No. 4 Providence Routs No. 12 Richmond, Will Face Top-Seed Kansas in Men's Sweet 16

Providence punched its ticket to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA men's basketball tournament thanks to a win over the 12th ranked Spiders.

The fourth-seeded Friars are in the regional semifinals for the first time in 17 years. It will be a good result for head coach Ed Cooley, who has turned the program into a consistent winner again but couldn't get over the hump in March.

John Fanta @John_Fanta

The emotion of Ed Cooley’s wife, Nurys, tells you all you need to know about what this night means for Providence College pic.twitter.com/5bq3E9XwRu

The Big East regular-season champion went on a 10-2 run to start the game and never looked back.

The margin of victory was the largest in the history of the NCAA tournament.

Notable performers.

Noah Horchler had 16 points, 13 rebound, one assist, one steal, and one block.

Al Durham, G, Providence: 13 points, four rebound, three assists, and one steal.

Nathan Cayo had 18 points, five rebound, one assist, and one block.

The friars dominate on both ends.

Providence has not been an elite three-point outfit. The Friars had a made threes percentage of 7.3 per game and a three-point percentage of 34.3.

They opened the contest with a stroke. The team was 8-of-15 from the perimeter in the first half. The 24 points were enough to match the entire output of the other team.

Jeff Goodman @GoodmanHoops

Providence is on fire right now from deep. Friars have made 7 of first 12 shots and also dominating on the glass. Richmond needs to get out on PC’s shooters and close out quicker.

Providence held South Dakota State to 57 points, nearly 30 points less than the Jackrabbits average, and also carried its smothering defense over from the first round.

The way the Friars slowed the game down and dictated the pace made the lead feel larger. The second half was dominated by the teams.

Terrence Oglesby @CoachTO22

When Providence shoots it like this - everything opens up for them offensively.

Plus the way they are guarding this Richmond team (which is no easy task) has been awesome. Really locked in off the ball. It’s been a beauty to watch.

Providence was the most overseeded team in the NCAA tournament based on their position in the brackets and where they ranked on KenPom.com, according to FiveThirtyEight.

The selection committee may have seen something in the Friars.

There is no gas in the city.

The problem for mid-majors in the NCAA tournament is the accumulating effect of playing multiple games in which your season hangs in the balance. It can be mentally and physically exhausting when you go from the regular season to the conference tournament and the Big Dance, knowing that one loss could ruin everything.

The second half was spent byRichmond.

The Atlantic 10 champion went 1-of-21 from long range and shot 39.6% from the field. The defense played a role in that, but missing the mark on 20 three-point attempts is a sign of fatigue.

Ralph D. Russo @ralphDrussoAP

Going to sound a little trite and cliche, but Richmond looks like a team that has been playing a lot of do or die games the past 10 days.Providence has been sharper and more energetic in every way.

PC 39, Richmond 24 at the half.

Matt Scott @KUTheShiver

Richmond looks like I do when I forget something and have to go up and down the stairs again pic.twitter.com/aVhvDVoTSk

Nathan had a game. Grant Golden was the only other player to score in double figures, as the Spiders offense was a one-man show.

John Fanta @John_Fanta

Nathan Cayo was good for Richmond with 10 points on 5/6 FG. The issue? Players outside of him shot 5/22. Spiders just can’t get anything going offensively.

What is next?

Providence will play Kansas in the next round. The Jayhawks were tested in the second round and escaped with a win.