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Providence looks to bounce back after down season, adds 10 new players

Providence looks to bounce back after down season, adds 10 new players | iNFOnews.ca
FILE - Providence coach Kim English shouts from the sideline during the second half of the team's NCAA college basketball game against Marquette, Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2023, in Providence, R.I. (AP Photo/Steven Senne, File)

Providence (12-20, 6-14 Big East)

After three straight 20-win seasons, including Kim English’s debut in 2023-24, the Friars fell to 12-20 last season, tying the most losses in program history. They lost their last six games, and 10 of their last 11, to finish eighth in the Big East. The 14 league losses were also a program high. Among the problems were injuries that limited top returning scorer Bryce Hopkins to just three games. Various Friars missed a combined 61 games in 2024-25 with injuries and illness last season.

Players to watch

Guard Jason Edwards is a key transfer pickup. He averaged 17 points per game for Vanderbilt last year and is on the watch list for the Jerry West Award that goes to shooting guard of the year.

Point guard Corey Floyd Jr. (9.2 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 2 apg), is back for his fourth season with the Friars.

Six-foot-10 Oswin Erhunmwunse (6.8 ppg, 5.6 rpg) was a member of the Big East All-Freshman team last year, when he blocked 56 shots.

Departures and arrivals

Hopkins, who averaged 15.8 points and 8.5 rebounds in three seasons but only played in 17 games over his last two, went to St. John’s to play for former Providence coach Rick Pitino.

Guard Jaylin Sellers (15.9 ppg, 3.6 rpg for Central Florida in 2023-24) only played in three games last season because of injuries. He missed time last year with a back injury, but when healthy he is a reliable 3-point shooter, making 45% of his shots from beyond the arc in two seasons at Ball State before dropping to 30% when he was fighting a wrist injury the following season. He is also considered a good defender.

Ten new players are on the roster, five from the transfer portal.

Top games

The season opener is Nov. 3 against Holy Cross, followed by a matchup with Virginia Tech on Nov. 8. The Friars will also play at Colorado of the Big 12 and meet Penn State and No. 24 Wisconsin in back-to-back games against Big Ten teams Nov. 22 and 27. Big East play begins at Butler on Dec. 13, with games hosting No. 4 Connecticut on Jan. 7 and at the Huskies on Jan. 27. Ex-coaches Rick Pitino comes to Providence with No. 5 St. John’s on Feb. 14 and Ed Cooley visits with Georgetown on Jan. 24.

Facts and figures

Erhunmwunse and Ryan Mela were named to the Big East All-Freshman team. … Floyd’s father, Corey Floyd Sr., averaged 6.1 points for the Friars over two seasons from 1990-92. … Forward Duncan Powell, who spent two seasons at North Carolina A&T, one at Sacramento State and one at Georgia Tech, needs nine points to reach 1,000 for his career. … The Friars were 10-6 at home last season, 2-9 on the road and 0-5 in neutral site games.

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Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here and here (AP News mobile app). AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball

Providence looks to bounce back after down season, adds 10 new players | iNFOnews.ca
FILE – Vanderbilt guard Jason Edwards (1), who has since transferred to Providence, shoots during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Texas at the Southeastern Conference tournament, Wednesday, March 12, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne, File)

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