Ed Cooley, Georgetown Set for Emotional Return to Providence

The Providence Friars are gearing up for an emotional Big East matchup on Saturday as former head coach Ed Cooley returns to Amica Mutual Pavilion with his Georgetown Hoyas. While tensions are high among fans, both teams are focused on gaining a critical conference win.

Cooley Returns to Providence

After spending 12 seasons (2011-2023) at the helm of Providence, Cooley departed for Georgetown last year, a move that left a sour taste for many Friars fans. His first trip back last season was met with relentless boos, but Georgetown fell 84-76 in that contest.

For Cooley, this return comes with added pressure, as the Hoyas (13-6, 4-4 Big East) aim to build momentum after a thrilling 64-63 victory over Villanova earlier this week. Georgetown rallied from nine points down late in the game, with Micah Peavy’s last-second layup sealing the win.

Providence Seeks Redemption

The Friars (9-10, 3-5 Big East) are aiming to recover from back-to-back road losses, including a heartbreaking 75-73 defeat to Villanova on Jan. 17. In that game, Bensley Joseph led Providence with 20 points and seven rebounds, while Corey Floyd Jr. added 18. However, a potential game-tying jumper from Jabri Abdur-Rahim fell short at the buzzer.

Head coach Kim English emphasized the need for improvement.
“We can get better if we continue to watch and learn, starting with me,” English said. “How can I coach these guys better and put them in better situations to execute and play to their strengths?”

The Friars are adjusting to life without Bryce Hopkins, who averaged 17.0 points before suffering a season-ending knee injury just three games in. Jayden Pierre (12.6 points per game) has stepped up as Providence’s leading scorer in his absence.

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Key Players to Watch

• Micah Peavy (Georgetown): Coming off a 24-point performance, Peavy is the Hoyas’ go-to scorer alongside Thomas Sorber, who leads the team with 14.2 points per game.
• Bensley Joseph (Providence): Joseph has emerged as a leader for the Friars, averaging 12.6 points while adding grit and energy on the defensive end.

Game Outlook

Providence will rely on its home crowd to create a hostile environment for Cooley and his Hoyas. While Georgetown looks to build on its morale-boosting win, Providence will aim to snap its skid and keep pace in the competitive Big East standings.

Fans can expect an intense, high-energy showdown with plenty of emotion as the Friars and Hoyas battle for Big East bragging rights.