Rhode Island vs Providence: 2023-24 college basketball game preview, TV schedule

The stage is set for Saturday’s annual in-state rivalry meeting between the Rhode Island Rams and Providence College Friars.

TV schedule: Sunday, December 2, 7:30 p.m. EST FS1

Arena: Amica Mutual Pavillion in Providence, Rhode Island

The University of Rhode Island and Providence College’s annual in-state rivalry is renewed for the 135th time on Saturday, with the Friars leading the series 76–58. The Friars have won nine of the last 11 meetings with the Rams, including their most recent game last season, where Providence was victorious 88–74 at the Ryan Center.

All five of PC’s starters finished in double figures, but the team was led by Bryce Hopkins, who posted 14 points and 15 rebounds. Clifton Moore and Jared Bynum each contributed 14 points, while Noah Locke had 13, and Devin Carter and Ed Croswell each had 10.

While Providence’s lineup is relatively similar to last season and is expected to continue its recent success against Rhode Island, this time, they’ll be led by a new face of the program. Kim English will make his Ocean State rivalry debut on Saturday. The former George Mason head coach took over the Friars this past offseason for Ed Cooley, who left the team for an opening at Georgetown.

While the Friars managed to retain seven players from last year’s roster, the program brought in several new faces, including three from George Mason who followed English to downtown Providence. However, the player to watch out for is returning junior forward Hopkins.

After his first year at Kentucky, Hopkins transferred to PC before last season. In his second year with the program this season, Hopkins is averaging 15.7 points, 8.7 rebounds, and shooting 40.2 percent from the field. We can certainly expect another dominant performance out of him.

The Rhode Island Rams are 5-2 through the season’s first seven games. Still, now they will face the most formidable opponent of their non-conference schedule in the in-state rival Providence Friars, showing fans what to make of Rams in year two of the Archie Miller era.

Despite several players leaving the program this offseason, Coach Miller and his staff improved the roster, adding plenty of talent from the transfer portal and some key depth pieces that have adjusted to his style nicely, such as Luis Kortright, Jaden House, Tyson Brown, and David Fuchs. Still, the player to watch out for is Bradley transfer guard Zek Montgomery.

Montgomery leads the Rams in points, averaging 15.6 per game and shooting 54.9 percent from the field. The 6-foot-6 guard has scored in double figures in every game this season. He posted 14 points, nine rebounds, and two assists on 42.9 percent shooting in Rhody’s last game.

The Rams are coming off a 76-72 upset victory at home against the Yale Bulldogs. Rhody was down by as much as 18 at one point but came from behind in the second half to remain undefeated in the Ryan Center this season.

The Rams will look to carry that momentum with them on Saturday when they face PC. I wouldn’t be surprised if Rhody comes out of the gate with a lot of energy to keep it close throughout the first half. Still, their lack of experience as a younger team, combined with the home-court disadvantage, will get the best of them in the second half, allowing Providence to pull away within the final eight minutes.

While the Rams will make this Ocean State rivalry matchup a more competitive game than in their previous matchups with the Friars over the last few years, Providence’s roster is too good to be matched, and URI will run out of answers for them. Regardless, we can expect a great show from both programs, who are fighting for bragging rights of the Ocean State in front of a sold-out crowd in one of the most competitive atmospheres in all of college basketball.

Prediction: Providence 89, Rhode Island 77