Both these teams are incredibly similar. Both have a great coach, a high scoring PG, a lackluster regular season, and a BE championship. Am I that crazy to believe that the friars have a chance at a NC?
They don't have a Kemba Walker, so no chance.
Yes. Connecticut was a 3 seed, Providence is an 11 seed. Equating them is as crazy as implying Ed Cooley is as good as Jim Calhoun.
That being said, I wouldn't be shocked to see Providence beat UNC.
UConn was 9-9 in the greatest single season for a conference ever, a 16 team, 11 bid league. Providence was 10-8 in an ok four bid league. UConn also didn't lose to a non-BE team the entire season. I really like this team, but I don't think they're going anywhere.
Providence will not get by North Carolina. Providence's weakness is not having any depth, so they have to worry about foul trouble. North Carolina has a lot of depth and plays a fast pace, which will get Providence in foul trouble. However, the one advantage Providence has is that they are a great free throw shooting team and North Carolina is a poor free throw shooting team. However, as soon as Batts fouls out Providence is done against North Carolina.
Like UConn, Providence's Academic Progress Rate score now is below NCAA standards, according to a blurb in the WSJ today. That is too bad. Academics is one area where you don't want to follow UConn.