wilkins, and O’Brien, but for basketball player Diallo, coming back for his senior season will still be an option if things do not pan out the way that he wants in the 2019 NBA Draft.
Diallo announced on April 16 that he will submit an application to be an early entrant, which means that he will have the opportunity to withdraw his name by May 29 and come back to PC for his senior year.
In an official statement announcing his intentions, Diallo said, “I am excited to go through the workout process. I believe this process will help me grow as a player. I enjoy being at Providence College and playing for the Friars. The Friars have a strong group of players returning next season, and I believe the team could compete for a conference championship.”
Named to the Second Team All-Big East, Diallo put up 1,155 career points in 99 games with the College; he ranks 33rd all-time in scoring for the College.
Head Coach Ed Cooley commented on Diallo’s decision saying that “this process will enable him to gain knowledge and experience about the potential for his future in professional basketball.”
With the exception of O’Brien, all four players will be joining a group of very successful Friars in the big leagues. Most noticeably, for hockey, is former Friar Noel Acciari ’15, who is currently playing with the Boston Bruins in the Stanley Cup Playoffs as a key part of their third line. A member of the 2015 National Championship Team, the style of play that Acciari developed at PC is what makes his NHL career so successful today.
According to Head Coach Nate Leaman, “[Acciari] takes the puck to the net hard, stays on the rebound and scores. That’s Friar hockey. That’s why Noelly’s out there.”
And while Acciari may be the most notable recent PC alum in the NHL, Bryson, Duhaime, and Wilkins can also be added to a list that contains some NHL greats such as Hal Gill, Fernando Pisani, and Chris Therien.
In Diallo’s case, should he chose to keep his name entered in the draft, he will be joining a long list of former Friar players who have gone pro, as well as current pro-player Kris Dunn, who graduated in 2016 and is now playing with the Chicago Bulls after being picked fifth overall in the 2016 NBA Draft. Dunn most notably scored a season-high 26 points—eight of which were in overtime—and had 13 assists in a 126-120 overtime win against the Washington Wizards on March 20.
On the former basketball player, PC Athletic Director Bob Driscoll said, “He plays both ends of the court at an elite level all the time. Usually people are good at one or two things. He can rebound, he can pass.” All of which are skills that he was able to develop and grow during his four years at PC.
In addition to former Friars making it big in both the NHL and NBA, PC can also boast that their athletes from all sports are having great success in their professional careers. Tate Boyce ’19 just signed with the Boston Cannons after they drafted him in the first ever Premier Lacrosse League Collegiate Draft. Also, former cross-country and track runner, Emily Sisson ’14 just became the sixth-fastest American in history on a record eligible course after finishing the London Marathon with a time of 2:23:08.
PC has a legacy of producing top-notch athletes who go on to have great careers in their chosen sport and while Wilkins, Duhaime, Bryson, and Diallo are only just taking the first steps to further their professional career, the College most certainly wishes them the best as they set out to make a name for themselves outside of a college setting.
Men’s Basketball Roster Features a New Face
by The Cowl Editor on April 4, 2019
Sports
Friars Welcome UMass Player Luwane Pipkins After Two PC Players Decide to Transfer
By Sullivan Burgess ’20
Sports Staff
After a season of ups and downs for the Providence College Men’s Basketball program, it is time to recruit and make big decisions for the program. Ed Cooley knows first hand that the team needs to be reevaluated to see what can be done for the future of the Friars.
After the National Invitational Tournament first round loss to the University of Arkansas, Cooley stated to press “We didn’t have it this year—not a year that I’m happy about. To me, it’s unacceptable. I have to do a much better job with the group. We have to look at our program and evaluate it as to what we need going forward…Along the way, we have to change some things. We’re looking for players who can help the Friars, period.”
The changes began with the announcement of redshirt forward Drew Edwards ’19 transferring from PC to another school as a graduate transfer. The school at which he will be playing has yet to be announced, but the entire student body will miss his hard work on the court and dedication to the game.
Late in March, the news spread around Providence like wildfire that University of Massachusetts of Amherst Guard Luwane Pipkins would transfer to PC. He will come to the school as a fifth-year graduate transfer, which will make him immediately eligible for the upcoming 2019-2020 basketball season.
Pipkins took to Twitter to announce the news, tweeting “I just want to say thanks to all the coaches that contacted me during this time, but after careful consideration, I have decided to use my last year of eligibility to play for coach Ed Cooley and the Providence Friars.” When asked about why he was joining PC, he stated “Basically, I felt a connection with Coach Cooley and his staff…They kept it real from the start and were very honest with me.”
Some websites even have Pipkins as a projected starter for next season alongside Providence guard David Duke ’22. Last season at UMass, Pipkins averaged 16 points per game, alongside 4.9 rebounds and 5.2 assists. These stats, along with veteran leadership will be of great use to the team.
Twenty-four hours after the announcement of Pipkins, rumors began swirling that sophomore point guard Makai Ashton-Langford ’21 was looking to transfer from Providence. Soon after, Ashton-Langford took to his social media thanking the staff and school for the last two years as well as his supporters from the student body, and officially announcing his transfer.
Originally committed to play at the University of Connecticut after high school, Ashton-Langford had then de-committed from the program to join the Friars. After a tough freshman season, this season offered Ashton-Langford more opportunities to show his playmaking skills that he displayed in high school. However he was still only able to average 3.7 points. 1.5 rebounds, and 2.3 assists this season.
The Friars will now head into next season with their depth chart at point guard looking like Pipkens, Duke, and Maliek White ’20 as players who will be trusted to bring the ball up the court.
The Cowl’s Second Annual March Madness Bracket
by The Cowl Editor on March 21, 2019
Sports
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.