Here's the thing about the Providence-URI basketball rivalry.
Thinking out loud…while wondering why Frosty the Snowman needs a scarf…
Has the fire and brimstone been sucked from the once-heated rivalry between PC and URI that has defined Rhode Island sports for decades? Seems so.
Not for any particular reason other than… it’s just nature taking its course. Since the time Sly Williams snubbed Providence at the last minute to attend Rhode Island in the 70’s, this ‘rivalry’ has been one for the fans to embrace.
The coaches and players — who often know each other very well — know it’s just another game.
Rhode Island’s state university has long held the underdog role in this relationship, if only because of the number of PC grads working in and around the city of Providence and the State Capitol. And… the Friars program experienced success on a national level once upon a time with well-known and beloved athletes.
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Lenny Wilkins, John Thompson, John Egan, Ray Flynn, Jimmy Walker, Ernie D, Marvin Barnes – you know the list.
This takes nothing away from any Rams’ success in history. Ernie Calverley, the aforementioned Sly Williams, Tom Garrick, Tyson Wheeler, Cuttino Mobley, Jimmy Baron, Lamar Odom — there have been championship teams, thanks to great players.
The Friars, say the history books, have simply had a bit more of it. They also have had the exposure of the Big East – a national presence created by PC’s Dave Gavitt and advanced into elite status by one-time Friar employee Mike Tranghese – which has long been a point of contention with URI fans and alumni.
Couple that with PC’s success on the court, and the state school developed an inferiority complex over time… while the private school on Smith Hill may have also developed a superiority complex at the same time.
Thus, we had a real Rhode Island rivalry. One of our own, outside of Red Sox-Yankees, or Patriots-Giants/Jets. But over time, the coaches and players have known the truth. This is a nice game to win, but it’s only one game. It should not make or break the season.
Even though it can, if you let it. Providence has Big East battles to look forward to. Rhody has respectability to regain within the Atlantic-10 as Archie Miller rebuilds. The nonsensical idea that these two teams should return to playing twice a year? Like in the old days when teams rarely traveled outside of their region?
Rubbish. Impractical, if not impossible. And very short-sighted. Both schools have more important tasks, within their respective seasons, that lie ahead. Sometimes, when you take in too much of a good thing, overindulgence comes back to bite.
Pushing back from the table, like at Thanksgiving, isn’t always a bad idea. History has shown that whoever wins this game isn’t necessarily a shoo-in for further success, and the loser isn’t always doomed to fail.
But it sure is fun to hear the chants, the taunts, the screams, the insults…and the passion. As long as the schools keep letting fans into the games, the fire will never completely go out. Even if, in reality, it’s just another game.
∎Speaking of the great Ernie DiGregorio, he’s written a book on the untold story of Dave Gavitt, Marvin Barnes, and himself, entitled “Star with a Broken Heart.” Do yourself a favor and catch a copy for the holidays, it’s quick and a fun read. You too, Rhody fam.
∎Elsewhere on the local hardwood, Bryant discovered a steady diet of “Big Boy” isn’t easily digestible. After whacking nationally ranked and Final Four participant Florida Atlantic, Xavier rolled the Bulldogs 100-75.
∎Did anyone notice this kid, Jared Bynum at Stanford, was leading the nation in assists last week?
∎In the Big East, Xavier may have beaten Bryant, but they also lost a ‘buy game’ to Oakland of the Horizon League. DePaul lost a buy game to Northern Illinois of the Mid American Conference. Creighton – sheesh, Creighton – dropped one to Colorado State, which isn’t exactly a household brand.
∎On occasion, Goliath takes a rap from David right in the mouth. Just sayin’.
∎UConn set a record with a win over New Hampshire this week. The defending national champs won their 24th consecutive non-conference game by a double-digit margin, breaking the mark of 23 such wins set by North Carolina in 2008-09. Qualifies as a ‘blueblood’ thing, don’cha think?
∎Despite losing in the Maui finals to Purdue, Marquette is ranked 3rd nationally – their highest rank since 1977-78. Cumberland’s Tyler Kolek hit the 1,000-point mark for his career.
∎And a week after stubbing their toes to Big Five Philly neighbor Penn, Villanova wins a title at the Battle for Atlantis. Then, the Wildcats stumbled again, to St. Joseph’s. Winless in Philly… but ranked 18th nationally at midweek.
∎Tammy Reiss’ A-10 preseason favorite URI team won the Las Vegas Holiday Classic and has a meeting with Erin Baath’s PC Friars looming in the near future.
∎None of the Division I football teams in the state had a losing record this season. When was the last time that happened? URI, Brown, and Bryant all had multiple players receive postseason honors. Bryant QB Zevi Eckhaus was named as the Big South-Ohio Valley Conference offensive player of the year.
