2018 -- H 7948

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2018

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

CONGRATULATING THE PROVIDENCE COLLEGE MEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM FOR

MAKING THE FINALS OF THE BIG EAST BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT AND FOR

EARNING A BID IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT FOR THE FIFTH STRAIGHT YEAR,

THE MOST IN THE SCHOOL'S HISTORY

     Introduced By: Representatives Mattiello, Amore, Morgan, Corvese, and Fogarty

     Date Introduced: March 14, 2018

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, The Providence College Friars Basketball Team has won twenty or more

games for the fifth straight season and will be participating in the NCAA Basketball Tournament

a school record five straight years. This season, the Friars have thus far compiled an excellent 21-

13 record accompanied by a tie for third place in the always tough Big East Conference. At the

Big East Conference Tournament at Madison Square Garden, Providence thrilled their followers

as they made a fierce run for the title, knocking off Creighton in overtime in the quarterfinals, the

top 15 nationally ranked Xavier Musketeers once again in overtime in the semi-finals, before

falling in overtime in a hard-fought contest in the championship game to top 5 nationally ranked

Villanova; and

     WHEREAS, The current edition of the Friars were led all season by the exemplary

veteran leadership and sterling play provided by Seniors Rodney Bullock, Kyron Cartwright and

Jalen Lindsey. Forward Rodney Bullock led the squad in scoring, averaging 14 points per game

and providing much needed interior defense and rebounding. Guard Kyron Cartwright averaged

11.8 points per game and led the team in steals and assists with 5.7 per game, and Guard Jalen

Lindsey who finished fourth on the team in scoring, averaging 8.9 points per game. Providence

also benefited all season from the important contributions provided by Sophomore Guard Alpha

Diallo who finished second on the team in scoring with 13 points per game and led the team in

rebounding with 6.6 per game, Center Nate Watson, who was named to the Big East All-Rookie

Team, and Junior Guard Isiah Jackson, who led the team in free throw percentage with a 78.2

average; and

     WHEREAS, Once again, the Providence College Basketball Team was led by Head

Coach Ed Cooley, who is fast gaining a reputation as one of the elite basketball coaches in the

nation. Widely admired for his innovative coaching and ability to motivate and connect with his

players, Coach Cooley once again had the Friars competing at the elite level in college basketball.

His team knocked off top 15 ranked Xavier twice this season, and defeated top 5 ranked

Villanova once this season as Coach Cooley led the team to its fifth straight twenty-win season

and a school record fifth straight NCAA Tournament appearance; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and

Providence Plantations hereby congratulates the Providence College Men’s Basketball Team for

making the Finals of the Big East Tournament and for earning a bid in the NCAA Tournament for

the fifth straight year, the most in the school’s history. We furthermore wish the Providence

College Friars well in the NCAA Tournament and will be cheering them on to victory against

Texas A&M in the first round of the NCAA Tournament; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Mr. Ed Cooley, Head Coach, Providence

College Men’s Basketball Team.

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