Ed Cooley to Georgetown whispers growing ahead of Kentucky matchup

Ah, distractions ahead of an NCAA Tournament game, one against the Kentucky Wildcats. You just hate to see it.

Providence head coach Ed Cooley has been connected to the Georgetown job since the school fired Patrick Ewing last Thursday. Rick Pitino was briefly in the conversation, but it appears he’ll be taking his coaching talents to St. John’s. Former Notre Dame coach Mike Brey and current Penn State coach Micah Shrewsberry have also been discussed as potential options, but Cooley is the name that continues to gain traction.

Why? Well, the 53-year-old refuses to shut down rumors of his potential interest in the coaching job. Or that conversations are ongoing.

Instead, Cooley continues to say his focus remains on Providence and his team’s upcoming matchup vs. Kentucky in the NCAA Tournament.

“I think a lot of schools are going to be interested in our staff. I really do. That’s something that’ll happen when it happens, if it ever happens,” Cooley said on Selection Sunday. “I’m concerned about my team, I’m concerned about Kentucky, and that’s all I know. We’re sought after every single year, and I’m fortunate to be in a position where Providence College has given us a platform to showcase the type of coaching staff we have here.”

Does he want to shut down any speculation? Put all rumors to rest?

“I’m worried about Kentucky,” he said. “That’s all I’m worried about.”

When asked if he thought the Georgetown chatter would be a distraction ahead of the NCAA Tournament, Cooley said it was part of being a coach and his players understand. As of now, though, his focus remains on his team and the matchup vs. Kentucky.

“I don’t think it’s a distraction, it’s part of the business. It’s part of what we do as coaches,” he said. “… I answer these questions every year. I’m the Providence College coach, and Providence is playing Kentucky on Friday in Greensboro, North Carolina.”

That’s all well and good, but it’s not a no. None of it is. And that was two days ago, no vehement denials or shut-downs since. In fact, the buzz is only growing louder.

Or as CBS Sports’ Seth Davis puts it, the “chatter is getting chattier by the hour.”

The Ed Cooley to Georgetown chatter is getting chattier by the hour.

— Seth Davis (@SethDavisHoops) March 14, 2023

Certainly not what you want to see from your head coach immediately before the team’s NCAA Tournament run begins, against a program like Kentucky, no less.

And again, I say, you just hate to see it.

No. 6 seed Kentucky tips off against No. 11 seed Providence on Friday evening at 7:10 p.m. ET in Greensboro, live on CBS.

No promises on who will be coaching the Friars, though. Only the biggest game of the year for the team, no big deal. Be a real shame if this ended up being a major distraction.