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Providence opens its men’s basketball season on Nov. 4, but the real business of attempting to move the NCAA Tournament needle doesn’t begin until nearly a month later.
That’s when the Friars will take part in the Battle 4 Atlantis. They’ll play three games in the Bahamas against a stacked field over Thanksgiving, and their performance in paradise could go a long way toward determining whether or not they dance in March.
More: What will next season’s Providence basketball team look like? An early look at the Friars.
More: Providence basketball coach Kim English has message for teams trying to lure his players away
Bryce Hopkins will be back for another season with the Friars this fall. Nonconference play opens Nov. 4.
Central Connecticut State, Stonehill, Hampton, Green Bay and Delaware State all visit Amica Mutual Pavilion prior to the holiday. Providence also will host BYU on Dec. 3 as part of the Big East-Big 12 Battle and face off with St. Bonaventure on a neutral floor at Mohegan Sun on Dec. 14. The Friars play one true road game prior to league play — the annual Dec. 7 grudge match against the University of Rhode Island at the Ryan Center.
Arizona, Davidson, Gonzaga, Indiana, Louisville, Oklahoma and West Virginia could all provide the opposition at Atlantis. Matchups and games times have yet to be determined, but all games will be shown via ESPN networks or streaming. The western version of the Wildcats, the Bulldogs and the Sooners all finished inside the national top 50 last season, according to KenPom.com, while the Hoosiers edged into the top 100.
The Cougars will visit off an NCAA Tournament bid but with a new coach. Mark Pope departed for his alma mater at Kentucky after an extended search – BYU hired Phoenix Suns associate head coach Kevin Young to replace him. Young filled out his staff this week by hiring John Linehan as one of his assistants, bringing on arguably the best defensive guard in Providence history during his playing career from…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/battle-4-atlantis-highlights-providence-214909248.html
Author : The Providence Journal
Publish date : 2024-06-20 21:49:09
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