Men's Basketball Game Notes vs. Central Connecticut

Friars To Play Central Connecticut On December 16: The Friars and Central Connecticut will play on Sunday, December 16 at 2 p.m. on FS1. The Friars have posted a 5-2 mark all time versus CCSU. The Friars are 5-1 at home and 0-1 in neutral arenas versus Central Connecticut. In the first meeting ever between the two teams, Providence was defeated by Central Connecticut, 72-63, on March 2, 1949, in Waterville, Maine. In the last game between the two teams, the Friars defeated CCSU, 92-57, on November 29, 2010 at the Dunkin' Donuts Center. The last time CCSU defeated the Friars was a 54-50 decision on December 21, 1999 at the Dunkin' Donuts Center.

Reeves Injured, Expected To Miss 4-6 Weeks: Head Coach Ed Cooley announced on December 11 that freshman guard A.J. Reeves (Roxbury, Mass.) has suffered a foot injury and will miss 4-6 weeks of action. Reeves, who has been named BIG EAST Freshman of the Week three times this season, is the leading scorer amongst all freshmen in the BIG EAST, averaging 14.2 points per game. Reeves ranks first on the Friars in three pointers made (24) and three-point field goal percentage (45.3 percent). "It's unfortunate that A.J. has to go through this as he has been having a very productive start to his college career," Cooley said. "However, he is a great person and will use this time to get better and he will continue to support the team."

World Series Trophy At The Dunkin' Donuts Center: On October 28, the Boston Red Sox defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers, 5-1, to capture the 2018 World Series, 4-1. On Sunday prior to PC versus Central Connecticut game from 12:30-2:00 p.m. in the lobby of the Dunkin' Donuts Center, Friar fans will be able to take their photo with the 2018 World Series Trophy. Any fans with tickets to the game will be able to pose with the trophy and take a photograph.

Youth Movement: Through 10 games this season, Head Coach Ed Cooley has relied on his freshman class to help pace the Friars. Freshman David Duke (Providence, R.I.) and AJ Reeves (Roxbury, Mass.) have started all 10 games this season. Duke, Reeves and freshman Jimmy Nichols, Jr., (Conway, S.C.) have started the last seven games for Providence. Those three, along with fellow freshman Kris Monroe (Creedmoor, N.C.), have accounted for 35 percent of all the minutes played for the Friars this season and 35 percent of all the points scored. Reeves ranks second on the team in scoring (14.2 ppg) and he leads the team in three-point shooting (45.3 percent). Duke is fifth on the team in scoring (7.9 ppg) and fourth in three-point shooting (36.8 percent). Nichols is second on the team in blocks with eight.

Watson Records His First Career Double-Double: Sophomore Nate Watson (Arlington, Va.) registered his first career double-double when he scored 19 points and grabbed 10 rebounds at Boston College on December 4. Watson, who earned BIG EAST All-Rookie Team honors last season, ranks third on the team in scoring (11.4 ppg) and second in rebounding (5.8 rpg).

Diallo Registers His Fourth 20-Point Game Of The Season: Junior forward Alpha Diallo (New York, N.Y.) scored 21 points and grabbed seven rebounds in the Friars' loss to UMass on December 7. Diallo was 7-14 from field, including 3-5 from three-point territory. He leads the Friars in scoring (17.2 ppg), rebounding (8.6 rpg) and assists (3.8 apg).

Duke Has Big Game Versus South Carolina: Freshman guard David Duke (Providence, R.I.) posted his first career 20-point game when he led the Friars to a 76-67 victory over South Carolina on November 17 at the Hall of Fame Tip Off. Duke led the Friars to a comeback after they trailed by eight points at half time. The freshman guard was 8-15 from the field, including 2-4 from three-point territory in the win. For the season, Duke is averaging 7.9 points and 2.2 rebounds per game.

Ed Cooley Moves Into 4th Place On The PC All-Time Win List: With the Friars win over Iona on November 24, Ed Cooley recorded his 148th victory as the Friar Head Coach and moved into fourth place on the all-time win list for PC Head Coaches. The all-time winningest Friar head coaches are: Joe Mullaney (319-164), Dave Gavitt (209-84), and Tim Welsh (160-143). Cooley has a 151-97 mark in eight seasons as the Friars head coach.

