Big East Basketball: Biggest in-state battles in non-conference schedule for 2018-19

Providence vs. Rhode Island (Dec. 1)

All-time: PC leads 73-55
Last meeting: URI 75-68 (2017)

After seven straight Providence victories from 2010-16, Rhode Island finally knocked off the Friars in 2017. However, the 2018 contest figures to be an uphill climb as the Rams look to capture consecutive series wins for the first time since 2002 and 2003. URI only returns 36 percent of last year’s minutes (316th in the nation) following the departures of Jared Terrell, EC Matthews, Stanford Robinson, and Jarvis Garrett, who were four of the five Rams to average at least 20 minutes per game. David Cox – who was promoted to head coach once Dan Hurley exited for UConn – will have his hands full as he searches for efficient scoring behind junior guard Jeff Dowtin.

Still, the Rams are projected to finish inside the top-half of the Atlantic 10, and are capable of beating almost anyone on any night. And the Friars don’t figure to set the world on fire, even if they are a sleeper in the crowded Big East. Providence appears to have too many undersized frontcourt options and still has some uncertainty at point guard with Kyron Cartwright gone. This game should also be a rock fight – neither team topped five made threes in last year’s matchup, and the five best shooters in the game have since graduated. Providence will likely be favored at game time (one projection currently gives PC an 85 percent chance to win), but URI has more than a puncher’s chance at home. The last five meetings have been decided by eight points or less.

Villanova vs. the Big 5 (Dec. 1-11)

All-time: Temple (27 titles), Villanova (26), St. Joe’s (20), Penn (13), La Salle (11)
Last meeting: Villanova sweeps (2017)

The annual round-robin Big 5 among the Philadelphia schools remains one of the best traditions in college basketball, and to the surprise of no one, Villanova has absolutely dominated the series in recent years, winning five Big 5 titles in a row and 10 of the last 13. In fact, the ‘Cats are 22-0 across the past five-and-a-half events, with their last loss coming against Temple in Dec. 2012.

And even though fellow Big 5’ers are likely salivating at the thought of knocking off the defending champs who are now without four NBA players, this probably isn’t the year to dream of dethroning Villanova. The Wildcats are replacing their departed stars with a top-10 recruiting class and increased roles for seniors Eric Paschall and Phil Booth; meanwhile, none of Temple, St. Joe’s, Penn, or La Salle are currently inside KenPom’s preseason top-80. Barring an epic collapse, Villanova should move even with the Owls by mid-December in the all-time Big 5 title race.