Big East Suspends Providence Player for Brawl

Duncan Powell faces three-game suspension following altercation against St. John's.

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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The Big East Conference has suspended Providence forward Duncan Powell for three games following his involvement in a brawl during the team's game against St. John's on February 14. Powell was ejected from the game due to a flagrant 2 foul and was found to have engaged in additional combative actions that constituted a fighting act.

Why it matters

Suspensions for fighting are taken seriously by the Big East Conference, as they aim to maintain sportsmanship and player safety during games. This suspension of a key Providence player could have significant implications for the team's performance in upcoming conference matchups.

The details

According to the Big East's statement, Powell will miss Providence's next three games: February 21 at DePaul, February 24 at home against Xavier, and February 28 at Creighton. The automatic one-game suspension mandated by NCAA rules for fighting, plus an additional two-game suspension imposed by the conference, make up the total three-game ban.

  • The incident occurred during Providence's game against St. John's on February 14, 2026.
  • The Big East Conference announced the suspension on February 15, 2026.

The players

Duncan Powell

A forward for the Providence Friars basketball team who was suspended for three games by the Big East Conference following his involvement in a brawl during a game against St. John's.

Big East Conference

The collegiate athletic conference that oversees men's basketball in the Northeast, including Providence and St. John's.

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What’s next

The suspension will force Powell to miss Providence's next three games, which could have a significant impact on the team's performance in those matchups.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the Big East's commitment to maintaining sportsmanship and player safety, even when it means suspending a key player from a prominent program. It serves as a reminder to student-athletes that fighting will not be tolerated, and that there are serious consequences for such actions.