Men's Basketball Game Notes vs. Sacred Heart

Friars Versus Sacred Heart: The Friars are 5-0 all-time versus Sacred Heart, with all five games having been played at the Dunkin' Donuts Center. In the most recent meeting, the Friars earned an 89-75 win on December 22, 2017. The two teams first met on December 19, 2001 when the Friars earned an 85-76 victory at the Dunkin' Donuts Center.

Friars in Season Openers: The Friars will open their 93rd season of basketball on Tuesday, November 5 versus Sacred Heart at the Dunkin' Donuts Center. The Friars have posted an 81-11 (.880) mark all-time in regular-season openers. In addition, the Friars hold an 84-8 (.913) record in home openers. The Friars open the 2019-20 season at home for the 19th time in 20 years. The only time in the past 19 seasons the Friars did not open at home was the 2007-08 season, when they played Temple in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Providence has won 16 of the last 17 openers, with the lone defeat coming in the 2008-09 game against Northeastern. Last season, the Friars opened the season with a 77-67 win over Siena at the Dunkin' Donuts Center on November 6, 2018.

Friars Post 2-0 Mark In Exhibition Action: The Friars posted a 2-0 mark in exhibition games this season. Providence opened its exhibition season with an 87-68 win over Stonehill College on October 19 at the Dunkin' Donuts Center. Senior Alpha Diallo (New York, N.Y.) led the way with 23 points and seven rebounds. Graduate student Emmitt Holt (Rochester, N.Y.) posted a double-double with 17 points and 13 rebounds. Sophomore David Duke (Providence, R.I.) contributed with 16 points, seven rebounds and six assists. In the team's second exhibition win, the Friars earned a 60-53 victory over Purdue on October 27 in Indianapolis, Ind. Diallo again paced the Friars with 22 points and 12 boards. Holt chipped in with 10 points and three rebounds.

Diallo Named Preseason All-BIG EAST First Team: It was announced on October 10 that senior forward Alpha Diallo (New York, N.Y.) was named to the Preseason All- BIG EAST First Team. Diallo was a unanimous First Team selection as voted on by the coaches. The senior forward was named Second Team All-BIG EAST in 2018-19.

Friars Picked Fourth In Preseason All-BIG EAST Poll: It was announced on October 10 that the Friars were picked tied for fourth in the Preseason All-BIG EAST Coaches Poll. The Friars, who return all five starters, finished 2018-19 with an 18-16 mark and a 7-11 record in league play. PC finished last season in eighth place and the squad also advanced to the NIT where it was defeated by Arkansas in the First Round.

Diallo And Watson On Watch Lists: Senior Alpha Diallo (New York, N.Y.) and junior Nate Watson (Portsmouth, Va.) have been named to Watch Lists. Diallo was named to the 2020 Julius Erving Award Watch List. The annual award recognizes the top small forward in Division I men's basketball. Watson was named to the 2020 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award Watch List. The annual award recognizes the top center in Division I men's basketball. Both awards are organized by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and will be presented on April 10.

Friars Made Their 20th Appearance In The NIT: The Providence College men's basketball team made its first appearance in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) since 2013 (20th appearance overall) when the Friars played Arkansas on Tuesday, March 19, 2019 at the Dunkin' Donuts Center in Providence. The Friars were defeated by Arkansas, 84-72. The Friars, who finished the regular season in eighth place in the BIG EAST with a 7-11 mark, registered an 18-16 record overall. Providence posted a 1-1 mark in the BIG EAST Tournament. The Friars defeated Butler (80-57) and were defeated by No. 25 Villanova (73-62) in the Quarterfinals at the BIG EAST Tournament in New York. The Friars, who won the NIT in 1961 and 1963, have registered a 32-21 mark all-time in NIT games.

Cooley And Friars Earned Seventh Consecutive Post-Season Bid: The Friars played in their seventh consecutive post-season tournament in 2019 in Ed Cooley's eighth year as a head coach of the Friars. It marked the first time the Friars reached the post season seven straight times since Dave Gavitt's Friars accomplished the feat from 1970-71 to 1977-78 (eight consecutive seasons). When Cooley was hired in 2011, the Friars had finished under .500 in six of the 10 previous seasons and had been to just one NCAA Tournament (2004) in that 10-year span. In 2019, the Friars made their seventh consecutive post-season appearance, including their second NIT berth in those seven years. In Cooley's second season as the Friars' coach, he led the Friars to the 2013 NIT Quarterfinals. In 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018, Cooley guided the team to the NCAA Tournament.

Ed Cooley Was Inducted Into The Stonehill Hall of Fame On Nov. 1: Providence College men's basketball Head Coach Ed Cooley was inducted into the Stonehill College Athletic Hall of Fame on Friday, November 1. Cooley joined men's basketball player Jamal Gomes '95, men's ice hockey player Butch Santosuosso '90, women's lacrosse player Carissa Medeiros '03 and the 1999 Women's Soccer Team as inductees to Stonehill's 31st Athletic Hall of Fame class. Cooley, a product of Central High School in Providence, was a member of the men's basketball program at Stonehill between 1989 and 1994, serving as team captain for three seasons. He finished his career with 795 points, 594 rebounds and over 100 assists in 107 career games. Cooley helped Stonehill to four Northeast-10 Tournament appearances, reaching the semifinals his senior year, when he finished seventh among Northeast-10 Conference leaders with 7.0 rebounds per game.

