Providence College enters the week as the top Big East men’s basketball team in the Associated Press poll.
The Friars checked in tied for 16th in the latest edition, which was released on Monday. Providence is up five spots from No. 21 and even with Kentucky — both teams collected 560 points over 61 ballots.
Marquette will host a Friars team on Tuesday night that’s riding an eight-game winning streak. Providence is off to a 13-1 start, its best since the 2015-16 season. That includes a 3-0 mark in league play for only the third time since the 2008-09 season.
‘We’re going to enjoy this’:Takeaways from PC’s victory over Seton Hall men’s basketball
The Friars completed a 2-0 week on Saturday with a 70-53 demolition of DePaul. Providence authored a 22-0 run late in the first half and held the Blue Demons to just one field goal over the final 9:27. The last 20 minutes were nothing but a formality.
Last Wednesday’s matchup with Seton Hall was more competitive. The Friars welcomed a near-sellout crowd to the Dunkin’ Donuts Center and sent them home happy thanks to a 70-65 triumph. Providence used a 17-2 burst late in the first half to take the lead for keeps.
The Friars peaked at No. 8 in the polls during the first full week of 2016. Providence started 14-1 that season and eventually brought home its lone NCAA Tournament victory under Ed Cooley. He’s comfortably on track for a sixth March Madness appearance with the Friars since taking over for the 2011-12 season.
More:Here’s how Providence solidified its top-25 ranking with its win over DePaul
Villanova is up three spots to No. 19 after winning a showdown against the Pirates in New Jersey. Xavier climbed one spot to No. 22 while Seton Hall dropped nine places to No. 24. The Pirates lost both games coming off a COVID-19 pause and were without a pair of key rotation members in Ike Obiagu and Tyrese Samuel.
Ten other teams outside the top 25 received votes in the poll, including a pair from the Big East. Connecticut and Creighton were each named on at least one ballot. Davidson also received votes out of the Atlantic 10.
Honors for PC’s Noah Horchler
Noah Horchler was among the leaders for Providence last week.
The veteran forward was named to the Big East Honor Roll while averaging 14.0 points and 10.5 rebounds. Horchler knocked down a career-high five 3-pointers in the victory over Seton Hall and notched a fifth double-double of the season.
Horchler leads the Friars at 8.3 rebounds per game and is shooting 45.3% from deep. He’s also third on the team in assists with 31.
URI’s Makhi Mitchell and Sebastian Thomas make Honor Roll
Makhi Mitchell and Sebastian Thomas earned conference recognition as the University of Rhode Island ended its COVID-19 pause on Sunday.
URI men’s basketball:Rams struggle to scrape the rust off, but get the win over AIC
Both were named to the Atlantic 10 Honor Roll following their performances in a 70-55 win over American International. Mitchell finished with 19 points and eight rebounds while Thomas matched a career-high with five assists.
The Rams had hoped to begin conference play on Wednesday night at George Mason. They’ve already had games against Dayton and La Salle postponed. The Patriots reported COVID-19 issues within their program and were forced to pull out.
Game called off:URI-George Mason the latest victim of COVID, Rhody has yet to face an Atlantic 10 opponent
Bryant men, women make the cut
Three familiar names were among the Northeast Conference Prime Performers on the men’s side.
Bryant duo Peter Kiss and Hall Elisias were joined by Pawtucket native Tedrick Wilcox Jr., who is in his debut season with St. Francis Brooklyn.
Kiss poured in a game-high 33 points in an 85-82 home victory over Sacred Heart on New Year’s Eve. Elisias dominated with 25 points, 10 rebounds and five blocked shots in an 80-76 road triumph over Central Connecticut State, a win that helped the Bulldogs start 2-0 in league play.
Wilcox reached double digits in both of his games last week, including a career-high 27 points in a loss to the Blue Devils. The former standout at Tolman went 5-for-10 from 3-point range and is shooting a sizzling 51.2% from deep for the Terriers, a top-25 national mark.
Bryant’s women placed a pair of players among the NEC Prime Performers.
Brooke Bjelko and Fatou Jallow both made the list while the Bulldogs split their first two league games of the season. Bjelko dominated with 19 points and 16 rebounds in an opening 60-53 victory over Central Connecticut. Jallow matched a pair of career-highs with 19 points and six assists in a defeat against the Pioneers.
Bryant is scheduled to host Wagner and Fairleigh Dickinson in conference action this week.
On Twitter: @BillKoch25
