The Providence Friars are a good team.
The Virginia Cavaliers are a great team.
The difference was ultimately prevalent in Virginia’s 63-52 victory Saturday night in the Emerald Coast Classic final.
Providence didn’t play poorly. Far from it, actually, they gave Virginia its biggest test of the young season so far, being the first team to finish the game within 20 points of UVA.
It wasn’t even that Providence’s lack of experience and familiarity doomed them. Virginia is just better. That happens sometimes. Had Providence not dug a hole of 14 points late in the first half, the Friars very well may have been victorious.