Tuesday night brought a career measuring stick for Kim English.
It was his 50th regular season Big East game as head coach at Providence. The Friars pushed to the finish but couldn’t overcome No. 2 Connecticut, an 87-81 road loss at Gampel Pavilion that adds to the program’s growing number of near misses.
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More: Three takeaways from Providence basketball’s latest loss at UConn
Providence’s only real noncompetitive showing in league play to date was a 97-84 stinker at Xavier. That they’ve been in every other game – and, often, leading in the final minutes – can be taken as a source of encouragement or immense frustration. The Friars are either learning painful lessons with a young roster or a program incapable of closing when it matters most.
That’s a matter of perception. The bottom line puts English at 18-32 in conference play, a stretch that rivals some of the more discouraging times in recent program history. Providence went 23-43 in the last four years of Tim Welsh, 18-36 in three years under Keno Davis and 23-31 in the following three years of Ed Cooley. That third extended period finished with a highlight – a conference tournament title in 2013-14 and the first of Cooley’s seven trips to the NCAA Tournament.
“You eat what you kill in this league,” English said Tuesday. “You eat what you kill. You’ve got to go win games. And we can, but you have to be dialed in.
Jan 27, 2026; Storrs, Connecticut, USA; Providence Friars head coach Kim English watches from the sideline as they take on the UConn Huskies at Harry A. Gampel Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images
“With the lead the process doesn’t change. We’re learning from it.”
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The Friars led late in the second overtime at Butler, by 11 late in regulation in the first meeting against the Huskies and by three late in regulation at Marquette – they lost all three games. They led by 21 early in the second half against Georgetown before suffering a collapse at Amica Mutual Pavilion. They were beaten down the stretch by Seton Hall and Villanova in another pair of home defeats, and a Friday night trip to Philadelphia offers the Wildcats a chance to finish a season sweep.
“It’s been tough,” English said. “It’s been really challenging. The greatest challenge of my life, I think – especially in sport.
“The Georgetown loss is the most embarrassing loss in my career – elementary school basketball included. Marquette was soul-crushing – up three with eight seconds. The first Connecticut game – I thought I’d never experience anything like that again in my life.”
Cooley and the Hoyas might have landed the knockout punch on Providence’s season in an 81-78 stunner. The program’s fans likely had three dates circled on the calendar after a disappointing nonconference performance – Cooley’s return to his home city, Rick Pitino and Bryce Hopkins visiting with St. John’s on Valentine’s Day and the Big East Tournament opener at Madison Square Garden. The Friars (9-12, 2-8 Big East) dropped the first one in excruciating fashion, a result that brought boos and anger from the sellout crowd on hand.
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“Very, very difficult losses,” English said. “Very easily four more wins right there – you’d take it. But they haven’t let go of the rope. That is a positive.
“We’ve done some good things without some guys. My mind is really just focused – I’m searching.”
Villanova (15-5, 6-3) is coming off an overtime road loss at UConn, a result that dropped them to 3-3 in their last six league games. The Huskies and Red Storm are the top two in the conference as expected, and the Wildcats could be the lead contender for third in their first season under Kevin Willard. He has Villanova in March Madness position after three straight misses under former coach Kyle Neptune.
“It’s been moving on to the next opponent, keeping their spirits high and ready to work and learning from the mishaps in those games,” English said. “It’s been a full-time job to keep them ready, and we need to continue.”
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When and where does Providence play Villanova?
The Friars will face the Wildcats at the Finneran Pavilion in Villanova, Pennsylvania on Friday, Jan. 30. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.
How to watch and listen to Providence College vs. Villanova
The game will be televised on FS1 and can be heard on WPRO radio (630 AM and 99.7 FM) and the Varsity Network.
What is the betting line for the Providence-Villanova game?
Odds will be posted here.
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: How to watch Providence basketball at Villanova on Jan. 30 2026
