Providence’s 1-1 week, including a home defeat on Saturday at the hands of Butler, has dropped them out of the AP poll top 25. The Friars held the 24th spot after being 25th the week prior. They are now 27th in the AP poll. Providence was 23rd in the USA Today Coaches poll a week ago and have fallen out of that poll this week. The Friars are just on the outside looking in at the 26th spot.
The Big East
Villanova finished the regular season on a 12 game winning streak and the Wildcats currently hold a coveted 1 seed for the NCAA Tournament, according to most bracketologists. Villanova was 4th in both polls last week. They remained in the 4th spot in the AP poll this week but moved up a spot in the USA Today Coaches Poll to be 3rd. That’s their highest ranking of the entire season in either poll. The Wildcats remain the highest-ranked Big East team this season and the only that has been ranked in the top 5 at any point.
Butler finished off a 1-1 week by beating Providence on the road to return the favor for the Friars road win at Hinkle in early January. The Bulldogs were 21st in both polls last week and they drop a spot to 22nd in both polls this week.
Georgetown finished strong in the final week of the regular season by going 2-0, including an impressive road win at Butler. The Hoyas vault all the way from 33rd in the AP poll a week ago to 23rd this week. The move in the USA Today Coaches poll isn’t quite as dramatic as the coaches slotted Georgetown 26th last week and move them up to 23rd as well.
St. John’s embarrassing second half performance against Villanova on Saturday seems to have hurt their perception with the voters. After receiving 27 votes in the AP poll last week, which was good for 29th, the Red Storm got just 6 writers to vote for them this week. Those 6 votes slot them 33rd. The USA Today Coaches poll was even less impressed and the Red Storm fell from 32nd and receiving 12 votes to getting 0 votes in that poll this week.
The Big East has 3 teams in the top 25 for the third straight week though Georgetown replaced Providence this week. No other Big East teams are receiving votes in either poll.
Providence’s Non-Conference Opponents
Kentucky remains at the top of both polls in week 18 with their 31-0 undefeated regular season complete. The Wildcats closed out the season by defeating Florida at home on Senior Day. The Wildcats have no seniors on scholarship.
Notre Dame beat Louisville on the road and Clemson at home to finish off their regular season at 26-5. The Fighting Irish moved up 1 spot in the AP poll this week to 11th and 2 spots in the USA Today Coaches poll to 9th.
Rhode Island got 3 votes in the AP poll and 7 votes in the USA Today Coaches poll last week. The Rams are no longer receiving votes in either poll this week.
To see both polls in their entirety, click here.
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