Providence was the only BIG EAST team in action on Saturday, a rare occurrence during the college basketball season. Also unusual, Sunday’s schedule shows six games.
The Friars (3-2) were deadlocked with Fairleigh Dickinson 31-31 at halftime before pulling away for a 79-67 victory at Alumni Hall. The combination of David Duke and Nate Watson carried PC. Duke scored a game-high 28 points and grabbed eight rebounds. Watson added 20 points and five boards.
The six-game Sunday slate includes three meetings in the Big 12-BIG EAST Battle. At 1 p.m. ET, No. 12 Villanova plays at No. 17 Texas (4-0) on ESPN. The Wildcats (3-1) lead the league by a comfortable margin with 40 3-pointers made.
The Big12-BIG EAST Battle continues with No. 11 West Virginia (3-1) at Georgetown at 4:30 p.m. on FS1. Guard Jahvon Blair leads the Hoyas (1-1) with a 20.0 scoring average. Qudus Wahab is averaging 14.0 points and 9.5 rebounds.
DePaul’s first game of the season is a Big12-BIG EAST Battle trip to Iowa State (1-1) at 6 p.m. on ESPNU. It’s the first time since 2007-08 that the Blue Demons are opening the season on the road. Guard Charlie Moore, a Preseason All-BIG EAST First Team pick, is expected to lead the squad this season.
In one of the nation’s most intense rivalries, Xavier takes the short bus ride to Cincinnati for the annual Crosstown Shootout. ESPN will telecast at 3 p.m. The Musketeers were the first team in the nation to compile a 5-0 record while the Bearcats are 1-0. Xavier’s Jason Carter leads the BIG EAST in rebounding (10.6) and Paul Scruggs is first in steals (7.4).
In a game that was put together about a week ago because of COVID issues with a previous opponent, St. John’s hosts Stony Brook at 2:30 p.m. on FS1. The Johnnies (3-1) are averaging 11.3 steals per game, tops in the BIG EAST.
Seton Hall plays its third road game in five days, a contest at Penn State at 8 p.m. on BTN. The Pirates are coming off an 83-70 loss to No. 21 Oregon. The Hall ranks first in the BIG EAST in 3-point shooting, making 38.8 percent.
The BIG EAST’s overall record is 26-9 (.743) going into Sunday.