1987 Providence Friars
Rich Clarkson/NCAA Photos via Getty Images
Rich Clarkson/NCAA Photos via Getty Images
Coach Rick Pitino put his name on the map when he led the 1987 Providence Friars to the Final Four, with a fast-paced, up-tempo style of play.
While Providence played in the tough Big East conference, they weren’t seen as a tournament favorite. Despite these low expectations, the sixth-seeded Friars beat Army, Alabama, Michigan, and most notably Kentucky, before bowing out in the Final Four.