Coach Rick Pitino returns to Providence for the NCAA Tournament, reminiscing about the 1987 Final Four memories.
For Jacek Duda and his comrades on the Providence College men's basketball team, their days stretched on for eons. It was a stark contrast to their earlier years under head coach Joe Mullaney, where things been more laidback - not exactly a recipe for triumph. When Mullaney departed in 1985, PC welcomed Rick Pitino, a sprightly 32-year-old assistant with the New York Knicks, into the fold.
Instantly, the Friars found themselves rising at the crack of dawn for grueling 5 a.m. practices, squeezing in skill development sessions amidst class schedules, and then enduring marathon afternoon practices that could last for hours. After dinner, a mandatory study session ensured the players stayed on top of their academic game. And boy, did all that hard work pay off!
In 1987, the Providence Friars astonished the world by reaching the NCAA tournament's Final Four. Remember, they'd placed last or next to last in the Big East every year prior to Pitino's arrival. Suddenly, Coach Pitino found himself on the nation's basketball radar, still thriving in the coaching scene 38 years later - this time at the helm of St. John's, guiding them to their best season in decades.
On Thursday, Pitino comes back to Providence, as No. 2 seed St. John's takes on No. 15 seed Omaha in an NCAA tournament West Regional first round game at the Amica Mutual Pavilion. The Red Storm claimed their first Big East regular season title since 1985 and their first conference tournament championship since 2000 - the last time they boasted an NCAA tournament victory. Pitino, 72, has worked his magic at St. John's, just like he did at PC, a school with a rich basketball heritage that struggled to compete in the Big East before Pitino took charge.
During Mullaney's initial term as Providence's coach, the Friars were a force to be reckoned with, racking up 20 wins for nine consecutive seasons from 1959 to 1967. They made the NCAAs three times and captured the 1961 and 1963 National Invitation Tournament titles. When Mullaney moved on to coach the Los Angeles Lakers in 1969, PC brought in Dave Gavitt, a 31-year-old coach fresh off his tenure at Dartmouth, his alma mater.
Gavitt elevated the Friars to even greater heights, leading them to five NCAA tournaments in ten seasons, including a 1973 Final Four appearance. Yet, after Gavitt resigned to form the Big East in 1979, Providence's fortunes soured. Gary Walters, Gavitt's successor, managed only two seasons, while Mullaney returned but coached for just four seasons before retiring. During those six years following Gavitt, the Friars placed last in the Big East twice and second-to-last four times.
In March 1985, Providence recruited Pitino, a native New Yorker with experience coaching at Boston University and the New York Knicks. "He had a knack for discipline and fear," shared Glenn Consor, BU's former starting point guard. "He essentially told us that if we didn't buy into it, we couldn't play here." Pitino's methods raised eyebrows at first, especially given the fierce competition in the Big East, where three teams (Georgetown, St. John's, and Villanova) reached the 1985 Final Four, and five of the eight coaches in the conference are now in the Basketball Hall of Fame.
Yet, Pitino and his staff persevered, instilling a disciplined approach from the moment they set foot on campus. For Jacek Duda, a Polish-born student joining PC in 1983, the shift from Mullaney's more relaxed style was a significant one. Pitino took full advantage of the absence of strict NCAA practice time regulations, focusing on skill development and punishing practices that left the games feeling like a walk in the park. The players kept their practice gear next to their beds to ensure they didn't waste precious minutes dressing for the 5 a.m. sessions.
Pitino's first season with the Friars resulted in a respectable 17-14 record, along with a 5th place Big East finish and a journey to the NIT quarterfinals. Despite the modest record, Pitino and his staff had instilled newfound confidence in the players they'd lacked before, and helped them improve their skills, conditioning, and stamina. That summer, Pitino doubled down on his players, especially focusing on their outside shooting skills, anticipating the introduction of the 3-point shot during the 1986-87 season.
Under Pitino's guidance, the Friars led the nation in 3-point attempts per game and boasted an exceptional percentage from beyond the arc. The team was powered by senior starters Billy Donovan, Pop Lewis, Dave Kipfer, and Duda, who had all arrived as freshmen together. With a deep roster, Pitino relied on a full-court pressure defense to keep the team fresh and competitive.
PC ended the regular season with a 20-7 record and a 4th place Big East finish. Fans in Rhode Island took note of the Friars' impressive play and fun style, with an average attendance of 9,792 fans attending home games - a 28.9% increase from the previous season. The following postseason, the Friars defied expectations, reaching the Final Four and leaving a lasting impact on the college basketball world.
- Coach Pitino, with his stringent training regime, bolstered Jacek Duda's stamina and basketball skills, enabling him to excel on the Providence College men's basketball team.
- During his tenure at Providence College, coach Rick Pitino was not just focusing on sports, but also emphasized the importance of academic excellence as seen in the Friars' mandatory study sessions.
- Nonetheless, the Friars' average attendance significantly increased to 9,792 fans during the 1986-1987 season, showcasing the positive impact of Pitino's coaching and the team's improved performance, eventually leading them to the NCAA tournament's Final Four.
