As 2019 closed and the Big East conference season began, nine of the 10 teams were ranked 67 or higher in the latest NET. Seven were inside the top 50. Nine teams were listed as likely NCAA Tourney teams as of December 31 on BracketMatrix. The team on the outside looking in? Providence.
Ed Cooley’s Friars were picked fourth in the preseason Big East poll, a combination of respect for Cooley’s coaching ability and the belief that a team returning six of their top seven scorers was set for a big jump. Instead, they putzed and plodded through an uninspiring two months of basketball, going 7-6 against a slate of teams ranking 203rd best according to KenPom.