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USA TV Talk Sports with Justin Mazzarese
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2/10/06
Justin Mazzarese
UConn- Providence Becoming Quite the Rivalry
In the land were college basketball is king, and queen, there lurks an underestimated opponent just a state away. The opponent is no stranger to being underestimated as it resides in the smallest in the Union. As a matter of fact, most people west of the Mississippi will question if Rhode Island is that island off of New York. Obviously when you are the smallest, what you lack in talent, you must make for it with hard work.
The Providence basketball program is not know for its numerous National Championships for it does not have one to call its own. In fact the closet that Providence ever got to dance was the Final Four in 1988. But over the past three years, Providence has been throwing their best punch of the year at the reigning king�s of college basketball.
At one point the two teams were on the opposite side of the spectrum. Providence�s once storied program reached it�s peak in 1988 when the great Rick Patino, who just recently took his third team, Louisville, to the Final four-a first for a coach, brought the Friars to the Final Four.
That year UConn was not considered the national powerhouse that it is now. However it was on the rise as it was the second year that now Hall of Fame Head Coach Jim Calhaun took over. Calhoun is now heading the number one ranked team in America. What got him there was a great savvy for recruiting great players such has Ray Allen, Richard Hamilton, Emeka Okafor and Ben Gordon who are known throughout the NBA as class act superstars.
However, the one recruit that got away, Ryan Gomes, will be his only criticism throughout his career. Gomes was a local talent from Waterbury; just an hour from the UConn campus and Calhoun chose not to recruit him to which Gomes chose Providence to display his talents. The choice not to recruit Gomes came back to haunt Calhoun when Gomes was a key component in defeated the king of college basketball on January 26 2004, 66-56, at the king�s court.
"Why did you not recruit him? He is an all-American from Connecticut" Calhoun was constantly questioned in the post-game news conference. He was broken and continuously reminded the players that he had recruited, future first round picks Ben Gordon and Emeka Okafur. It was not good enough has Gomes outplayed his recruits.
The UConn Huskies had the last laugh as they eventually won the National Championship at the end of the year. However, that accomplishment gave Providence more solitude in their win because they defeated the national champion on their home court.
The rivalry continued has UConn traveled to Providence has the number 18 team a year later. With the loss still in UConn's mind, they came to Providence with an added motive. Providence also wanted to prove that the win was not a fluke, so the teams left there best effort on the court in what turned out to be one of the best games of the year in college basketball. UConn eventually won the game but it took two overtimes and an extra effort to defeat Providence.
This past month they met once again at Providence. This time UConn was ranked number one and Providence was a team in shambles as Gomes joined local NBA team the Boston Celtics. Providence was not even given a chance to compete with the number one team by anyone who follows college basketball. However, this Providence team which possesses no NBA prospects came out fighting. They jumped out to a quick 16-10 lead but eventually were defeated by the king. However, they once again played their best game of the year against the king.
At the end of this year, UConn will most likely become the National Champion and reign has king of college basketball. But now they must be constantly on guard as one of the best punches is coming from right next to them from the smallest state. ________________________________________
Copyright 2006 Justin Mazzarese. All Rights Reserved.
Reprint without permission is prohibited.
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