Reflections on An Amazing Year for the Friars

Craig Leighton shares his thoughts on a remarkable season in Providence

The Friars may have lost in the Sweet 16, but it was definitely a season for the ages. Here are some quick takeaways from a most remarkable 2021-22 Providence College basketball season. 

Ed Cooley

Over the past few years, when fans or certain members of the media referred to Ed Cooley they would say something along the lines of how Ed Cooley is a very good coach, but he hasn’t won when it mattered most in the NCAA Tournament. We’ve also heard questions about his in-game ability.

Well, Cooley has answered those questions emphatically, so much so that he’s a finalist for nearly every coach of the year award. Reaching the second weekend of the tournament has given Cooley detractors even less ammo.

Transfers

Has any team in the country benefited more from the new transfer rule this year than Providence? Cooley and his staff identified players that may not have made headlines when they transferred to PC, but they fit this staff’s style and culture perfectly.

Justin Minaya was everything we could have wanted — a defensive stopper, mature, and savvy. If there was a loose ball to be had, Minaya came up with it.

Al Durham became PC’s offensive catalyst in the postseason, and seemed to be a leader from very early on.

Returning transfers Jared Bynum, Noah Horchler, and Ed Croswell helped form the heart and soul of PC's rotation, and each has improved pretty dramatically since coming to Providence.

Going forward, transfers are going to be the key to success for college teams. You’d have to imagine many players (and their support networks) saw what Cooley did with a team loaded with transfers and will give the Friars a long look. 

The Fans

I have always been proud of the way that the Friar fanbase travels to away games. This year, however, they brought it to a new level by turning Madison Square Garden, Buffalo, and Chicago into virtual home games. That’s very impressive for any college, but unprecedented for a school of PC's size. I never thought I’d see the day in which Providence fans were significantly louder than Kansas’ in a game played in the Midwest.

The Students

Are you kidding me?  This was the greatest student section I have seen since I began following PC in the 1970s. They took the Dunk to the next level — from an arena where teams did not want to play into one of the absolute toughest places to go in the country this year. 

Not coincidentally, PC went 16-1 at home this season.

Recruiting

PC finished with a record of 27-6 and a spot in the Sweet 16. Their coach showcased his engaging personality time and again on national television. Recruits were able to see on television or in-person what a madhouse the Dunk has become. I can’t wait to see what this season will mean for Providence on the recruiting trail. 

Carrying Over the Success

Unlike prior teams since the start of the Big East, PC will be able to fully capitalize on this year's Sweet 16 success. After Rick Pitino led the Friars to the Final Four in 1987, he was off to the New York Knicks the next season. When Pete Gillen led PC to the Elite Eight everyone knew it was just a matter of time before he left. He was gone a year later.

This year is different. 

Ed Cooley is not going anywhere, and he will be able to fully expand on this season's success.

PC has its swag back, and if Cooley has anything to say about the Friars will be a national player in college basketball for many years to come.