The college basketball offseason is often a long one. This year that was especially true, with NIL, eligibility battles, court cases and Senate bills dominating the college basketball storylines in the six months since Michigan was crowned the 2025-26 national champion. Those issues aren’t going away, but we finally get to turn our attention back to the court.
The Friars open their two-game exhibition slate Saturday at 2 p.m. at Amica Mutual Pavilion against the Pittsburgh Panthers. For PC, it’s a new coaching staff, a new roster and a new era of Friar hoops as the program enters its centennial season. Bryan Hodgson takes over after turning around Arkansas State and USF over the past three seasons, and he and his staff will look to do the same in Providence. The goal is a return to the NCAA Tournament after a three-year absence.
We preview what we are looking to see below.
Expectations are relatively high. PC was picked to finish fifth in a Big East that should be much improved from last season. The same can’t be said for Saturday’s opponent: Pitt was picked 12th in the 18-team ACC and didn’t have a single player recognized with preseason honors.
Of course, exhibitions should be taken with a grain of salt. Last year, Cincinnati went into Ann Arbor and beat Michigan. Once the games started counting, the Wolverines dominated college basketball on their way to a national title, while the Bearcats went 18-15 and parted ways with their head coach.
That said, PC’s preseason results have been a pretty reliable preview in recent years. Last season, the Friars lost to Pitt 81-74 and squeaked past Harvard before finishing 15-18 and parting ways with Kim English. The year before, they trailed UMass midway through the second half before escaping with a single-digit win, and that team finished a program-worst 12-20. Then there’s 2021-22: PC blew out Stonehill in its exhibition and beat preseason No. 7 Purdue in a secret scrimmage before making a run to the Sweet 16.
At the end of the day, these games are a chance to try out lineup combinations, get younger players reps, and gauge where the team stands before the season begins.
This game won’t count, and it won’t tell us exactly what to expect from this Friar team, but there’s still plenty for fans to be excited about. Here are three things we’ll be watching.
Who Plays
Joseph Pinion and Derek Simpson have their court hearings Monday over a fifth year of eligibility, so it’s highly unlikely we see either of them Saturday. That still leaves 11 new faces who should see the floor.
What does Miles Byrd’s defensive impact and offensive potential look like? How does Malik Mack fit in Coach Hodgson’s system? Can Arrinten Page carry over his strong summer? How does Devin Vanterpool adjust to the high-major level? And where does returnee Ryan Mela fit into all of it?
The starting five and the rotation may look different by the time the Friars open the season against Maine. Even so, Saturday should give us some early clues about who’s going to lead this team.
Playing Style
Over the summer, the Crier got a glimpse of how Coach Hodgson’s teams want to play, and it looks like an exciting brand of basketball. Expect the Friars to push the tempo, but in a more efficient way. The threes will be flying, they’ll crash the offensive glass, and they’ll hunt open shots. It’s the first preseason game, so it could look sloppy at times. The hope is that they generate good looks and put up points.
On the other end, expect an aggressive defense: ball pressure, blitzed pick-and-rolls, active hands in the passing lanes and a team that uses its defense to get out in transition for easy buckets. After what we’ve watched the last two seasons, any semblance of a defense will be a delight for Friar fans.
Passion Returns to the AMP
The past three seasons have been tough on Friar fans. When the team is good, the AMP is a special place and one of the toughest road environments in the country. The Friars have gone 20-12 at home over the past two years, and while the passion never left, the vibes in the building haven’t been great lately.
With Coach Hodgson and his staff in town, there’s a renewed sense of hope about what this program can become. The AMP is going to be rocking again, and Saturday is where it starts.
BOC Additions: What I’m Looking to See
Mike did a fantastic job summarizing what we want to see at The Crier. If I may, let me get into the weeds a bit more and add what I’m looking forward to seeing.
- Starting Line-Up: Who starts for the Friars?
- Big Man Rotation & Deployment: Do we primarily see one big and 4 wings? Do we see two bigs playing together? Where do the bigs rank in terms of playing time? I can’t wait to see this.
- Reclassed Freshmen: How do Walters and Bardwell look? Is the leap from high school, skipping senior year, and playing in the Big East too much for them or will they be too good to keep off the court similar to Jamier Jones last year?
- Pate Clarity: Pate, as announced Friday AM by Kevin McNamara, is unenrolling to go back to the G-League. Does Hodgson comment at all as to why?
- Sabol’s Role: This is really in the weeds but does he play back-up point? Does he play two guard? How does he fit?
Go Friars!
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