A trip down memory land for Rick Pitino to Providence, where he first rose to prominence in the late 80s with the Friars, who made a Final Four run in 1987 featuring a guard named Billy Donovan. It looks like Pitino's SJU can challenge UConn in the Big East, with only a couple of last-second losses in the Bahamas vs. well-regarded Baylor and Georgia (the Bears loss especially painful on a deep triple at the double-OT buzzer). The Red Storm is scoring nearly 85 ppg and shooting better than 49% from the floor, with the backcourt bolstered by the addition of ex-Seton Hall G Kadary Richmond.
Providence has been hindered by recurring absences of key cog Bryce Hopkins, dealing with knee issues and limited to just three games thus far. He was held out of last Saturday's loss to St Bona; the Friars are only 5-4 without him. Providence is only 2-5 across its last seven, and even with Hopkins lost recently to Rhode Island. Play St John's