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Patriots Let Providence Men's Basketball Use Team Plane to Fly to Sweet 16 vs. Kansas

The Providence Friars are in the Sweet 16 of the men's NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1997, and their supporters reportedly will be arriving in style.

According to ESPN's Adam Rittenberg, the New England Patriots loaned their private jet to the fourth-seeded Friars "to help transport support staff members and some fans" to Chicago for Friday's game against the No. 1 seed Kansas Jayhawks. Providence's team arrived in Chicago on Wednesday aboard a separate charter.

Friars head coach Ed Cooley is a longtime fan of the Patriots and spoke with owner Robert Kraft on Wednesday night.