Providence basketball getting new practice facility
Providence College basketball fans really couldn’t ask for a better Christmas than the one they’re getting this year.
First came the fact that point guard Kris Dunn surprised college hoops in bypassing a certain NBA lottery selection to return to Providence for his junior year and so far is having a national player of the year-caliber start.
Then came the fact that Providence has been one of the nation’s biggest surprises, currently 10-1 and ranked 14th in the nation with wins over likely NCAA tournament teams Arizona, Rhode Island and Evansville – with the only loss coming at the hands of Michigan State, the top-ranked team in the nation.
And now comes Tuesday’s news that the school will be building a new basketball practice facility, part of a major renovation to the Ruane Friar Development Center that will include a new multi-purpose facility attached to Alumni Hall.
The first phase of construction, made possible by a new gift from former Providence College Board of Trustees Chair Michael A. Ruane that is the college’s largest gift by a living alumnus, will include the basketball practice facility and space for other athletics activities.
“This facility will help us succeed at the highest level,” Rev. Brian Shanley, the president of Providence College, said in a statement.
Right now, the Providence men’s and women’s teams have to share facilities, which means they can’t practice at the same time. In an era where college athletics facilities are of utmost importance, the building will be huge for recruiting in both men’s and women’s hoops and will help student-athletes better balance academics and athletics.
The first phase of the construction is expected to cost nearly $30 million, starting in spring 2016, and is forecasted to be completed before the 2017-18 basketball season.
“It’s not about a building. It’s never about a building. It’s about the people inside the building,” said head coach Ed Cooley, who is in his fifth season at Providence. “Where does success starts? With a dream. And we all have incredible dreams… We’re a small school, but we have big hearts, big dreams.”
Follow Reid Forgrave on Twitter @reidforgrave or email him atReidForgrave@gmail.com.
