25 Reasons to Look Forward to 2013-’14

We are hours from the start of the season and rabid Friar fans can hardly wait. Below are 25 reasons to look forward to the upcoming season.

1. Providence vs. Kentucky on December 1st at the Barclay’s Center. Need I say more?

2. Round robin match-ups with all Big East opponents. Basketball as it was meant to be played.

3. The national media finally discovering what kind of a clutch player Bryce Cotton is.

4. Looking down at the PC bench and finally seeing more guys in uniforms than in suits. Real depth has arrived in Friartown.

5. Listening to Gus Johnson and Bill Rafferty call a PC basketball game. It should be epic. Get your DVRS ready.

6. Playing St. John’s and Jakarr Sampson, Chris Obekpa, and Orlando Sanchez twice. As Coach Cooley says “If you are not with us we are going to enjoy beating you.”

7. Kadeem Batts showing everyone that he is, indeed, a legitimate pro prospect.

8. Ed Cooley’s post game press conferences. There is no more “genuine” coach in America than Cooley.

9. Walking into the Dunk for the first time this season. There is nothing exceptional about the Dunk, but it will always be a special place to me. There is an awful lot of PC basketball history that I have seen there.

10. Watching the Cooley World Order go after the opposing coaches again this year. Can’t wait to see what they come up with. Also watching the antics of the kid in the black spandex suit and the Friar Mascot on the sidelines.

11. Seeing Tyler Harris and Carson Derosiers finally be able to play. It has been a long wait, but it is going to be worth it.

12. Listening to John Rooke and Joe Hassett call a game. They are the best, and hearing their voices on the radio again means the season has started.

13.  Watching Kris Dunn play the point. We did not see the real Kris Dunn last year and he is my early favorite for most improved player in the Big East, if he can stay healthy.

14. Watching PC play for the first time at the Hinkle Fieldhouse. I will be having flashbacks of Joe Mullaney, Vinny Ernst, Lenny Wilkens, and Jim Hadnot while that game is going on.

15. Meeting up with old friends and fans who I have not seen since the season ended. Always great to see all those familar faces once again as the season starts.

16. Watching Brandon Austin go up against Rysheed Jordan of St. John’s. The battle of Philly continues.

17. Watching All American Doug McDermott of Creighton come into the Dunk and play. He is truly a special player on the college level.

18. The new rules changes. Hopefully the new hand checking and charge/block rules will mean more offense in college basketball.

19. Seeing LaDontae Henton take care of the boards. He has said that he wants to lead the Big East in rebounding this year, and I would not bet against him.

2o. The new teams. During an eight day period from 1/18 to 1/24 Creighton, Butler, and Xavier will all invade the Dunk. Let’s hope that Friar fans show them what a real Big East home court advantage is all about.

21. Proving the national pundits wrong. Most national basketball writers and coaches have picked PC anywhere from sixth to eighth in the conference.

22. Instant Defense. Can’t wait for the first time Teddy (White Lightning) Bancroft comes off the bench to re-energize the defense during a key point in the game.

23. PC vs URI December 5th at the Ryan Center. Finally both teams are on the rise. Should be great.

24. Madison Square Garden. It is about time PC does some damage in the Big East Tournament, and this just may be the team to do it.

25. Selection Sunday. This will be the year that Friar fans will be glued to their seats during Selection Sunday.

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