A Message for Big Blue Nation

[CraigBelhumeur]

http://friarbasketball.com/2013/12/01/providence-kentucky-barclays/

[Lavinwood]

Awesome article! This is not your father's PC. I remember when we beat you guys by like 30 with our freshmen class in 2012. This is a completely different Friars team. You guys have size, and you have a very dangerous offense that can keep up with the Kentucky's. I'll be honest, I'm kind of torn though. I admire Cooley for saying Kentucky is just another team…big whoop (essentially), but at the same time I think it would have been better not to awaken the sleeping giant, as I'm sure that quote is in the Kentucky locker room. With teams like that you want to look like a bunny then hit them like a lion and totally catch them off guard. Either way though I think this PC team is ready. It really is too bad we can't see what you guys look like vs. UK with both All Americans totally healthy as well as Austin playing. Cooley really impresses me with his recruiting. PC is getting some huge, huge names now. Even Lavin (regarded as among the best recruiters) has not brought us a McDonald's All-American yet.

So please, Kentucky…laugh. Joke around. Ask, "Who is Ed Cooley"? I'm sure they will get a little more than they wanted by the end of the game. PC can knock these types of teams off as we saw in 2009 over #1 Pitt…I still remember that. I'm a grad student at SJU but I have family members who are PC alumni and it's always been a close 2nd team to root for after my Johnnies!

Good luck Friars!

[Bill Marsh]

That was a weird season for Providence. They opened that year by going 11-2. They ended it by going 4-15. After losing that game to St. John's by 24, they turned around and beat Louisville by 31 - a Louisville team that was en route to the Final Four. It was Cooley's first season as coach at PC.

[CraigBelhumeur]

Thanks Lavinwood, appreciate the feedback.

But you have a point about waking up Kentucky. I will say this though... the attention that this game has received, post Cooley comments, has been pretty impressive. Can't hurt recruiting that's for sure.

[Bill Marsh]

I like what Cooley's doing. He's changing the culture. Reminds me of when Rick Pitino took over at PC. He immediately set high goals for the program. Said they would win championships. Same kind of stuff. The PC program had been in much the same place as it was before Cooley arrived. By Rick's second season, the impossible had happened. The Final Four?

I likthirste the "We don't back down from anyone" attitude. If the coach doesn't say it, we can't expect the kids to. And someone's got to say it. Cooley's the perfect coach to deliver the message because he's not full of bluster. He generally plays down his presence, so when he makes a big statement, people take him seriously. I don't think that this will give Kentucky a competitive advantage at all. Rather I think the coach is letting his players know publicly that he believes in them, will stand behind them, and expects a lot of them.

[Lavinwood]

Being discussed as an upset alert special on FS1. I know this is a longshot, but imagine PC beating #3 UK and SJ beating #8 Cuse? That would basically shut everyone up for a long time about the new conference vs. the old one.