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Providence finished the 2023-24 season with a 21-14 record. The Friars received an automatic bid to the National Invitation Tournament, but Boston College ousted them in the first round.
Second-year coach Kim English used the offseason to retool Providence's roster, securing the commitments of at least three highly-rated players from the transfer portal and high school. They are expected to help returning stars Bryce Hopkins and Jayden Pierre lead the Friars to the NCAA Tournament after missing it last season.
Here's a closer look into Providence's 2024-25 college basketball campaign, from its biggest games to the key players to watch out for this coming season.
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Providence's biggest games of the 2024-25 season
Providence will play home-and-away games against Big East foes including back-to-back national champions UConn, Creighton and Marquette. The Huskies swept the Friars in two regular season games last season.
Providence was 2-1 in its series against Creighton, including the Big East Tournament quarterfinals, and 1-2 against Marquette, who ousted it in the Big East Tournament semifinals.
The Friars' nonconference schedule will see them go on a trip to the Bahamas, host a Big 12 rival and play in the Hall of Fame Showcase.
Providence goes to Paradise Island, where it will play three games in the Battle 4 Atlantis from Nov. 27-29. The Friars will first meet Oklahoma on Nov. 27 and then face Arizona or Davidson the following day.
They will meet BYU in the Big 12-Big East Battle on Dec. 3. Providence will close its nonconference schedule with a game against St. Bonaventure in the Hall of Fame Showcase at the Mohegan Sun in Connecticut on Dec. 14.
Top Providence players to watch out for in the 2024-25 season
#1. Bryce Hopkins
Bryce Hopkins suffered a season-ending injury in January, cutting short a possible postseason run with Sacramento Kings first-round pick Devin Carter last season. Before the injury, the 6-foot-7 forward averaged 15.5 points, 8.6 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.0 steals per game.
The senior is expected to lead the team's offense this year but would get additional help from Wesley Cardet Jr., Jabri Abdur-Rahim and four-star freshman Oswin Erhunmwunse.
#2. Wesley Cardet Jr.
Wesley Cardet Jr. played two excellent seasons for Chicago State before transferring to Providence this year. In the previous season, Cardet averaged 18.7 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game for the Cougars while shooting 44.4% from the field.
The 6-foot-6 guard is expected to form a double-barrel weapon with Bryce Hopkins in offense as Cardet is a slasher who knows how to get fouls inside the paint.
#3. Oswin Erhunmwunse
Oswin Erhunmwunse is a four-star recruit who reclassified from the 2025 class and enrolled at Providence for the 2024-25 season. The 6-foot-10 center is coming off an excellent career in the 3SSB Circuit, where he averaged 10.1 points, 9.1 rebounds and 1.6 blocks, as per 247Sports.
Erhunmwunse is a strong and athletic big man who can finish with authority around the rim, crash the boards and block shots.
Predictions for Providence's 2024-25 season
Providence formed a deep squad that could battle it out with the top teams in the Big East. Without Devin Carter, the bulk of the Friars' offense would rest on the shoulders of Bryce Hopkins and Wesley Cardet.
Hopkins will make a mighty comeback from a season-ending ACL injury while Cardet seeks to prove that his transfer to Providence was worth it. The duo is expected to lead the Friars' offense boosted with the additions of freshman Oswin Erhunmwunse and Georgia transfer Jabri Abdur-Rahim.
Providence will likely make the postseason on paper with its talented roster, but it depends on how Friars coach Kim English would maximize his players' talents to secure a high seed in the NCAA Tournament.
Will Providence make a comeback to the NCAA Tournament after a year-long absence? Let us know your views in the comments section.
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