Following Mullaney 's departure , Dave Gavitt , an assistant under Mullaney who then became head coach at Dartmouth , took over as the Friars ' head coach in 1969 . In his second year , Gavitt began a string of eight consecutive 20-win seasons . For the 1972 – 73 season , the team began playing in downtown Providence at the brand-new 12,000-seat arena , the Providence Civic Center ( renamed the Dunkin' Donuts Center in 2001 ) . That season was the Friars ' best to date ; led by Ernie DiGregorio and the troubled center Marvin Barnes , the team went on a 17-team game winning streak that ended in a Final Four loss to Memphis State . The next year , the Friars posted a 28 – 4 record and made their second straight Sweet Sixteen appearance . The team continued its top-flight status with back-to-back 20-win seasons in 1976 – 77 and 1977 – 78 , earning NCAA Tournament bids each year , one coming after defeating top-ranked Michigan in 1976 . After a 10 – 16 season in 1978 – 79 , Gavitt left Providence to become the first commissioner of the Providence-based Big East Conference . He finished his 10-year career at Providence with a 209 – 84 ( .713 ) record
Big East Conference
Big East Conference (1979–2013)
Providence Friars men's basketball