PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Providence College men’s basketball begins a new chapter Monday night when Maine visits Amica Mutual Pavilion for the 2026-27 season opener, the first official game under coach Bryan Hodgson.
The Friars spent the offseason rebuilding almost the entire roster after Kim English was dismissed. Hodgson and his staff filled the lineup through the transfer portal and high school recruiting, bringing in a double-digit group of newcomers. Arrinten Page has drawn the most attention in preseason work, and Malik Mack will run a new offense after playing earlier in his career under Ed Cooley. Miles Byrd, who played at San Diego State, joins as a defensive piece.
Two Friars, Sabol and Vanterpool, sat out both public preseason exhibitions with injuries that appear minor, and their status for the opener is uncertain. Providence also plays Nebraska early in the schedule.
Maine comes in as a heavy underdog. The Black Bears sit 343rd in the KenPom ratings, compared with 39th for Providence, and were picked to finish second to last in the America East. They went 8-24 last season, ending with a two-point loss at NJIT in the conference quarterfinals.
Coach Markwood’s teams lean on defense. Maine allowed 68.4 points per game last season, 42nd best nationally, and held opponents to 29.6% shooting from three-point range, sixth best in the country. The Black Bears added eight newcomers, including transfers from Drexel, Holy Cross and Ohio, and get Killian Gribben and Darius Lopes back from injury.
Ace Flagg, an America East All-Rookie pick, averaged 6.7 points last season. This is the 13th meeting between the programs and the first since the 2016-17 season. Providence leads the series 12-1.
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