NEW YORK — When Brian Blaney kept knocking on Ed Cooley’s door with news of another challenging test for the Friars this season, the coaching staff clenched its teeth and accepted nearly every test.
Blaney is in charge of digging up games for Providence College’s hoop schedule. The Friars have survived Top 50 RPI schedules each of the last four years and played in the NCAA Tournament, and that’s the goal again this season. But when Cooley signed on to open this season with a litany of strong challenges, the coach was counting on lining up with his most battle-tested team yet.