Providence College Athletics

Providence College's All-Time Civic Center Team Announced

6/21/1999 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball

January 25, 1999

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - In conjunction with the 25th Anniversary of the Providence Civic Center, Providence College has announced its All-Time Civic Center Team. The ten players selected were chosen by local media members along with current and former members of the BIG EAST Conference office who have witnessed the 25 seasons that PC has played at the Civic Center.

During the past 25 years, the ten players selected have led PC to two Final Fours, one Sweet Sixteen, an Elite Eight and one BIG EAST Championship. The teams that have played at the Civic Center since the 1972-73 season have recorded a 333-129 (.721) record at the Civic Center and have made nine NCAA appearances and seven trips to the National Invitation Tournament.

The ten-man team will be honored by a commemorative poster that will be given to the first 5,000 fans in attendance at the PC - Villanova game on Tuesday, January 26th.

Here is the 25th Providence Civic Center Anniversary Team:

Marvin Barnes (1971-74) - Recognized as the greatest center and most talented front court player in the school's history, Barnes was the center of the PC offense and team MVP in 1973 and 1974. The national rebounding champion in 1974, he was a consensus First Team All-America and Eastern Player of the Year. He currently ranks third on PC's all-time scoring list with 1,839 points and is the all-time leading rebounder with 1,592. He spent six years between the ABA and the NBA in his pro career.

Bruce Campbell (1974-78) - The Friars' all-time leader in scoring and assists among forwards, "Soup" Campbell played on two NIT teams and two NCAA Tournament teams. He ranks fifth on PC's all-time scoring list with 1,809 points and is fifth all-time with 949 rebounds. An Honorable Mention All-America as a senior, Campbell was drafted by the New Jersey Nets in the eighth round of the 1978 NBA Draft.

Austin Croshere (1993-97) - A.C. was a member of the BIG EAST Championship team and the Friars' Elite Eight Team. The talented forward blossomed under Pete Gillen and became the Friars' go-to-guy in his junior and senior year. A two-time team MVP, Croshere was a First Team All-BIG EAST selection and an ECAC Co-Player of the Year as a senior. A member of the 1996 Under 22 USA Basketball Gold Medal Team, Croshere is ninth in career scoring at Providence with 1,523 points. He is fourth all-time in three-point shots made and is PC's fourth best free throw shooter (.843). He was a first round draft pick of the Indiana Pacers and is in his second NBA season.

Ernie DiGregorio (1970-73) - The North Providence native helped define the running Friar tradition and helped revolutionize college basketball's fast break offense. A three-time team Most Valuable Player, Ernie D. is still the school's all-time assist leader with 664 and is sixth in scoring with 1,760 points. He is the only Friar ever to be named to the NCAA Final Four All-Tournament Team. He played six seasons in the NBA with the Buffalo Braves, the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers.

Billy Donovan (1983-87) - Donovan represents the Friars' 1987 Final Four Team and ranks as one of the top guards ever to play at Providence College. Billy "The Kid" came into his own under Coach Rick Pitino and blazed a two-year path that almost brought a championship trophy to Smith Hill. One of the first teams to take advantage of the three-point shot, Donovan and his teammates gave PC its best BIG EAST finish (4th) and took the magic carpet ride to the NCAA Final Four. He scored 1,328 points in his career and is second all-time with 546 career assists. He played one season in the NBA with the New York Knicks. He is currently the head basketball coach at the University of Florida.

Joey Hassett (1973-77) - One of the Friars' all-time great shooters, Hassett played on the Sweet 16 Team his freshman year and followed that with two NIT appearances and a second trip to the NCAA's as a senior. The school's fourth all-time leading scorer with 1,828 points, "Sonar" did his long range scoring before the three-point shot came into the college game. Hassett is PC's all-time leading free throw shooter (.865) for his career. An Honorable Mention All-America as a junior and Third Team All-America as a senior, Hassett played six seasons in the NBA and was a member of the Seattle Supersonics 1979 Championship Team.

Eric Murdock (1987-1991) - One of the most versatile guards in PC history, Murdock is the second leading scorer at Providence College behind the great Jimmy Walker. Murdock scored 2,021 points in his career and is still the NCAA's all-time steals leader. A First Team All-America in 1991 he had 12 games of 30 or more points (three with 40 or more) and was the Eastern College Player of the Year as well as the nation's Most Courageous Player. He finished his PC career, first in three-pointers, second in free throws, sixth in assists, tops in steals and 25th in rebounding. He is currently a member of the New Jersey Nets.

Michael Smith (1991-94) - When you say Michael Smith, you think of rebounders and that's what he did best in three seasons with the Friars. One of the most-loved Friars, Smith was the first player in BIG EAST history to win three straight rebounding titles. He is one of just four players in school history to score 1,000 points and have 1,000 rebounds and he did it in just three seasons. Smith was the Most Valuable Player of the 1994 BIG EAST Tournament as he helped the Friars to their only league championship. His 1,110 points rank him 25th all-time and his 1,038 rebounds is fourth best at PC. A second round pick of the Sacramento Kings, Smith has played four seasons in the NBA and is currently a member of the Vancouver Grizzlies.

Kevin Stacom (1972-74) - The third member of PC's "Terrific Trio" in the early years of the Civic Center, Stacom scored 1,143 points in just two seasons after transferring from Holy Cross. A two-time Defensive Player of the Year, Stacom was a Second Team All-America as a senior and played in the 1973 World University games. A terrific shooter, he shot 52.7% which is tops among PC guards. He teamed with Ernie D. to give the Friars one of the nation's top backcourts in the early 70's. Stacom spent six years in the NBA and played on the Boston Celtics 1976 Championship team.

Otis Thorpe (1980-84) - Thorpe became the Friars' first BIG EAST star and the first All-America big man after Marvin Barnes. A two-time team MVP, Thorpe ranks eighth on PC's all-time scoring list with 1,625 points and is sixth on the all-time rebounding list with 902 career boards. A two-time Honorable Mention All-America, Thorpe was the Friars' first-ever, First Team All-BIG EAST selection. He has played 14 years in the NBA and is currently a member of the Washington Wizards. He was a member of the 1994 Houston Rocket's NBA Championship team.

Skip Ad

Related Videos

Skip Ad
All Videos
2018-2019 Men's Basketball Highlight Video
Saturday, April 13
All Videos