Let’s face it: It’ll be quite some time before anyone at Madison Square Garden will be talking about anything other than that six-overtime classic between Syracuse and Connecticut on Thursday night. The only Big East mystery besides seeding that remains is Providence, the last bubble team from the league. The Friars lost to Louisville 73-55 in Thursday’s second round, probably ending their hopes of getting an at-large bid. Providence finished 10-8 in Big East play, but its only high-end victories came against Syracuse and Pittsburgh. With a 2-8 record against RPI top-50 foes and 6-13 mark against the top 100, the Friars will probably be left out of the NCAA field on Selection Sunday.
Providence [19-13 (10-8), RPI: 71, SOS: 60] After Thursday’s 18-point loss to Louisville, it doesn’t look great for PC. Other teams on the bubble simply have more meat on their resumes. The Friars upset then-No. 1 Pittsburgh 81-73 on Feb. 24 and beat Syracuse 100-94 on Jan. 28. But those are really the only quality wins in Providence’s inflated 10-8 finish in Big East play. PC also swept games against Cincinnati and beat Rhode Island at home. Providence is 2-8 against RPI top-50 foes and 6-13 against the top 100. The Friars have four blowout road losses in Big East play, having lost at Connecticut by 33 points, Louisville by 18, Villanova by 17 and West Virginia by 27.
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