The Friar Basketball Newsletter: Digging into Providence's Recently Released Schedule, Previewing Villanova, the Friars get an official visit, Josh Oduro podcast, and more
January 27th.
In what will be a scene unlike any other in Civic Center/Dunk/AMP history, Ed Cooley will return to Providence on a Saturday afternoon in January as the head coach of Georgetown. We’ve all had about six months to digest Cooley’s departure to an in-conference rival, but it’s still going to be bizarre to see him at the helm on the Hilltop, and even weirder when he comes out of the visitors locker room in Friartown.
There won’t be a more highly anticipated game, maybe in all of college basketball’s regular season — certainly, there won’t be a building with more energy pouring out of it.
For all of the buzz that the announcement of Cooley’s return date generated, this is a schedule loaded with potentially great matchups.
Here is a breakdown:
A busy home Saturday slate: The Friars will play at home on just one Saturday in November, but kick off a loaded Saturday home slate with URI on Dec. 2. Providence hosts six Big East opponents at the AMP in 2023-24:
Butler on Dec. 23
Xavier on Jan. 13
Georgetown on Jan. 27
DePaul on Feb. 17
Villanova on March 2
UConn on March 9
The schedule isn’t particularly favorable for East Coast-based fans looking to catch PC on a weekend on the road. Providence plays at St. John’s (Jan. 10 in MSG), Seton Hall (Jan. 24), UConn (Jan. 31), and Georgetown (March 5) on weekdays away from home.
A need to start hot: Last season, PC jumped all over a favorable start to the conference schedule, which included three out of their first four games against Seton Hall, Butler and DePaul. Providence began conference play 6-0 last year, before closing with a 7-7 mark from mid-January until the end of the regular season.
If the Friars are to make another run at an NCAA Tournament bid, they will likely have to take care of business during the first three Big East games of the season, which kicks off with a very tough home matchup with Marquette, followed by “got to have it” games against Butler and Seton Hall at the AMP. Anything less than a 2-1 start will cause some concern for a program that went 15-2 at home last year.
January on the road: Just three of Providence’s eight January contests will take place at home. The road tests are stiff, headlined by Jan. 6 at Creighton, Jan. 10 at St. John’s, and Jan. 31 at UConn — four days following Cooley’s return.
Rick Pitino’s return: Amazingly, Cooley’s future return has completely overshadowed Rick Pitino and St. John’s coming to town on Feb. 13. Pitino totally revamped St. John’s roster and is expected by some national pundits to crack the AP top 25 and return the Red Storm to the NCAA Tournament next year.
No let-up in this schedule: The return of Pitino, and the anticipation of St. John’s as another formidable group, has only sharpened the Big East metal. There’s seemingly no let-up in this schedule.
The Friars spend much of January on the road, then kick off February at Villanova (Sunday, Feb. 4), then home against a potential top ten team in Creighton (Feb. 7), at Butler (Feb. 10), and against St. John’s (Feb. 13).
After playing DePaul on Feb. 17, Providence closes the season with a brutal stretch:
At Xavier (Feb. 21)
At Marquette (Feb. 28)
Vs. Villanova (March 2)
At Georgetown (March 5)
Vs. UConn (March 9)
Xavier’s roster took a pair of huge hits with the losses of Zach Freemantle and Jerome Hunter (both potentially for the year), but the Cintas Center remains a very tough building. Marquette and UConn have legitimate Final Four aspirations, Villanova will be picked by many to finish in the top 25 after revamping their roster around returnees Justin Moore and Eric Dixon, while the return date with Cooley and the Hoyas figures to bring more emotion.
More from Friar Basketball…
If you missed it, we interviewed Josh Oduro, who figures to be a critical piece for PC, on The Friar Podcast. Oduro talked about his unique basketball journey, his relationship with Kim English, what to expect from Ticket Gaines and Justyn Fernandez, his impressions of his new teammates, his new family, Spain, and much more.
Our latest Big East team preview article is available for subscribers, and this one digs into how Kyle Neptune revamped his roster via the transfer portal in hopes of a turnaround in 2023-24.
Providence hosted an athletic big man in 6’10 shot blocker Luke Bamgboye on an official visit this weekend. We have exclusive highlights of Bamgboye from an elite event this past summer. He was an AAU teammate of PC commit Daquan Davis on Team Thrill.
Charges against former Friar guard Alyn Breed were dismissed earlier this week, according to the Providence Journal.
Recent PC transfer Will McNair Jr. announced his intention to transfer to Kansas State. The Friars are set to play K-State in the Baha Mar Hoops Championship in November. McNair, who committed to Providence in June before de-committing on Sept. 5 may not be eligible to play when the two teams meet in the Bahamas.
Congrats to David Duke Jr., who signed with the Philadelphia 76ers earlier this week. Duke was the fourth leading scorer in the G league last season, and finished third in MVP voting.
Thanks for reading Friar Basketball!