Congrats Providence

[DeePhence]

I love this conference.

When our AD, Dave Gavitt started the original Big East, we were doormats. We had a few good years form time to time, but the conference became too big, too football, too spread out.

We now have five of the original BE teams, two late comers from the midwest that are rich basketball programs in two great cities, and now we have added three classy, excellent programs with excellent fans, arenas and traditions.

I am sure there will be some bitter times once and a while among the fans, but because I am in a great mood enjoying winning the BE Tournament for the first time with our old friends and our new friends in this great league, at the moment, I just hope we all make this conference proud, different, unique and successful.

[admin]

Very entertaining game. I thought Creighton was going to steal the win late, but the Jays just couldn't hit shots. Congrats to PC and the Friars' fans!

[Trifecta]

Congrats to PC! It's hurts to say it, but you were the better team tonight. Perfect gameplay by Cooley and great execution by the players. Cotton put the team on his back, and would've been the POY in any other year. If it had to be anyone else other than Creighton, I'm glad it was PC. I really like Cooley--great coach and better human being.

[xsteve1]

Congrats Providence. Just an unbelievable coaching job by Ed Cooley. Now stay on that roll for the NCAA's.

[GumbyDamnit!]

So happy for PC. Tremendous job by Ed C and the team.

[billyjack]

Thanks guys. Great competitive hard fought game by both teams. McDermott was hitting 35 footers near the end. Let's all do some damage in the NCAA's. Final Fours for all of us, we can all play with any team in the country. Go Big East!

[viccollucci]

This can be said of the emotions of the teams and fans of Villanova on Thursday and then again of Creighton tonight ---
as far as having such a great BE season and then having it all blow up in one game:

It is like building a big beautiful pot --- and you work and work for months and months and months --- and then somebody comes up to you and drops it on you and breaks it....


Tough losses for the 1 and 2 seeds in this tournament...Both great teams that should make the regional semi-finals at a minimum...

As for the Friars, I don't want to hear anything about how this is some disaster for the league etc, etc etc,...PC is playing great basketball and they'd have taken all comers in last year's BE configuration....To wit: NC State, fresh off their loss to North Carolina Central just two months ago, crapped all over Syracuse Friday --- let's just say that if the Friars got matched up against Syracuse Friday, they've have been leading by 20 with 5 minutes to go (probably would have won by 4, but still)...Providence would have destroyed Syracuse this tournament had Syracuse given their Friday performance (which they did, since they DID give it), no question...If the Friars then got Pitt on Saturday, they'd have beaten them too (granted some SJU fan might be whining that Pitt went 5 for 33 from the line, but still, no question the Friars would have run over the Orange and PItt this year in the BE tourney)...Rutgers? This team needs to be sent into that league with Mount Saint Mary's and Robert Morris rather than the B1G...ND? PC kills these jokers by 25...South Florida -- PC kills these jokers by 30...West Virginia -- they're not as good as SJU, who the Friars beat in the tourney -- so PC trumps...,So that leaves Lousiville, Cincinnatti and UConn....Creighton is better than UConn and Cincinnati -- so PC would have beaten either of them in a BE Final...Louisville is slightly better than Creighton, who the Friars led by dobule digits in the second half and beat by 7, so the Friars could have beaten Louisville by about 4.......So without question had these 9 teams still been in the league (Syracuse, Pitt, Rutgers, WVU, Lousiville, UConn, South Florida, Cincinnati and ND) PC could have taken them all out this tournament....Even if they had to play FIVE games: They'd have run over Rutgers, ND, Syracuse, Pitt, and then UConn/Cincinnati/UConn in the final....

[ivet]

Great Job PC, I dont think anyone had you guys anywhere near the top of the conference at the start of the season. I do recall some folks wanting Ed out at the start of the season. Looks like his job is pretty safe. Good luck in the Tourney.

[XUFan09]

Great Job PC, I dont think anyone had you guys anywhere near the top of the conference at the start of the season. I do recall some folks wanting Ed out at the start of the season. Looks like his job is pretty safe. Good luck in the Tourney.

Lol the preseason 7th and 6th place teams finished 3rd and 4th in the regular season and went on to the semifinals and a championship, respectively.

[BleedBlueHoya]

Congrats Providence! That was fun to watch. And the crowd was great too!