For the second time in three years one of college basketball’s true giants, North Carolina, ended the season for Providence College — a school with a mere 4,000 undergrads, but a rich tradition and a passionately proud fan base.
Two years ago Bryce Cotton led a Friar resurgence, one that resulted in an opening round matchup with many of the same Tar Heels we saw tonight in Raleigh — Marcus Paige, Brice Johnson, Kennedy Meeks — and Providence had Roy Williams’ team on the ropes on that Friday night in San Antonio.
Williams’ team has never lost its first game of the NCAA Tournament, but he was powerless to stop Cotton, the sub-six foot scoring guard who hung 36 points, eight assists, five rebounds, and two steals on Carolina in 40 minutes of heart, soul, showmanship, and guts.