After Providence’s 80-72 road victory over Fairfield on Nov. 14, Friars first-year head coach Ed Cooley described the win as “bittersweet.”

In first five seasons as a head coach, Cooley turned a 13-19 Fairfield team in his first season into a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference-best 25-8 in his final year, and had the Stags within two wins of an automatic birth to the NCAA Tournament. The way he turned around Fairfield is exactly why Providence wanted Cooley to return to his hometown this spring to coach his beloved Friars. Read More »

Two seasons ago, Jamine Peterson was dominating the Big East at Providence, averaging 19.6 points per game and 10.2 rebounds. But after being dismissed from the team for violating team rules, he found a new beginning with the New Mexico Thunderbirds of the NBA Development League. I caught up with the former college star to talk about the D-League, the NBA Draft, Marshon Brooks and dunking on Shaq. Read More »

If there were anyone who would deserve a Most Improved Player of the Year award in the NCAA, it would be Providence College guard Marshon Brooks. After the Friars got off to a good start against the local competition, they struggled mightily once Big East play started, losing six straight games. But in their last two contests, however, they have pulled off upsets against two Top 25 teams (Louisville and Villanova), and Brooks has been their MVP with 27-point and 20-point outings, respectively. Read More »

There’s something about that sound, when ball meets net in the most beautiful of collisions, which separates the sport of basketball from all others. A hockey puck clanking off the post on a slapshot or a soccer ball silently curling its way into the top corner could never match the purity of resonance when a clean jumper finds the bottom of the net. If anyone should know that sound, it’s Dwight Brewington. Read More »

Weeks past the deadline for early entries into the 2010 NBA Draft, Providence sophomore forward Jamine Peterson is going pro.

“After speaking to my family and my coaches, I came to this conclusion,” Peterson, a 6-6 Brooklyn native, told me on the phone just a few minutes ago.

After putting up 19.6 points and 10.2 rebounds per game this season, “Greedy” was considering leaving early for the NBA, but initially decided to stay in school. So for him to change his mind today is curious to say the least, especially with reports coming out of Providence that Peterson was dismissed from the Friars program for undisclosed reasons. By leaving school now, Peterson would have to play overseas or in the D-League before becoming eligible for the 2011 NBA Draft. Read More »