What in the wide world of Will Blackmon and Mark van Eeghen is going on around here?
∎Like the inevitability of death and taxes – and sometimes in that order – Hendricken won another RI state (D1) football championship. The Hawks’ success on the gridiron is reminiscent of the dominance on the ice Mount Saint Charles once projected under the late Bill Belisle.
∎ICYMI: Washington State athletic director Pat Chun told the Seattle Times last week that college athletics “is broken beyond repair.” NIL has created a play-for-pay mentality among athletes, the 108-year-old Pac-12 Conference is disintegrating thanks to realignment, but the expanding College Football Playoff gives him hope. For what, exactly?
∎My buddy “Big E” sez he asked Mrs. E if she ever fantasized about him. “Yes,” she said. “I fantasize about you taking out the trash, doing the dishes and mowing the lawn.”
∎X post of the Week, from @NESN: “NFL teams are 50-2 this season when allowing 10 or fewer points. Guess who has the two losses.”
∎The Mac dilemma: He is broken beyond repair, at least for now. But his contract is favorable, and he can play quarterback at some level. But can Bailey Zappe, Malik Cunningham or even Will Grier beat him out to be next year’s back up?
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∎Bill O’Brien fell on the sword this week, taking the blame for the offensive, um, offense in Foxboro. Somewhere, Matt Patricia must be smiling.
∎The BB dilemma: Keep him, trade him, or let him go? The Krafts have loyalty to Belichick for his part in increasing the value of their football business from $170 million to $7 billion over 30 years. Think anyone will trade a 1st rounder to New England for a 72-year-old coach’s services?
Let him go? You’ve lost your senses. Letting go of the guy who is likely to be considered THE greatest coach in the history of the NFL…isn’t what winning franchises do. But something’s gotta give…hence the dilemma.
Not for nuthin’, but the odds on BB’s replacement, should he move on, according to bookies.com: Jerod Mayo at +400, with Kellen Moore and Brian Callahan coming up at +550. My value pick? Mike Vrabel at +1000.
The kicking dilemma: For all of the leg strength rookie Chad Ryland appears to possess, his duck hook that should have tied up the Giants game and sent it to overtime was worse than any I’ve had on a golf course. Methinks the Patriots should rethink the ‘old guys gotta go’ (like Nick Folk) philosophy. Right, coach?
∎Besides, I slice. Never hook.
∎Big mouths I: Rex Ryan’s rant on BB’s lack of transparency while deciding his starting QB last week was a joke. “Just name your starter!” When has BB ever named a starter in the past 20+ years? Rex couldn’t beat Bill Belichick when he coached, so now he’s decided to verbally beat him.
All class, that guy. And contradictory, too. Ryan told his ESPN audience that while Belichick should be considered the greatest coach ever, it was Tom Brady who was responsible for all of his greatness.
∎Big mouths II: Former NFL QB Alex Smith fired back at TB12’s recent comments on mediocrity in the league today…saying “he played in the most uncompetitive division (the AFC East) in NFL history.”
Really, Alex? Then why did he have a better career record against teams OUTSIDE of the AFC East, percentagewise?
∎The egregious non-call on Patriots’ receiver Demario Douglas last week – a clothesline hit from NY’s Cam Brown if there ever was one – was a bad, bad officiating miss. Hard to take the NFL seriously when they say they’re interested in player safety but allow plays like that to go unflagged.
∎Two more from the Patriots’ Dynastic Era who deserve the fame – Rodney Harrison and Vince Wilfork have been named semifinalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2024. The 25 names on the list will be whittled to 15 finalists before the committee votes on Super Bowl weekend.
∎Tom Larson was very much the pro’s pro. He spent nearly four decades on Boston TV hosting coverage of the Bruins and Red Sox, spent most of the ‘80’s as a radio show host and then joined NESN in the late ‘80’s hosting and producing before retiring in 2007. That’s where we worked together, in the mid ‘90’s before the channel opened itself up to basic programming tiers and a much wider audience. Tom passed away this week at age 84.
∎So… are the Celtics still in this in-season-tournament-thingy the NBA is trying to pass off on us? You don’t know either?
∎Yes, Red Sox. Sign Shohei. That is all. For now.
Interested in having your questions on Rhode Island sports (and yes, that includes the Patriots, Red Sox, Bruins, and Celtics) answered in a somewhat timely fashion? Think out loud and send your questions, comments, and local stories to jrbroadcaster@gmail.com. We’ll share mailbag comments/Facebook posts/threads right here! Join me on Twitter/X, @JRbroadcaster…on Facebook, www.facebook.com/john.rooke, and on Instagram and Threads @JRbroadcaster.
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: John Rooke weights in on the Providence-URI basketball rivalry