Friars Post Seventh Consecutive Season At .500 Or Better: The Friars concluded the 2018-19 season with an 18-16 record and finished above .500 for the seventh consecutive season. This marked the fourth longest streak of consecutive .500 or better seasons in the 92-year history of Friar basketball. The other streaks are: 12 seasons (1956-67); 10 seasons (1969-78) and nine seasons (1929-37).

Alpha Diallo Named Second Team All-BIG EAST: Guard Alpha Diallo (New York, N.Y.) was named Second Team All-BIG EAST on March 10. Diallo averaged 16.0 points and 8.1 rebounds. His 8.1 rebounds were second in the BIG EAST in overall action. He also ranked ninth in scoring and he was tied for first in the league in double-doubles with 10. Diallo was the first Friar to earn All-BIG EAST honors since Rodney Bullock and Kyron Cartwright were named to the Second Team in 2017.

Ed Cooley And Four Friars Help USA Pan Am Games Team To A Bronze Medal In August: A select team of men's basketball standouts from the BIG EAST Conference represented the United States at the 2019 Pan American Games. Head Coach Ed Cooley served as the head coach of the team and led the squad to a Bronze Medal. Four Friars were members of the team -- Alpha Diallo (New York, N.Y.), David Duke (Providence, R.I.), A.J. Reeves (Roxbury, Ma.) and Nate Watson (Portsmouth, Va.). It represented the first time a team from a single Division l conference represented the U.S. in the sport of men's basketball in Pan American Games competition. Diallo led the team in scoring (15.0 ppg) and rebounding 5.6 (rpg).

Ed Cooley Ranks Third On The PC All-Time Win List: With the Friars' win versus Butler on March 9, 2019, Ed Cooley recorded his 161st victory as the Friar Head Coach and moved into third place on the all-time win list for PC Head Coaches. The two all-time winningest Friar head coaches are: Joe Mullaney (319-164), and Dave Gavitt (209-84). Cooley has a 162-110 mark in eight seasons as the Friars head coach.

Friars All-Time Versus Top-25 Teams: The Friars have posted a 116-265 (.304) mark all-time versus top-25 teams, including a 0-5 mark in 2018-19.

Diallo Surpassed 1,000 Career Points: Senior Alpha Diallo (New York, N.Y.) has recorded 1,155 career points in 99 games (11.7 ppg). He became the 50th player in Friar history to score 1,000 or more career points. Diallo ranks 33rd all-time in scoring at Providence.

Diallo Registered His 10th Double-Double Of The Season: Senior forward Alpha Diallo (New York, N.Y.) scored 12 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in the Friars' First Round NIT loss to Arkansas on March 19, 2019. For Diallo it was his 10th double-double of the season and the 16th of his career. His 10 double-doubles ranked tied for first in the BIG EAST in 2018-19. He led the Friars in scoring (16.0 ppg), rebounding (8.1 rpg) and assists (3.1 apg). He recorded a team-best 10 games in 2018-19 with 20 or more points. Diallo was named All-BIG EAST Second Team in March.

Diallo Finished Second In The BIG EAST In Rebounding: Senior forward Alpha Diallo (New York, N.Y.) finished second in the BIG EAST in rebounding in overall play (8.1 rpg) in 2018-19. He recorded 10 or more rebounds in 10 games in 2018-19, including a career-high 15 boards at St. John's on February 9. Diallo leads all active BIG EAST players in rebounding with 346 boards in league regular-season games.

Watson Finished Second On The Team In Scoring: Junior Nate Watson (Arlington, Va.) ranked first on the team in field goal percentage (59 percent), second in scoring (11.7 ppg) and second in rebounding (5.2 rpg). The center recorded his first career double-double when he scored 19 points and grabbed 10 rebounds at Boston College on December 4. He tied his career high in points with 21 at Butler on February 23. He was 8-10 from the field and grabbed five rebounds in the win. It was the fourth time he scored 21 points in a game in 2018-19.

Friars 60-4 In Non-Conference Action At The Dunk Under Ed Cooley: The Friars have posted a 60-4 mark in eight seasons under Ed Cooley in non-conference home games at the Dunkin' Donuts Center.

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, the multi-purpose facility has enhanced Friar athletics, student services, and College community life. The project included a two-story structure attached to Alumni Hall. In September 2018, the doors opened to the new facility, which included 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 recorded a 2-2 mark in 2018-19 in overtime games. They have registered a 64-67 mark all-time in overtime games.

"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 season. 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 2019-20 campaign marked the 93rd season of basketball at Providence College. Since the program started in 1926-27, Providence has posted a 1,463-984 mark, good for a .598 winning percentage. The Friars have made the NCAA Tournament 20 times and the National Invitation Tournament on 20 occasions.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Rodney Bullock

Kyron Cartwright

Alpha Diallo

David Duke

Emmitt Holt

A.J. Reeves

Nate Watson

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