At first glance, the new schedule for the Providence Friars looks favorable for a young team with plenty of talent, trying to reach a school-record 6th straight NCAA Tournament.
Upon closer inspection, however, it appears that the Big East, once again, could also be primed to provide a tough-to-handle start to the season for such a young squad.
For the first time in three years, the Friars open the Big East season at home in the Dunkin Donuts Center on December 31st against Creighton. In fact, they’ll get the chance to play the first two league games at home, with defending National Champion Villanova set to visit on Saturday, January 5th.
Two home games to start, yes. But against a couple of heavyweight contenders right out of the gate.
The first road test comes next, as PC plays at sleeper-contender Georgetown on January 12th, so the Friars will receive the first of their two “weeks off” very early in the schedule, after only three Big East contests.
The toughest stretch on the schedule is easy to find. Providence will play four out of five games away from home over a two-week span, from Sunday, Jan. 20th at Marquette to Saturday, Feb. 2 at DePaul. In between, at Xavier on Jan. 23, home against DePaul on Jan. 27th and back on the road Jan. 30th at Seton Hall.
Conversely, the Friars will recoup some of those road miles with three straight home games Feb. 16th (Xavier), Feb. 20th (St. John’s) and Feb. 23rd (Marquette). The Big East regular season will close with PC playing two of three on the road again, at Butler (Feb. 26), followed by the second “week off” and an 8-day break before playing at Creighton March 6th and finishing with a home game against Butler on March 9th.
PC will have eight weekend home games, and only one “late” tip-off at 8:30 – against St. John’s on Feb. 20th, and five home games will be afternoon contests starting between 12 noon and 4:00 pm. The Friars will also play two exhibition games at the Dunk on October 19th against the University of Bridgeport and October 27th against Bowie State.
The Big East Tournament will be held March 13-16 at Madison Square Garden in New York for the 37th consecutive year.
Last season, six of the 10 BIG EAST schools – Butler, Creighton, Providence, Seton Hall, Villanova and Xavier – earned NCAA Championship bids and Marquette played in the NIT. Over the first five years of the 10-team BIG EAST, the league has earned 28 NCAA Tournament invitations.
2018-19 Providence Friars Basketball Schedule
OCTOBER
19 Fri. BRIDGEPORT (exhibition) 7:00 pm
27 Sat. BOWIE STATE (exhibition) 4:00 pm
NOVEMBER
6 Tues. SIENA 6:30 pm Fox Sports
9 Fri. vs Wichita State (Veterans Classic/Annapolis, Md.) 6 pm CBS Sports Net
13 Tue. HOLY CROSS 7 pm FS2
17 Sat. vs. South Carolina (Hall of Fame Tip Off/Mohegan Sun) 2:30 pm ESPN3
18 Sun. vs. Michigan or George Washington (HOF Tip Off) 1:30/4 pm ESPN
24 Sat. IONA 4 pm FSN
27 Tue. FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON 8:30 pm FS1
DECEMBER
1 Sat. RHODE ISLAND 2:30 or 5 pm FS1
4 Tue. at Boston College 7 pm TBA
7 Fri. UMASS 7 pm FS1
16 Sun. CENTRAL CONNECTICUT 2 pm FS1
18 Tue. ALBANY 7 pm FSN
21 Fri. at Texas 9 pm ESPN2
31 Mon. CREIGHTON 4 pm FS1
JANUARY
5 Sat. VILLANOVA 2 pm FOX/FS1
12 Sat. at Georgetown 12 Noon FS1
15 Tue. SETON HALL 6:30 pm FS1
20 Sun. at Marquette Noon CBS Sports
23 Wed. at Xavier 6:30 pm FS1
27 Sun. DePAUL 12 Noon FS1
30 Wed. at Seton Hall 7 pm FSN
FEBRUARY
2 Sat. at DePaul 2:30 pm FS1
6 Wed. GEORGETOWN 7:30 pm FS1
9 Sat. at St. John’s (at MSG) 12 Noon CBS Sports
13 Wed. at Villanova 6:30 pm FS1
16 Sat. XAVIER 2 pm FOX
20 Wed. ST. JOHN’S 8:30 pm FS1
23 Sat. MARQUETTE 12 Noon FOX
26 Tue. at Butler 7 pm FS1
MARCH
6 Wed. at Creighton 8 pm CBS Sports
9 Sat. BUTLER 12 Noon Time TBA
13-16 at BIG EAST Championship