Ed Cooley 48-21 Over Last Six Years In Games Decided By 6 Points Or Less: Over the last six years, Head Coach Ed Cooley has led the Friars to a 48-21 mark (.696) in games decided by six points or less.

Friars 58-3 In Non-Conference Action At The Dunk Under Ed Cooley: The Friars have posted a 58-3 mark in eight seasons under Ed Cooley in non-conference home games at the Dunkin' Donuts Center.

Top-70 Student Athlete Greg Gantt Signs NLI To Attend PC In 2019-20: Friar coach Ed Cooley announced on November 16 that student-athlete Greg Gantt, Jr., (Fayetteville, N.C.) signed a National Letter of Intent to attend Providence College beginning in September 2019. Gantt is ranked in the top-70 in every major ranking. Gantt, a 6-foot-7-inch, 195-pound forward attends Trinity Christian School in Fayetteville, N.C., where he is coached by Heath Vandevender. At Trinity Christian, he averaged 10.9 points, 7.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.2 steals per game in 2018. He also played for the Team Felton AAU Team. On Team Felton, he was coached by Fred Cannon. During the summer, he was the leading scorer and rebounder for Team Felton on the Under Armour circuit. Gantt is rated as a four-star recruit by ESPN.com, Rivals.com and 247sports.com. ESPN (No. 62), Rivals (No. 63) and 247sports (No. 66) all have Gantt ranked as a top-70 recruit.

Friars Reach Championship Game For Sixth Consecutive Year: On November 18, the Friars were defeated by No. 18 Michigan in the championship game of the Hall of Fame Tip Off. It marked the sixth consecutive season that the Friars reached the championship game of their in-season tournament. Last year, Providence defeated Saint Louis, 90-63, in the 2K Classic championship game. In 2014, the Friars defeated Notre Dame (75-74) to capture the Hall of Fame Tipoff in Uncasville, Conn. In 2013, the Friars were defeated by Maryland (56-52) in the championship game of the Paradise Jam in St. Thomas, USVI. In 2015, the Friars were defeated by Michigan State (77-64) in the championship game of the Wooden Legacy in Anaheim, Calif. In 2016, the Friars were defeated by No. 7/6 Virginia, 63-52, the championship game in the Emerald Coast Classic at Destin, Fla.

Friars All-Time Versus Top-25 Teams: The Friars have posted a 116-261 (.308) mark all-time versus top-25 teams, including a 0-1 mark this season. In the Friars' first game versus a ranked team this season, Providence was defeated by No. 18/18 Michigan, 66-47, on November 18 at the Hall of Fame Tip Off in Uncasville, Conn.

Diallo Records His Ninth Career Double-Double: Junior forward Alpha Diallo (New York, N.Y.) registered his ninth career double-double and his third consecutive of the season with his 18-point, 10-rebound effort versus Holy Cross on November 13. On November 9, he registered 27-points and 10-rebounds versus Wichita State in Annapolis, Md. In the team's first game of the season, he posted his seventh career double-double when he recorded 16 points and 11 rebounds in the Friars' 77-67 win over Siena on November 6. Last season, Diallo had six double-doubles, including a 22-point, 10-rebound effort versus Villanova in the BIG EAST Championship game. Diallo, who was named Preseason All-BIG EAST First Team, was named to the BIG EAST All-Tournament Team last March. He averaged 13.2 points and 6.6 rebounds per game last season.

Reeves Named BIG EAST Freshman Of The Week On Dec. 3: Freshman A.J. Reeves (Roxbury, Mass.) was named BIG EAST Freshman of the Week on December 3. It marked the third time in four weeks that he earned the honor. Reeves averaged 11.0 points and 3.5 rebounds as the Friars posted a 2-0 mark with wins over Fairleigh Dickinson and Rhode Island. He also shot 40 percent (4-10) from three-point territory. Reeves had a team-high 15 points in the Friars' 59-50 win over Rhode Island on December 1. He was 3-6 from three-point territory in the win.

