Providence Coach Ed Cooley Annihilates College Basketball’s Blue Bloods For Not Scheduling His Friars

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  • Ed Cooley has Providence in the Sweet Sixteen
  • He had a blunt response when asked why his teams don’t play more of college basketball’s blue bloods
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Providence is having a breakout season in 2022.

The Friars are in the Sweet Sixteen, where they’ll take on top seeded Kansas on Friday. Providence has won 27 games this year, winning the Big East regular season crown. They’ve gone a perfect 2-0 in the Big Dance, taking down Richmond and South Dakota State over the first two rounds.

With the monumental matchup versus the Jayhawks looming, head coach Ed Cooley was asked why his team hasn’t been able to schedule more of college basketball’s blue bloods over the years. After all, Providence is a program that takes immense pride in its hoops.

Cooley had a very straight forward response to the question, saying it’s not for Providence’s lack of trying.

Check out it below.

“The reason we don’t play the blue bloods is because they don’t want to come to the Dunkin’ Donuts Center.”

Wow.

It seems that the Friars are open to playing the Dukes and UNCs of the world, but that those power programs aren’t as interested in scheduling home-and-homes with Providence.

I guess you could say that those schools have earned the right to be picky, but has Providence not earned the respect to be considered?

They’re a notable program in one of college basketball’s most storied leagues.

Maybe opponents are just afraid to face the Friars’ student section and their newly formed T-Swift themed tradition. The Dunkin’ Donuts Center can certainly get LOUD.

Whatever the cause, it doesn’t sit well with Cooley. Luckily, he still gets to face teams like Villanova and UConn on an annual basis before taking his chances with the blue bloods in March. We’ll see how his team fares against Kansas this weekend.

A big win might earn his Friars a little more respect.