It was a game that we all knew would be tough to get however for the first 37 minutes of gameplay it appeared to be one they would get. PC held a 11-point lead with three minutes to play against the 4th ranked Huskies Wednesday night but couldn’t close it out and fell in overtime. As I texted in our Big East Fantasy Hoops group message it was just a cavalcade of errors and whacky shit in the final 3 minutes of regulation. PC now is 0-3 in overtime games and either a play here or there would’ve been the difference in not only them winning but perhaps avoiding OT all together.
Author: msurette1012
Friars Drop Big East Home Opener to Seton Hall 72-67
The sense around the PC basketball program after a disappointing 7-4 non-conference slate would be for them to get at least one of their first two games of the Big East schedule to save their season. After a heartbreaking loss to Butler in double overtime, 113-110, the Friars still had an opportunity with the 10-1 Seton Hall Pirates coming to town to get one.
Instead, another frustrating close game loss that now has the Friars at 7-6 on the season and a 0-2 start to league play. PC opened the game making only two of their first twelve shots from the floor. They would settle in offensively but let the defense slip, and Hall entered halftime with a 7-point lead.
After a timeout early in the second half, Providence finally made their push, even taking a 46-45 lead. Seton Hall behind their stout defense punched back and got their lead to the halftime margin of 7 with 5 minutes to go. Providence then made one final push taking a 67-66 lead after two Jaylin Sellers free throws with 1:16 remaining. That would be the last point PC would score as Seton Hall closed the final 76 seconds on a 6-0 run.
We recap the game in more detail below.
Kings of RI: PC Defeats Brown 86-79
The Friars wrapped up their 2025 non-conference schedule on Tuesday night but it wasn’t in the emphatic fashion fans were probably hoping for. The Brown Bears (5-7) came to town and although it was essentially a wire-to-wire win for PC, the Bears gave the Friars more than they bargained for. Head Coach Mike Martin had his team ready to go in this one and despite the Friars extending their lead countless times the Bears kept punching back.
PC raced out to a 9-2 lead, Brown tied it. PC would extend their 5-point halftime lead to 13 at 55-42, Brown responded with a 16-7 run. PC responded to push it back to 9 but then the Bears scored the next 5 points. Ultimately the Friars would get the 86-79 victory over Brown ending their non-conference slate with a 7-4 record.
We break down the game below along with our main takeaways.
Rams Slammed: Friars best URI 90-71
The Ocean State Rivalry renewed for the 134th time on Saturday at the AMP with an unfamiliar feeling going in. The Friars entered the weekend with a 5-4 record and in desperate need for a victory. URI, on the other hand, was off to a 7-2 start and had solid footing in the metrics. It was a rare situation where Providence arguably had more to gain in this one than Rhode Island.
Providence would answer the call, especially in the second half, where a 49-34 advantage would allow them to cruise to a 90-71 victory.
We break down the game and what we took away from it for the Friars moving forward.
Friars Play Some Defense, Rout FDU
After a disastrous Thanksgiving weekend that saw the Friars drop games to Wisconsin and Florida and gave up 100 points in regulation for the first time since 2009, the team was in dire need of a “cupcake” on the schedule to get the season back on track. Luckily for the Friars the FDU Knights, who entered Tuesday’s contest 1-6 (0-5 against D1 competition), came to town.
Right out of the gate the Friars jumped on the Knights with a 18-5 start, having the Knights burn their first timeout before the first media timeout. PC would finish off their best first half of the season with a 52-21 lead.
The Friars would extend the lead to as many as 36 points but they let go of the leash a bit and FDU responded with a 10-0 run. Some of the defensive lapses that have plagued PC all season long crept back up again, but all in all the Friars would get a 94-64 win and had their best defensive effort of the season.
We recap the game in more detail below.
Continue reading “Friars Play Some Defense, Rout FDU”Friars’ Thanksgiving Woes Continue in Wisconsin Runaway
In the Friars prior two victories over Wisconsin, they did it by playing physical and tough. In the two teams meeting on Thanksgiving Day in San Diego, the Badgers totally flipped the script. Not only was Wisconsin tougher on the glass and getting what they wanted in the paint, but they beat the Friars at their own game. The Badgers forced Providence into 14 turnovers and cashed those in for 18 points.
They also surprisingly smoked the Friars in fast break points 32-14. The Badgers also launched 40 threes in this game connecting on 14 of them, each one made their lead feel more insurmountable.
