NEW YORK — Providence coach Ed Cooley says his team will only accept an invitation to the NIT and not to any other postseason tournaments.
“If we don’t play in the NIT, our season is gone,” Cooley said following Providence’s 61-44 loss to Cincinnati in the Big East Tournament.
“I didn’t come to Providence College to play in another basketball tournament. If the standard is the NCAA, that’s the standard.”
Providence won seven of nine entering the Big East Tournament and harbored dreams of making an NCAA run.
They are now 17-14 and would appear to be a good candidate for the NIT.
“I thought our players did a tremendous job,” Cooley said. “I didn’t realize we started 0-3 to get to where we were to position ourselves to probably have success.”
A year from now, Providence could be a real force in the revamped Big East. Point guard Vincent Council is the lone senior on the roster, and the Friars will add transfers Carson Desrosiers and Tyler Harris, while Ricky Ledo is expected to be eligible, assuming he doesn’t leave and go pro.
“This is God’s basketball here in the Big East and it’s unfortunate, the things that have happened,” Cooley said. “Embrace change and look forward to a better future.”
