2018 -- S 2636

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LC005258

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2018

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S E N A T 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: Senators Ruggerio, McCaffrey, Goodwin, Algiere, and Felag

     Date Introduced: March 15, 2018

     Referred To: Recommended for Immediate Consideration

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Villanova; and

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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average; and

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

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hereby congratulates the Providence College Men’s Basketball Team for making the Finals of the

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Big East Tournament and for earning a bid in the NCAA Tournament for the fifth straight year,

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the most in the school’s history. We furthermore wish the Providence College Friars well in the

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NCAA Tournament and will be cheering them on to victory against Texas A&M in the first round

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of the NCAA Tournament; and be it further

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

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

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College Men’s Basketball Team.

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