Quick Bio: Providence College, Kentucky's First NCAA Tournament Opponent

With today’s Selection Sunday bracket reveal, Kentucky Basketball learned its first opponent in the 2023 NCAA Tournament. The Wildcats will play Friday night in Greensboro, North Carolina, against the Fighting Bryce Hopkinses from Providence in the 6-vs-11 matchup in the tournament’s East Region. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. on CBS.

Before we take a deep dive into the matchup and Kentucky’s tournament draw as a No. 6 seed, here’s a quick biography of Ed Cooley’s group out of the Big East. There’s a familiar name leading the way in scoring.

(11) PROVIDENCE FRIARS

Record: 21-11 (13-7)

NET Ranking: 56

KenPom: 44

Highest AP Top 25 Ranking: 17 (Jan. 30)

Best Wins: vs. No. 4 UConn, 73-61 (Jan. 4); vs. No. 24 Marquette, 103-98 2OT (Dec. 20); vs. No. 18 Creighton, 84-86 2OT (Feb. 14)

Worst Losses: vs. Seton Hall, 82-58 (Mar. 4, Senior Night); vs. Saint Louis, 76-63 (Nov. 20, neutral site)

Coach: Ed Cooley (12th season)

Leading Scorer: Bryce Hopkins (16.1 ppg)

Karl Malone Award Finalist: A former Kentucky Wildcat, Hopkins was named one of five finalists for the Karl Malone Award, given to the best power forward in college basketball. Hopkins is also a unanimous All-Big East selection in his first season as a Friar. He transferred after averaging 6.4 minutes per game during his freshman season at Kentucky.

Familiar Names: Hopkins isn’t the only player Kentucky will recognize on Providence’s roster. The Friars also start two former Southeastern Conference adversaries in guards Noah Locke and Devin Carter. Locke played three seasons at Florida and then a year at Louisville before landing in Providence’s backcourt in his fifth season. He averages 11.1 points per game. Carter, a sophomore, played his freshman season at South Carolina but hit the portal for Providence last spring. He had seven points, six assists, and four rebounds in his one run-in with Kentucky last season.

Double-Double Machine: Inside, Providence’s Ed Croswell has nine double-doubles with three in the last five games of the regular season. The 6-8 senior averages 13.2 points and 7.6 rebounds per game.

Three-Game Skid: Once a top-25 team, Providence collapsed at the end of the regular season, losing four of five games, including three in a row with a loss to Seton Hall on Senior Night and a quick exit from the Big East Tournament against UConn.

A New Spirit: Once his team was assigned Kentucky in Friday’s opening round game, Cooley said there’s “a new spirit, and everyone’s 0-0.” He noted Oscar Tshiebwe and Kentucky’s strength and athleticism as his early thoughts on the matchup. Cooley also remembers Jacob Toppin from Toppin’s time at Rhode Island.

Cooley Rumors: Though he kept his comments on the tournament ahead, Cooley has been mentioned as a frontrunner for the Georgetown job once Providence’s run ends.

A 3.5-Point Dog: As the lower seed, Providence is the underdog in the game with an opening line of 3.5 points. KenPom gives Kentucky a 57 percent chance to beat the Friars.

We’ll have plenty more to come in the days ahead. Until then, here’s the path:

Region Bracket