Providence Aims for Back-to-Back Big East Wins Against Xavier

The Friars look to build momentum after a victory over DePaul, while the Musketeers hope to end their road woes.

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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Providence will host Xavier in a Big East Conference matchup on Wednesday, with the Friars looking to win consecutive conference games for the second time this month. The Friars are coming off a 71-68 victory over DePaul on Saturday, while the Musketeers have lost seven straight Big East road games and are on a two-game skid overall.

Why it matters

This game is important for both teams as they look to improve their standing in the Big East Conference. Providence is currently one game out of the bottom spot in the conference, while Xavier has struggled on the road this season, losing seven straight Big East away games.

The details

Providence will be led by Jaylin Sellers, who had a game-high 21 points in the win over DePaul, and Jason Edwards, who returned from a foot injury to provide a spark off the bench. Xavier will counter with Tre Carroll, who has scored in double figures in four straight games, including a 24-point performance in the Musketeers' most recent loss to Butler.

  • The game was originally scheduled for Tuesday but was rescheduled to Wednesday due to inclement weather.
  • Providence is coming off a victory over DePaul on Saturday.

The players

Kim English

The head coach of the Providence Friars.

Jason Edwards

A Vanderbilt transfer who provided a spark off the bench for Providence in their last game.

Jaylin Sellers

The leading scorer for Providence, averaging 17.3 points per game.

Tre Carroll

The leading scorer for Xavier, averaging 24 points in their last game against Butler.

Richard Pitino

The head coach of the Xavier Musketeers.

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What they’re saying

“Once you get to last place, you're wasting your time even looking at (the standings). ... We're just playing the next game, and if we win, great, and just keep doing that one game at a time.”

— Kim English, Head Coach, Providence Friars (fresnobee.com)

“We're close, but what does it really matter? We've got to continue to help them to see if we can push through and win some of these close games.”

— Richard Pitino, Head Coach, Xavier Musketeers (fresnobee.com)

What’s next

The winner of this game will look to build momentum and potentially move up in the Big East standings, while the loser will aim to bounce back in their next conference matchup.

The takeaway

This game represents an opportunity for both Providence and Xavier to gain ground in the competitive Big East Conference. With the Friars looking to build on their recent victory and the Musketeers hoping to end their road woes, the outcome of this matchup could have significant implications for the postseason aspirations of both teams.