March 14, 2004

Selection Show Photos

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- The 20-ranked Providence College men's basketball team earned an invitation to its 15th NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament on Sunday, March 14 when it was announced that the Friars are the number five seed in the St. Louis Region. Providence will face the 12th-seeded University of the Pacific Tigers (24-7) on Friday, March 19 at Kemper Arena in Kansas City, Mo. The No. 5 seed, marks the highest seed that PC has ever earned.

The Friars have posted a 14-15 all-time mark in the NCAA Tournament. The last time that Providence played in the NCAA Tournament was in 2001 when the team was defeated in the first round by Penn State, 69-59, at New Orleans, La. PC's last win in the NCAA Tournament was in 1997 when the Friars advanced to the Elite Eight as the 10 seed in the South Region. Providence defeated Marquette (81-59), Duke (98-87) and Tennessee-Chattanooga (71-65) before losing in the Elite Eight to eventual national champion Arizona, 96-92, in overtime. The Friars enter the NCAA Tournament with a 20-8 overall record. The Friars finished third in the BIG EAST Conference with an 11-5 mark. The 11 wins in conference play tied a school record, which was set in 2001.

The game versus Pacific will mark the first ever meeting between the Tigers and the Friars. Of the 65 teams in the NCAA field this season, Providence has played against nine of them this season, and has posted a 7-4 record.