Reeves Named BIG EAST Freshman Of The Week On November 26: Freshman A.J. Reeves (Roxbury, Mass.) scored 20 points when he shot 8-12 from the field, including 4-7 from three-point territory, in the Friars' 91-79 win over Iona on November 24. For his efforts, he was named BIG EAST Freshman of the Week for the second time this season on November 26.

Reeves Named BIG EAST Freshman of the Week On November 12: Freshman guard A.J. Reeves (Roxbury, Mass.) averaged 24.0 points in two games on November 6 and 9. For his efforts he was named BIG EAST Freshman of the Week on November 12. He was 9-14 (64.3 percent) from three-point territory and 17-23 (73.9 percent) overall from the field. Reeves also shot 5-6 from the free-throw line. The rookie guard set a Friar freshman opening night record as he scored 29 points versus Siena on Novevember 6. He was 7-9 from three-point territory to help the team win the game. In the Friars' second game of the week, Reeves scored 19 points in the team's loss to Wichita State on November 11. He shot 7-10 from the field.

Reeves Had A Memorable Opening Night: Freshman guard AJ Reeves (Roxbury, Mass.) had an impressive opening night for the Friars versus Siena on November 6 when he scored 29 points, while shooting 10-13 from the field, including 7-9 from three-point territory. Reeves established a Friar record for most points by a freshman in an opening night game. He also became the first Friar to have seven or more three pointers in a game since Bryce Cotton had seven at Boston College on December 22, 2012.

Diallo And Duke Earn Preseason All-BIG EAST Honors: Friar junior forward Alpha Diallo (New York, N.Y.) and freshman guard David Duke (Providence, R.I.) each earned league honors on Thursday, October 25 at the BIG EAST Media Day at Madison Square Garden. Diallo was named to the Preseason All-BIG EAST First Team and Duke was named Preseason Co-Freshman of the Year. Also announced on October 25 was the Preseason Coaches' Poll with the Friars being selected third of 10 teams behind Villanova and Marquette. Diallo had a strong sophomore season in which he helped lead the Friars to a 21-14 mark and their fifth consecutive appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Diallo was second on the team in scoring (13.2 ppg) and he led the squad in rebounding (6.6 rpg). In BIG EAST action, he led the team in scoring (13.4 ppg) and rebounding (7.2 rpg). Diallo had a strong BIG EAST Tournament in 2018 when he averaged 19.3 points and 8.3 rebounds in three games as the Friars advanced to the BIG EAST Championship game where they were defeated in overtime by eventual NCAA Champion Villanova. For his efforts, he was named to the BIG EAST All- Tournament Team. Duke, who shared the Co Freshman of the Year honor with Villanova's Jahvon Quinerly, is part of highly regarded freshman class (ranked 23rd in nation by ESPN.com) for Head Coach Ed Cooley. Duke, who finished his senior year at Cushing Academy ranked No. 47 overall by ESPN.com, averaged 17 points, five rebounds and four assists per game last season. Duke, who grew up in Providence, played AAU basketball for the Mass Rivals.

Watson Named To BIG EAST All-Rookie Team In 2017-18: It was announced on Sunday, March 4 that center Nate Watson (Arlington, Va.) was named to the BIG EAST All-Rookie Team. Watson became the first Friar named to the league's All-Rookie Team since LaDontae Henton earned the honor in 2012. Watson averaged 6.8 points per game and 1.9 rebounds per game last season.

Holt Returns To Lineup: Red shirt senior Emmitt Holt (Rochester, N.Y.) returns to the Friar lineup after sitting out the 2017-18 season due to an abdominal injury. Holt will be the veteran leader in the frontcourt and be an integral part of the team's success with his return. His ability to take control in the paint allowed him to shoot 52 percent from the field during the 2016-17 season. He averaged 12.5 points and 5.4 rebounds in 2017.

