PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Providence College honored former Friars coach Dave Gavitt, a founder and the first commissioner of the Big East, during its game against No. 1 Syracuse on Wednesday night.
It was the Friars' first Big East home basketball game since Gavitt died on Sept. 16. There was a moment of silence before the game, with a tribute scheduled for halftime.
As head coach, Gavitt took Providence to the NCAA tournament five times and to the 1973 Final Four. He was the head of USA Basketball for the creation of the Dream Team at the 1992 Olympics. He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006.
Earlier in the day, the city renamed a street near the arena "Dave Gavitt Way." The Friars are wearing "DG" patches in his honor.
