Columbus, Ohio - Andre LaFleur has a long-running relationship with March Madness.

Counting his time as a player and coach, LaFleur has been part of 14 NCAA tournament teams in his 18 years in the college basketball ranks.

That's a pretty impressive run.

Late Friday night, LaFleur made his second straight appearance as associate head coach at Providence College, which faced Dayton in the Friars' postseason opener at Nationwide Arena. He joined Ed Cooley's staff in 2011.

The March Madness experience never gets old.

"I do still get excited," LaFleur said Thursday. "This is what you play for. Every year, you start the season off by talking about getting to the (NCAA tournament) and having a chance. Some teams come in here and feel good just making it.

"… But when you're here with a team that you know has a chance, it's very exciting."

During his Northeastern playing days, LaFleur played in the NCAA tournament all four years. Then he joined Jim Calhoun's staff at UConn. In his 10 years in Storrs, the Huskies qualified for the NCAA tournament eight times, capturing national championships in 2004 and 2011.

Now he's attempting to help build some sustained success at Providence. The Friars went 22-11 during the regular season and finished fourth in the Big East.

LaFleur sees similarities between this year's Providence team and ones that he coached at UConn. Both teams have game-changers.

"There are a lot of similarities and one is that you have some star players capable of taking the game over on both ends," LaFleur said. "You go back to 2004, Emeka (Okafor's) ability to dominate a game on both ends and Ben Gordon just being able to make plays.

"Of course, you look at 2009, we get to the Final Four with Hasheem Thabeet able to change the game on both ends and then 2011 with Kemba (Walker) and that team he just put on his back."

It's hard to go far in the NCAA tournament without a star player. Providence has two standouts in sophomore Kris Dunn and senior LaDontae Henton.

"Kris is emerging into one of those players," LaFleur said. "I don't want to jinx him, but there's something that tells me he's ready for a special moment. I think having somebody like LaDontae Henton, a more mature veteran that's capable of taking over the game also, that takes the pressure off of him.

"We have two guys capable of being the best players on any court in the tournament."

LaFleur's ultimate goal is to take a program of his own to the NCAA tournament. He feels he's ready to be a head coach.

"I would love the opportunity to have a chance to bring a team here and do something special," LaFleur said. "I've loved the journey so far. I've worked in great programs and I've been fortunate and blessed to be around great players and great coaches and administrators.

"Hopefully, one day, I'll have a team here of my own."

Living a dream

Like most college basketball players, Dunn has always loved March Madness.

"It's like one of the greatest things to watch besides the NBA playoffs," Dunn said Thursday. "A lot of memorable things happen during the NCAA tournament and a lot of great players."

Dunn finally had his first chance to participate in the tournament Friday. He's dreamt about playing on the national stage.

"Hitting the game-winner," Dunn said when asked what he dreams about. "I've never hit a game-winner in my life. Hopefully, the game doesn't come down (to that)."

More UConn connections

Buffalo assistant coach Ben Wood has Connecticut ties.

Wood graduated from Nonnewaug High School in Woodbury and from UConn. He played a supporting role in the UConn basketball program's success over a nine-year period. He served as team manager, graduate assistant coach and co-director of the Jim Calhoun Basketball Camp.

After leaving UConn, he spent a season as director of player development at Rhode Island before taking a similar job with Bobby Hurley's staff in Buffalo. He was promoted to assistant coach last April.

"It's been a lot of fun," Wood said. "I'm blessed. I'm working with a great head coach and coaching staff. We all jell very well. It's been a great learning experience."

In the program's first NCAA tournament appearance, Buffalo lost to West Virginia 68-62 Friday.

"We've been fighting to get in the tournament for 15 years as a Division I program," Wood said. "These guys really represent the city well and the university well. Their character is all about fighting. We came up a little bit short."

g.keefe@theday.com

Twitter: @GavinKeefe