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Friars Win 20th in Double OT Classic

COTTONWINGSPAN

It is fitting that this Providence team picked up their 20th victory under these circumstances. Ed Cooley came home three seasons ago to not just coach a team, but rebrand a program that needed it in seemingly every way. It’s a team that has taken on his personality — tough, irrepressible, resilient — and in the meantime continues breaking through barriers that previous Friar teams couldn’t.

Providence reached the 20 win mark for the first time since their NCAA Tournament appearance of 2004, and did so by finally overcoming a Marquette bunch that had bullied them for much of the past decade. The win was the first PC had over the Golden Eagles since January 2007. And they did it on Senior Night when nothing came easily for them. With both teams playing for their NCAA Tournament lives they traded big shots through regulation and two overtime sessions before PC somehow pulled it out in the closing seconds.

Fitting indeed.

For all of the praise that will surely be heaped on Cooley for navigating his way through a season full of injury and administrative land mines, the coach deflected all credit to his players after Tuesday’s 81-80 nail biter  — one player in particular (more on Cooley’s thoughts on that topic in a moment).

Seemingly nothing has come easily for this group of players — both this season, and for the veterans, throughout their careers at Providence. At this time a year ago the expectation in Friartown was that this core would be accompanied by the likes of Ricky Ledo, Kris Dunn and Brandon Austin. Still, as the pieces started falling from this roster the core stuck together, and their reward was an utterly joyful night at the Dunkin Donuts Center to close out the home regular season.

Kadeem Batts came out of the gates firing — carrying Providence to an early 16-6 lead, while LaDontae Henton was up for the physical challenge Buzz Williams’ group presented, grabbing 16 rebounds to accompany his 20 points.

Carson Desrosiers had five more blocks and a late free throw in overtime to tie it, and Josh Fortune made three monstrous three pointers late after struggling with his shot for much of the night (the latest positive sign in the continued maturation of the sophomore).

Bryce Cotton was, well, Bryce Cotton: 25 points, 9 assists, 7 rebounds, 15 free throw attempts, a block, a steal, and of course, 50 minutes played.

When it appeared as though Providence was their most desperate Cotton came through clutch. After Henton made a layup in the second overtime to cut the lead to one with nine seconds left, Cotton forced a jump ball with the possession arrow pointing PC’s way. On the ensuing inbounds pass Cotton was fouled, and he calmly connected on points 24 and 25 on the evening for the 81-80 final score.

Afterwards Cooley made the case for Cotton as co-player of the year in the conference, “In our conference I think we have two of the top 10 players in the country. Do I think Mr. McDermott deserves National Player of the Year? Yes, but if Bryce Cotton is not one of the players of the year in this conference it would be a travesty.

If he’s not the player of the year in this conference, I don’t know who is more deserving of most valuable player.”

Regardless of any awards Cotton receives at season’s end, he’s established himself as an all-time Friar. He surpassed another PC legend on the career scoring list on Tuesday (Marvin Barnes), but just as significantly Cotton has been the catalyst behind the amazing turnaround under Ed Cooley.

Providence fans remember the winners, and no matter what transpires the rest of the way Cotton and his teammates can lay claim to a 20 win season just three years after seeing the program’s low point when they were freshmen.

There’s work to be done if this team is going to reach the NCAA Tournament, but Creighton is still four days away. Friartown can be excused for savoring one of the truly special nights we’ve seen in this historic building.

What a night it was.

Email Kevin at kevin.farrahar@friarbasketball.com

Twitter: @Kevin_Farrahar

 

 

 

 

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