PC’s “Late Night Madness”
PC’s “Late Night Madness”
PROVIDENCE — Kim English acknowledged and thanked his current Providence College roster. Erin Batth told potential future Friar basketball recruits that the Amica Mutual Pavilion was home.
Providence’s Late Night Madness, flanked by a country music performance from Zac Brown Band, is a celebration of the upcoming 2024-25 season as much as it is making the school’s flagship programs appealing to the college basketball world.
Providence’s men’s and women’s head basketball coaches blended that reality together on the AMP’s floor in front of over 10,000 in attendance on Saturday night during pre-event speeches.
“I’ve always said, if you’re going to do it, do it right,” English said of Late Night Madness before the event. “Kansas, Duke, Kentucky, they do it right. Providence does it right. I’ve been places where it’s not filled and it’s not packed, I think it’s a waste of time.
“It’s a great opportunity for [recruits] to get to see the AMP for the first time and some of the young guys. It’s something we’re really proud of, the atmosphere we have in this building every single time we step in. Whenever we have a chance to have recruits come see this building, they do.”
Related: Brown men’s basketball enjoyed a magical run late last season. Can they do it again?
The men open with a charity exhibition game at home against Massachusetts on Oct. 26 with tip-off scheduled for 4 p.m. Bryce Hopkins is still rehabbing a knee injury and won’t be ready for the start of the season. The senior’s return to the court is still unclear and the overall health of the men’s program is unstable to start the year.
“I’ve been doing a little bit,” Hopkins said. “I’ve been making great progress. I don’t have an exact date on when I’m going to be back yet, but I’m starting to work my way into more live [sets].”
“Not great right now,” English said of the team’s health. “Practiced with about six or seven scholarship guys, which is frustrating. But the good news is nothing very catastrophic right now, and hopefully we’ll have guys ready to go for [the home opener].”
More: Brown women’s basketball faces uphill battle at the outset — but don’t tell them that
The women face Southern Connecticut State University in an exhibition game on Oct. 29, at 7 p.m. in Alumni Hall. Olivia Olsen (13.7 points per game) and Grace Efosa (12.7) both return to the Friars’ lineup as last year’s top scorers.
“We’re excited, really,” Batth said. “Actually a lot of veterans, we have 10 seniors on the team, so that’s pretty awesome. Got some good size in the paint and we have some great athletic guards. We’ve got two great freshmen coming in that are going to get some minutes.”
jrousseau@providencejournal.com
On X: @ByJacobRousseau
