It's Now or Never for Providence

This looks like it will be a bidding war between Providence and Massachusetts based on this report.

Providence College has made an offer to UMass men's basketball coach Travis Ford.

However, NBC 10 Sports Director Frank Carpano says that UMass has made a counteroffer that Ford mulling over.

Carpano says that sources told him the money is much less than what Providence is offering. Sources close to Ford said the he's not sure what he wants to do.

One source close to Providence said that they are getting the feeling that Ford may not accept their offer.

Here are some details about the counter-offer:

Sources say UMass has upped its offer to $500,000 a year but that can't compare with the Friars reported offer of $800,000 a season.

It wouldn't make any sense to make a comment until after tonight's season-ending banquet dinner. I would expect that Ford will take the offer from Providence. It's a hefty pay raise and it's where Coach Rick Pitino coached following a stint as an assistant with the New York Knicks under Hubie Brown from 1983-85 and then as head coach from 1987-89.