Friars Welcome Four Newcomers To The Team This Season: Head Coach Ed Cooley and his staff had another successful season recruiting, as they brought in the 23rd-best recruiting class led by the No. 47 recruit in the nation, according to ESPN.com – David Duke (Providence, R.I.). Duke is a 6-5 point guard from Cushing Academy in Ashburnham, Mass. In addition to Duke, Friartown will welcome A.J. Reeves (Roxbury, Mass.), Jimmy Nichols (Conway, S.C.), and Kris Monroe (Creedmoor, N.C.). Reeves is a 6-6 guard from Brimmer and May School in Chestnut Hill, Mass., who was ranked No. 55 overall by ESPN.com. Nichols is a 6-8 forward from Conway High School in Conway, S.C., who was ranked No. 23 power forward and No. 3 in South Carolina by 247sports.com and No. 32 power forward by Rivals.com. Monroe is 6-8 forward from St. David's School in Raleigh, N.C., who was ranked as the No. 43 power forward and No. 17 in the state by ESPN, No. 19 in the state by 247sports.com, and No. 45 at his position by Rivals.com. Both players will add to the Friars' low post presence.

New Home Of Friar Basketball - Friar Ruane Friar Development Center: Thanks to a generous gift from former Providence College Board of Trustees Chair Michael A. Ruane '71 & '13 Hon. and his wife, Elizabeth Ruane, Providence College began construction of the Ruane Friar Development Center in 2017, a new multi-purpose facility that will significantly enhance Friar athletics, student services, and College community life. The College began construction of Phase I of the project includes a new two-story structure attached to Alumni Hall. In September, the doors opened to the new facility which includes a basketball practice facility (with two courts), men's basketball offices, a strength and conditioning complex, a locker room, a state-of-the-art sports medicine center, a Hall of Fame and a dining room.

Friars In Overtime: The Friars have recorded a 1-0 mark this season in overtime games. The Friars have registered a 63-65 mark all-time in overtime games.

Friars Post Fifth Consecutive 20-Win Season In 2018: With the team's 72-68 win over Creighton in the BIG EAST Quarterfinals on March 8, the Friars earned their 20th victory on the season, which marked the squad's fifth consecutive season with 20 or more wins. The last time the Friars registered five consecutive 20-win seasons was 1973-74 to 1977-78. The Friar record for consecutive seasons with 20 or more wins is nine, which was established from 1958-59 to 1966-67.

Friars Make Fifth Consecutive NCAA Tournament Appearance For The First Time Ever: The Friars earned their fifth consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament in 2018. It marked the first time ever that the Friars made five consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances. The team advanced to the NCAA Tournament in each of the previous four seasons (2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017).

Friars Joined 12 Other Teams Making At Least Five Consecutive NCAA Tourneys: The Friars are one of 13 teams that made five or more consecutive appearances in the NCAA Tournament in 2018. The other 12 teams were Arizona, Cincinnati, Duke, Gonzaga, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan State, North Carolina, Villanova, Virginia, Wichita State and Xavier.

"DG" Patch On Friar Uniforms: In memory of former Friar Head Coach Dave Gavitt the Friars have worn a "DG" patch on their uniforms since the 2011-12 seaon. Gavitt led PC and Eastern basketball into the modern age. In 10 seasons as the head coach of the Friars, Gavitt led PC to 209 wins, including eight consecutive 20-win seasons, five NCAA appearances, three NIT appearances and five New England Coach of the Year honors. He led the Friars to 23 wins over Top-20 teams. His 1973 team made it to Final Four. In 1971, Gavitt was named Director of Athletics at PC, a position he held until 1982 when he resigned to be the director of the BIG EAST Conference. He also was named Head Coach of the 1980 USA Olympic basketball team. He was elected to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006.

Providence College Basketball: The 2017-18 campaign marks the 91st season of basketball at Providence College. Since the program started in 1926-27, Providence has posted a 1,452-971 mark, good for a .599 winning percentage. The Friars have made the NCAA Tournament 20 times and the National Invitation Tournament on 19 occasions.

-GO FRIARS-

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Players Mentioned

Alpha Diallo

David Duke

Emmitt Holt

Kris Monroe

Jimmy Nichols, Jr.

A.J. Reeves

Nate Watson