Delving into the non-conference schedule
A look at Providence's non-conference opponents, with tidbits on PC's all-time record, Ed Cooley's record, and games of note against each program.
Providence released its non-conference schedule early this week. Here’s a look at each opponent, and how PC has fared historically against each of them.
Nov. 9 vs. Fairfield: Following a 10-17 campaign in 2020-21, Fairfield figures to be a top 3-4 team in the MAAC this season. They return virtually everyone from a club that made a run to the MAAC title game. The Stags dug themselves out of an early hole last season, as they started 2-12 before winning eight of their last 13 games.
Providence vs. Fairfield all-time: The Friars are 16-1 all-time against Fairfield, and haven’t lost a game against the Stags since 1968. Ed Cooley is 3-0 versus his former program since taking over at Providence, with wins in 2012, 2013, and 2020. PC’s margin of victory in those three games is 69 points. Nate Watson went for 23 points and 10 rebounds in a 97-56 win last November.
Nov. 11 vs. Sacred Heart: Similar to Fairfield, Sacred Heart returns nearly everyone from last season’s 9-9 squad. They played just one high major team a year ago — falling 86-63 in their season opener at Rutgers. Interestingly, they never had a winning streak, or losing streak, of more than two last year. Their season ended when they were blown out by Bryant (85-55) in the NEC conference tourney.
Providence vs. Sacred Heart all-time: Providence is a perfect 6-0 against Sacred Heart. Ed Cooley is 2-0 against them, with an average margin of victory of 30 points. PC scored 106 points against them in the 2019-20 season opener, with seven players scoring in double figures.
Both Marshon Brooks (30) and Rodney Bullock (31) scored 30+ versus the Pioneers in their careers.
Nov. 15 at Wisconsin: Following a stretch in which Wisconsin made the NCAA Tournament every season from 1999-2017, the Badgers have missed two of the past four tournaments. Last season’s team was ranked as high as #4 in the AP poll early in the year before finishing the season 18-13. They fell to national champion Baylor in the second round of the tourney after taking out North Carolina in the first.
Wisconsin has dealt with offseason adversity after a group of seniors from last year’s team released the recording of a meeting with head coach Greg Gard in which they expressed frustration with the culture of the program.
While winning at Wisconsin will never be easy for Providence, this has the makings of a rebuilding Badger program (seven players from last year departed, and only one double figure scorer returns). Only two returning players, Brad Davidson and Jonathan Davis, played double figure minutes per game last season.
Providence vs. Wisconsin all-time: Somewhat surprisingly, PC owns a 3-1 record against Wisconsin. The Friars have won the last three contests, including two in the mid-90s — a 58-57 win in 1995 and a 59-57 road victory a year later.
Nov. 18 vs. New Hampshire: UNH finished above .500 in league play (9-6) for the first time since 2017 last season. Their season ended with a 72-64 loss to UMass-Lowell in the America East Conference tournament.
Providence vs. UNH all-time: Providence is 10-0 versus UNH since the teams first met in 1980. Ed Cooley has won both games he has coached against New Hampshire as PC’s coach. Rodney Bullock scored 36 to lead the Friars to victory in 2016 against AJ Reeves’ former Brimmer and May teammate David Watkins, who scored eight off the bench.
Nov. 22 vs. Northwestern (Legends Classic in Newark): The Wildcats have two familiar faces in Boo Buie and incoming freshman Casey Simmons. Now a junior, Buie is a double figure scorer and solid three point shooter, while Simmons was one of the better players in New England’s class of 2021. Both were Mass Rivals products — the same program that produced Reeves, David Duke, Makai Ashton-Langford, and Carson Desrosiers.
Since making the round of 32 in 2017, Northwestern has gone 6-12, 4-16, 3-17, and 6-13 in conference play. Head coach Chris Collins is likely coaching for his job this season. He is 29 games under .500 the past four seasons.
Pete Nance is a solid senior forward for the Wildcats.
Al Durham came up clutch for Indiana against them last season.
Providence vs. Northwestern all-time: Friars fans will hope to erase the memory of an ugly November 2019 loss to Northwestern when these two meet in Newark. The Friars shot 30% from the field and 23% from three in a road defeat. PC won the only two other meetings between these programs — in 1966 and 1981.
