It was a game that was perfectly set up for a raucous Dunkin Donuts Center: PC entered 3-0 in conference play following a pair of one point road victories, Butler was ranked 6th in the country, and the 9pm Friday night start allowed for Friar fans to relax themselves prior to tip off.
PC supporters couldn’t have been faulted for entering the early January contest confident. Despite playing through struggles, Providence swept three games from Butler last season, winning in overtime in late February in Indy, leading by nearly 30 points at home in the Big East regular season finale, and then storming back to roll to an 80-57 beating in the Big East Tournament.