Providence Friars vs. Butler Bulldogs Prediction & Game Preview - 2/20/2022

Time: 1 p.m. ET

Venue: Hinkle Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN

Where to watch: FS1

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No. 8 Providence: 21-3 (11-2 Big East)

Butler: 13-14 (6-10 Big East)

Providence: won eight of nine

Butler: lost eight of 12

You blink for just a second, and the Providence Friars are a top-10 team in the country. Honestly, good for the Friars. When there's competition in the Big East outside of Villanova, that's a fun time. 

And when you see that Providence is atop the Big East with four games to go -- and another showdown at Villanova on the horizon -- you have to like what you see. Even if the Friars, who may just bounce out of the top-10 slightly this week, the Friars are looking good heading into Sunday's matchup against Butler.

Providence came up just short last week against Villanova, losing 89-84 despite a strong second-half rally from the home team. Nate Watson led the way with 20 points and six rebounds, while A.J. Reeves added 16 points in the loss.

I've talked about this before but the idea of getting more competitiveness in the Big East lies with Providence. It's about trying to gauge who the better team is outside of Villanova because, quite frankly, there hasn't been enough competition to that side. And of course with Providence losing to Villanova the other night, it's not like everything is better than we perceived it to be.

But we are seeing teams like UConn, Creighton and even Providence keeping things entertaining to the max in this conference. Hell, seven teams in the conference alone have at least 16 wins; 15 wins would put you at eight teams. And here are the Friars looking to be the top of that group. Everybody party. This conference could have at least five bids into the tournament for all we know. 

Leading the charge will be the Friars. Get used to it.

I'll tell you one thing about the Butler Bulldogs. Gordon Hayward isn't walking through the illustrious halls of Hinkle Fieldhouse to save the day. They could use the man to lead the way, because man, they need him badly if they want to come back and make things interesting in the Big East.

Butler lost for the first time in three games on Friday in a 91-57 loss to St. John's, which doesn' t seem like an enjoyable process anymore. Chris Mullin isn't coaching them anymore, right? How on Earth can we say they're actually imrpoved since such times?

They are one of those teams that has 15 wins I mentioned earlier, so of course that would be the case because why not? Of the 12 players who played only one of them scored in double digits. The dubious distinction went to Jayden Taylor with 19 points on 6 of 14 shooting. Good ol' Butler shot just 34.5 percent from the floor in what has been a microcosm of this season.

We used to look at Butler years ago as the mid-major that could and that there would one day come a time where this group would eventually win a national championship because life is funny that way. We thought the same thing about Wichita State for many years but nothing ever materialized from that aspect and we're left here wondering what would've happened if Wichita State never played Kentucky in that second round matchup almost a decade ago when they were undefeated?

We kind of think the same thing about Butler but never to that extent. And we're never really going to be sure if we get to that point. Butler's offense has been non-existent this season scoring just 63.4 points per game. Even in the Hayward days would the Bulldogs look unbeatable at times, but it's clear to me we're never getting that format back together for as long as I live.

This won't be that difficult at the end of the day. Providence is going to run all over Butler in this game with no decency in sight. Providence has covered their last five straight following an outright loss, which means they're going to be on the prowl for vengeance in quick order. Providence is one of the deeper teams in the country as well as one of the most well-rounded on offense. If we're going simply on talent and nothing else, it's Providence all day. Give me the top-10 group that's gone above and all beyond the call of duty to where they've needed to go. Providence by 19

Providence is 6-1 ATS this season on the road and 17-11 in the past three seasons.

Providence is 17-7 ATS following winning five or six of their last seven games.

Butler is 175-158 ATS in home games since 1997.

PG: A.J. Durham

SG: A.J. Reeves

SF: Justin Minaya

PF: Noah Horchler

C: Nate Watson

PG: Aaron Thompson

SG: Chuck Harris

SF: Bo Hodges

PF: Bryce Nze

C: Bryce Golden

Points: Nate Watson -- 13.8 

Rebounds: Noah Horchler -- 8.4

Assists: Jared Bynum -- 4.2

Points: Chuck Harris -- 10.7

Rebounds: Bryce Nze -- 5.9

Assists: Aaron Thompson -- 3.9