Tuesday, March 11, 2025
Robert McMahon, Sports Columnist
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It’s Big East Tournament Week at Madison Square Garden. The annual tournament kicks off this Wednesday at 4 PM when the Providence College Friars tangle with the Butler Bulldogs at the legendary arena.
In past years, Friar fans from all over the northeast would take off a few days from work and make the trek to New York City to root for the Friars and join other alumni for basketball at the Garden and recollections of past Friar glory at PJ Clarke’s watering hole on Third Avenue.
Reflecting on this year’s disappointing PC season, many local Friar fans have told me that they are going to take a pass on the tournament trek this year. In any case, despite PC’s 12-19 overall record this season, there likely will be at least several hundred Friar fans at the Garden when PC and Butler tip off at 4 pm on Wednesday afternoon.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE — SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTThe PC-Butler Matchup
The Friars, an 8th seed in the tournament and with a 6-14 Big East record, and the 9th seeded Bulldogs, with also a 6-14 record, split their regular season series this year. PC won handily 84-65 at the AMP and Butler took the second game at Hinkle Field House in Indianapolis 82-81. The one-point loss at Butler was one of eight losses by one possession suffered by PC this year. That stat has made for a very frustrating season for Coach English, the players, and the fans.
In the 84-65 first meeting of the two teams, the Friars won by almost twenty points and the difference was in offensive rebounds. The Friars snagged 14 offensive boards and turned them into 23 second-chance points. The Friars had four players in double figures scoring, with Bensely Joseph and Jayden Pierre each tossing in 18 points. Freshman Ryan Mela had one of his best games of the year with 10 points, 13 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals in 33 minutes of play.
The 82-81 loss at Butler was a very frustrating loss for the Friars. PC had one of its best offensive games of the year shooting 50% overall from the field and hitting a season high 16 3pt shots. Unfortunately, they had only 24 rebounds for the game, well below their 36.5 season average. And, as is seen in many road games for the Friars this year, foul calls were a problem. PC was called for 18 fouls which Butler converted into 21 points from the charity stripe. And for some reason, Mela only played 15 minutes in the game.
The winner of the PC-Butler game will play #1 seed St. John’s at noon on Thursday afternoon. Both games will be broadcast on Peacock TV and can be heard on WPRO radio with John Rooke and Joe Hassett.
It’s a Saint John’s Big East Tournament
For the first time in 40 years, St. John’s heads into the Big East Tournament as the regular season champ. And with Madison Square Garden being the Johnnies home away from home, St. John’s with a 24-6 overall record, #6 national ranking, and a 18-2 Big East record is looking to add the Big East Tournament Championship to its laurels this year.
Creighton is seeded #2 in the tournament, followed by #3 Connecticut, #4 Xavier, and #5 Marquette.
PC v. Butler NOTES:
– PC captured the Big East Tournament title in 1994 and 2014.
– The Friars have posted a 27-41 mark all-time in the Tournament.
– The Friars have registered a 20-7 mark all-time versus Butler, including a 3-0 record in the BE Tourney.
– PC won the first meeting this season against Butler, 84-65, on 1/8.
– The Friars were defeated in the second meeting this season at Butler, 82-81, on 2/8.
– In the most recent meeting between the two teams in the Big East Tourney, PC defeated Butler, 65-61, at MSG on 3/10/22.
Bob McMahon is the former Director of Parks in the City of Providence and a lifelong Providence College Friar fan.
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