Nov. 23 vs. Georgia or Virginia (Legends Classic in Newark): Georgia fans could be losing faith in Tom Crean after three unfulfilling seasons on the sidelines at UGA. Crean is 41-49 overall and 14-40 in SEC play as head coach of the Dawgs. They don’t return a scholarship guard, and have just one player who averaged double figures in minutes coming back. Friar great John Linehan is an assistant at Georgia.
UVA will be the favorites in Newark and should make another NCAA Tournament appearance in 2022. Virginia has been a number one seed in the tournament four times under Tony Bennett, and of course won the national title in 2019. Last season’s group was upset in the first round by Ohio after earning a four seed. They will be without graduates Sam Hauser and Jay Huff, as well as first round pick Trey Murphy, but will likely have enough to hear their names called once again on Selection Sunday.
Providence vs. Georgia all-time: Providence has never played Georgia.
Providence vs. Virginia all-time: PC is 3-4 all-time against Virginia. Providence actually went up against former coach Pete Gillen on three occasions (losing in 1999 before winning at UVA in ‘04 and beating them in 2005).
Ed Cooley and the Friars fell to #7 Virginia, 63-52, on Nov. 26, 2016. Jalen Lindsey led PC on that day with 18 points on 4-6 shooting from three. Only four Friars scored on that day.
Nov. 27 vs. St. Peter’s: Led by former Seton Hall point guard Shaheen Holloway, St. Peter’s has gone 24-14 in the MAAC over the past two seasons.
Providence vs. St. Peter’s all-time: The Friars are 3-0 all-time against St. Peter’s, including a 68-47 victory in 2019.
Dec. 1 vs. Texas Tech: Quite possibly the most talented team on Providence’s non-conference schedule, Texas Tech is entering a new era following the departure of Chris Beard to Texas. This will be a bit of a homecoming for big man Marcus Santos-Silva, a Taunton, MA native who transferred earlier in his career from VCU to Texas Tech. Tech promoted former assistant Mark Adams in the offseason, and has a lot of pieces to sort through — but more than enough talent on paper to reach the NCAA Tournament.
Providence vs. Texas Tech: Providence and Texas Tech have met just once, with the Friars taking a 53-52 win in December, 1977. PC was ranked #13 in the country at the time.
Dec. 4 vs. URI: Fatts Russell is off to Maryland after URI went 10-15 last season (7-10 in the A10). The Rams should have depth in the backcourt, with Jeremy Sheppard (11.3 ppg) and Ishmael Leggett being joined by transfer lead guard Ishmael El-Amin (Ball St). El-Amin averaged over 16 points per game last season. He scored a career high 33 points against old friend Keno Davis and Central Michigan last year.
Can they get anything out of Syracuse transfer Jalen Carey? He did little last year for the Rams. The frontcourt will be anchored by the massive Mitchell twins (Makhi and Makhel) and former Georgetown transfer Antwan Walker. Walker led the A10 in field goal percentage last year.
Providence vs. URI all-time: Providence holds a 61-26 won/loss record against URI. Cooley is 7-2 as PC coach against the Rams.
Dec. 7 vs. Vermont: The only thing that can keep Vermont from 20 wins under John Becker would appear to be a pandemic. Vermont went 10-5 last season, and finished first in the America East in the regular season, but lost to Hartford in the conference tournament. Prior to last season, Vermont had won 20+ games in all nine of Becker’s seasons in Burlington.
Providence vs. UVM all-time: The Friars are a perfect 7-0 against UVM, and 2-0 in games coached by Cooley. Providence is a +43 against the Catamounts with Cooley as their coach. Emmitt Holt scored 22 against them in his Providence debut in 2016.
Dec. 11 vs. Central Connecticut State: The Donyell Marshall era is, mercifully, over at CCSU. Marshall went 6-23, 14-18, 11-20, 4-27, and 5-16 in five seasons. They project to be one of the worst teams in the NEC this season after finishing last in 2020-21.
Providence all-time record vs. Central Connecticut: PC is 6-1 all-time when playing Central Connecticut, with the lone loss coming during the horrible 1999-2000 season (54-50). Cooley has seen them once as Providence’s coach — an 87-63 win in which Maliek White went for 18 points, and Nate Watson shot 6-8 from the field off of the bench.