In summation the Badgers really outclassed the Friars in essentially every facet en route to a 104-83 victory.
We break down the bludgeoning below and where the Friars go from here.
Continue reading “Friars’ Thanksgiving Woes Continue in Wisconsin Runaway”2025 Rady Children’s Invitational: Sizing Up the Field
It’s MTE season, and the Providence Friars are heading west this year for the Rady Children’s Invitational in sunny San Diego, CA. It’s a four team field with Wisconsin, TCU, and Florida as the competition. As discussed on the most recent episode of the Providence Crier Podcast, it will be pivotal for the Friars to get at least one game in their two days in “America’s Finest City”.
Obviously the Friars won’t face all of these three teams this week but it’s best to be prepared so we take a look at each one.
Friars Flip the Script in Second Half Vs UNH
The Friars figured to be a hungry team that would get after it from the jump as they hosted the University of New Hampshire on Tuesday night at the AMP. One would think that would be the case after a disheartening road loss to Colorado where they gave up 97 points to a young Buffaloes team. Yet it didn’t always look to be the case early as UNH, who had been beaten rather decisively in all of their games against D1 opponents, only trailed the Friars 32-31 with 1:20 left in the first half. The Friars would close the half on a 6-0 run and never looked back en route to a 98-66 rout of the Wildcats.
PC now finds themselves at 3-2 on the year with what oddly feels like a season defining game against Penn State on Saturday at Mohegan Sun.
Continue reading “Friars Flip the Script in Second Half Vs UNH”Friars Race Past Quakers 106-81
After a few days of exhausting online discourse following PC’s loss to Virginia Tech at Mohegan Sun on Saturday, it was great to see the Friars back on the court and in the win column. PC didn’t disappoint as they cruised past the Penn Quakers 106-81 at the AMP on Tuesday night.
For the Friars it is the first time since the 2008-2009 season that they have scored at least 100 points in back-to-back games. The captain, Corey Floyd Jr, led the team in scoring with 20 points and once again PC showed a balanced offensive attack. With the win the Friars improved to 2-1 on the season and continue to take care of business against teams that they have no business losing to.
We recap the game below.
Continue reading “Friars Race Past Quakers 106-81”Crier’s Recap: Friar Freshman Dazzle as PC Fends Off Holy Cross
The college basketball season finally returned on Monday night with the Friars hooking up with Holy Cross at the AMP. While it was far from perfect, the Friars started off the 25-26 season on the right foot with a 89-79 victory over the Saders.
There was plenty of chatter about the portal additions this offseason, and for good reason, but it was a pair of Friar freshmen who led the way. Stefan Vaaks calls Estonia home but he looked ultra comfortable in his new digs leading the Friars in scoring with 19 points. Jamier Jones had 16 points on 7/7 shooting which included a handful of sensational dunks.
We recap the game below.
Continue reading “Crier’s Recap: Friar Freshman Dazzle as PC Fends Off Holy Cross”Providence Crier Player Preview Series: Jaylin Sellers is a Tone Setter for Friars
Before the transfer portal hot stove warmed up this offseason BOC stated that he wanted to see an attitude adjustment with the guys they bring in. Well he’s got that with the addition of Jaylin Sellers. Sellers chose the Friars this spring over the likes of Illinois, Cincinnati, and Georgetown. It seemed as if Illinois was in the catbird seat to land the 6-5 guard from UCF but were also pursuing international prospect Dame Sarr. With their infatuation with Sarr, Jaylin Sellers ended up at PC, while Sarr ended up committing to Duke instead. Illinois recruiting misfortune very well may have been a fortuitous moment for the Friars.
We detail how we think Sellers will impact the Friar roster and season below. Nationally, Sellers may be an unknown commodity, but we here at The Providence Crier think he has All-Conference potential for the Friars.
Continue reading “Providence Crier Player Preview Series: Jaylin Sellers is a Tone Setter for Friars”Observations From PC’s Scrimmage Victory Over Harvard
It was great to be back. After a long season watching the Friars go 12-20 last year it was exhilarating to get back to the AMP and get our first glimpse at Kim English’s third iteration of a Friar basketball team. The Friars didn’t disappoint those who made the trip where they would build a 18-point halftime lead and hang on for a 85-77 victory Saturday evening. Here’s a few of the Crier’s thoughts from the win.
Continue reading “Observations From PC’s Scrimmage Victory Over Harvard”