Twice during Providence’s run to the Big East Tournament Championship game last season Ed Cooley had a decision to make. In both the quarterfinals against Creighton and semifinals versus Xavier, the Friars led by three points in the waning seconds of overtime. PC chose not to foul in either game.
The decision nearly came back to bite Providence in the quarters. A blown defensive assignment led to a wide-open corner three from freshman sharpshooter Mitch Ballock, but the shot rimmed out — keeping PC’s dreams of a fifth straight NCAA tournament appearance alive.
With six seconds left against Xavier, Cooley’s players told him they wanted to defend and not foul.