March 7, 2009

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- It was announced today (March 7) that the Providence College Friars (18-12) will enter the BIG EAST Tournament as a No. 8 seed. PC finished the season in eighth place in the BIG EAST with a 10-8 record. The Friars earned a bye in the first round by finishing in the top 8 in the league standings.

The Friars will play the winner of the No. 9 Cincinnati (18-13, 8-10)/No. 16 DePaul (8-23, 0-18) game on Wednesday, March 11 at Noon on ESPN. Providence will look to earn its first win at the BIG EAST Tournament since defeating West Virginia (73-50) in the first round in 2003. The Friars hold an all-time record of 15-27 at the BIG EAST Tournament. PC won its only BIG EAST Tournament title in 1994 when the team defeated Georgetown, 74-64, in the title game.

Providence has never played Cincinnati or DePaul in the BIG EAST Tournament. The Friars posted a 2-0 mark versus Cincinnati this season and a 1-0 record versus DePaul in 2009. PC's all-time record versus Cincinnati is 4-1. The Frairs are 19-6 all-time versus DePaul

-end-