The time has officially come for Friartown to say goodbye to a player who has given his heart and soul to our Friar family. As the clock ran out at Saturday's game against UNC, every Friar - current and past - took a second to reflect on the legacy of Kris Dunn, a Friar that is sure to go down in history.
Whether or not you know and understand every rule and regulation in basketball, it does not take an expert to comprehend what Kris Dunn has done for our basketball program. Below is a short list of reasons we can all be thankful for Kris Dunn.
1. He was the best point guard in NCAA Basketball this year.
2. He stayed humble.
"Everybody has a chance because there are so many good teams in our league, so many great players. Everyone is very talented. The BIG EAST is just a fun league to play in." ~ Kris Dunn
3. His last name.
We should all thank Kris Dunn for giving us our Instagram captions. #GetItDunn #BenThereDunnThat #NotDunnYet #Dunnbelievable
4. He helped lead our team to its first NCAA Tournament win since 1997.
5. He allowed Coach Cooley to help him grow as a player and a person.
"I have to thank Coach (Ed) Cooley for letting me be the player I wanted to be on the court and the person I am off it." ~ Kris Dunn after being named Big East PoY.
6. His skills, combined with Ben Bentil's, made for some great basketball.
7. He knows that his success is shared by all of his teammates.
"There have been a lot of great players that have been through here and so much history, so to be able to do something like that in front of my family and friends means a lot. I just have to thank my teammates because they really helped me improve and get to this achievement." ~ Kris Dunn on what it feels like to join Vincent Council, Ernie DiGregorio, Billy Donovan and Carlton Screen as the only players in program history to log 1,000 points and 500 assists.
8. He was named Big East Player of the Year two years in a row.
9. He loves FriarTown more than anyone.
"I think every year Providence is progressing as a program. I think Coach Cooley and the coaching staff are doing a great job of getting a bunch of great kids that love to play the game and also love to play under him and that's what it takes to go in the right direction. We're just trying to keep it going." ~ Kris Dunn
10. He always gave 150 percent on the court.
11. He turned down an opportunity to go the NBA to return to PC, play one more year as a Friar and graduate with a degree.
"I wanted to graduate from college and get my degree. I think that is the first most important thing that I discussed with Coach (Ed) Cooley and my family. And to a basketball standpoint I needed to improve on a lot of things to mature as a player and get ready for the next level, and most of all I love playing for Providence College." ~ Kris Dunn
12. He is one of the greatest basketball players in Providence College's history.
Though it's sad to say goodbye, the Providence College community wishes Kris Dunn luck in the future. Dunn, you'll always have a home in FriarTown.
