Providence to Open Big East Play at Home on New Year’s Eve

The 2018-19 Big East schedule was released on Thursday during an episode of Big East Shootaround featuring John Fanta, Stu Jackson and Andy Katz. The Friars will open league play in the friendly confines of the Dunkin’ Donuts Center for the first time since the 2014-15 season. Providence will welcome the Creighton Bluejays for a New Year’s Eve matinee to kickoff their league year. The first game of 2019 for Ed Cooley’s crew will feature the defending national champion Villanova Wildcats after 4 days off. Other highlights include a return to Madison Square Garden to play St. John’s, a trip to the newly renovated Finneran Pavilion at Villanova, a FOX clash against Xavier in mid-February at home and the season finale will be against Butler at the Dunk.

Here is Providence’s 2018-19 Big East schedule:

#BEshootaround Schedule Special!

Tune in for the #BIGEASThoops slate & mark your 📅 with @CBBonFOX. https://t.co/98ZrKyYz0e

— BIG EAST Conference (@BIGEAST) September 13, 2018

For the full 2018-19 schedule, click here.

Y'all ready for this?#GoFriars pic.twitter.com/zxZXHlNSjn

— Providence MBB (@PCFriarsmbb) September 13, 2018

First Impression and Random Thoughts

• Ed Cooley has to be happy to finally be back at the Dunk to open Big East play after being banished the last 3 seasons by Disney On Ice, not to mention having to open last year’s non-conference game on campus at Alumni Hall because of RI Comic Con. With the improvements to the HVAC system and now the ability to work on the league schedule to not be forced to the road the Friars and AD Bob Driscoll must feel like they are getting a better deal for their money at the Dunk.
• Providence’s “bye” weeks are more spread out this season with the first coming at the beginning of the Big East schedule between a January 5th tilt against Villanova at home and a January 12th road game at Georgetown. Their second week-long break between games comes between games 16 and 17 — February 26th at Butler and March 6th at Creighton. Those feel more strategic than last year when both breaks were in January.
• There are three home games that take place when no classes are in session, including the January 5th matchup against Villanova. The final game is the regular season finale on March 9th, the day Spring Break begins. Providence’s Spring Break takes place from March 9th through March 17th. That means Spring Break coincides with Big East Tournament week again.
• Breakdown of Providence’s Big East games by day of the week:
  • Monday: 1 (New Year’s Eve)
  • Tuesday: 2
  • Wednesday: 6
  • Thursday: 0
  • Friday: 0
  • Saturday: 7
  • Sunday: 2
• Breakdown of Providence’s Big East games by TV network:
  • FS1: 10
  • FS2: 0
  • FSN: 1
  • FOX: 2
  • CBSSN: 3
  • Two games are still TBD
• My early prediction: 11-7
  • vs Creighton – W
  • vs Villanova – W
  • at Georgetown – W
  • vs Seton Hall – W
  • at Marquette – L
  • at Xavier – L
  • vs DePaul – W
  • at Seton Hall – L
  • at DePaul – W
  • vs Georgetown – W
  • at St. John’s – L
  • at Villanova – L
  • vs Xavier – W
  • vs St. John’s -W
  • vs Marquette – W
  • at Butler – L
  • at Creighton – L
  • vs Butler – W

What are your thoughts on Providence’s Big East schedule? Predictions for the league record? Leave those in the comments below.

Follow me on Twitter and Instagram @pcbb1917

About Author

Mike Hopkins

See author's posts