April 19, 2017
Men’s basketball, hockey storm into NCAAs again
The “NCAA Express” rolled on for the PC men’s basketball and ice hockey teams, which both qualified for the NCAA Tournament for the fourth consecutive year in 2017.
Coach Ed Cooley’s basketball Friars used a late-season six-game win streak to secure third place in the BIG EAST Conference and earn an at-large berth in the NCAAs. Likewise, the Nate Leaman-led hockey team turned its season around by winning nine consecutive Hockey East games, finishing fifth in the league, and receiving an at-large NCAA bid.
PC is just one of four Division I programs all-time to send its basketball and hockey teams to the NCAAs for four straight years, joining Boston College, Michigan, and Michigan State.
The basketball team played an NCAA First Four Tournament game against the University of Southern California and fell, 75-71. The Friars, who regrouped this season after losing NBA draft picks Kris Dunn ’16 and Ben Bentil ’17 from last year’s team, finished with a 20-13 record, including 10-8 in the BIG EAST.
Two Friars, guard Kyron Cartwright ’18 (Compton, Calif.) and forward Rodney Bullock ’17 (Hampton, Va.), were selected to the All-BIG EAST Second Team. Cartwright also was chosen the conference’s Most Improved Player and the USBWA District I Player of the Year. Meanwhile, Cooley, who has a 123-80 record in six seasons at PC, was chosen NABC District 5 Coach of the Year.
Men’s hockey, with nine first-year student-athletes, surged in the second half of the season to gain one of 16 spots in the NCAAs. Ranked No. 13 in the nation, PC fell to No. 2 Harvard, 3-0, in the NCAA East Regional semifinals at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center in Providence. The Friars posted a 22-12-5 record, going 12-7-3 in Hockey East. At season’s end, defenseman Jake Walman ’18 (Toronto, Ontario, Canada) was chosen a Hockey East First Team All-Star for the second consecutive season. He also signed an entry-level contract with the NHL’s St. Louis Blues, ending his career with the Friars.
The winter season also was highlighted by milestones in women’s indoor track and women’s ice hockey. In track, where Ray Treacy ’82 is the coach, Millie Paladino ’18 (Morgantown, W.Va.) and Brianna Ilarda ’18 (Perth, Australia) captured First Team All-America accolades with seventh-place performances in the mile and 5,000-meter run, respectively, in the NCAA Championship.
Women’s ice hockey coach Bob Deraney was chosen Hockey East Coach of the Year for the third time in 17 seasons, leading PC to 17 wins. One of his student-athletes, defender Whitney Dove ’20 (Bruxelles, Manitoba, Canada), was named Hockey East Rookie of the Year.
