PROVIDENCE FRIARS VS. ST. JOHN’S RED STORM

Time: Noon ET/11 a.m. CT

TV: FSN

Watch Online: FOX Sports GO (Where Available)

Spread: Providence opened as a 4.5-point favorite. The line is up to 5.5.

O/U: The total opened at 141, but is down to 139/139.5.

TALE OF THE TAPE

ST. JOHN’S

Records: 15-15, 4-13 Big East, 13-15 ATS

Rankings: #73 KenPom

Last 5: 3-2 (W: Marquette, DePaul, Butler // L: Marquette, Seton Hall)

Adjusted Efficiency Numbers: 107.5 (Off., 136th) // 96.7 (Def., 29th)

Leading Scorer: Shamorie Ponds (21.6 PPG)

Leading Assist Man: Justin Simon (5.0 APG)

Leading Rebounder: Justin Simon (7.2 RPG)

PROVIDENCE

Records: 18-12, 9-8 Big East, 11-18 ATS

Rankings: #72 KenPom

Last 5: 2-3 (W: Villanova, Georgetown // L: Butler, Seton Hall, Xavier)

Adjusted Efficiency Numbers: 110.1 (Off., 89th) // 99.2 (Def., 57th)

Leading Scorer: Rodney Bullock (14.1 PPG)

Leading Assist Man: Kyron Cartwright (5.9 APG)

Leading Rebounder: Alpha Diallo (6.4 RPG)

We have reached the final day of the regular season. Seems like it just flew by, didn’t it? The 2017-18 college hoops campaign is merely hours away from its conclusion, and all we have left to do is to speculate just what the hell is going to happen in the Big East standings. Seriously, there’s the potential for chaos and tiebreakers aplenty right now. Nothing is known and a lot seems ambiguous.

Anyhow, one of the first matchups of the day will pit the Providence Friars against the St. John’s Red Storm. It’s the freshman class of 2014’s last hurrah at The Dunk, and this class has had quite a lot of success, hasn’t it? While they came a year after the Friars’ memorable run to the Big East Tournament Championship, they’ve still accomplished a lot. They’ve been to the NCAA Tournament every year, and figure to make that true again this postseason. They’ve also won a lot of games together, and will look to make that true again on Saturday. Kyron Cartwright, Jalen Lindsey and Rodney Bullock will be playing their final games at the Dunkin Donuts Center, and Friartown figures to honor them as best as they can.

But in come the St. John’s Red Storm. The Johnnies have had an, uh, interesting season to say the least. Despite the fact that they lost 11 games in a row, they’re somehow, someway at .500 right now. Their 15-15 record is rather ridiculous and improbable when you consider all the factors. But here we are. They have a chance to finish 5-13 in Big East play, and while that’s down from expectations, it would certainly be the best case scenario after their woeful start. They’ll be playing the role of spoiler, as a win could damage the Friars’ resume and pin a lot of pressure on them to make magic happen next week at The Garden.

To do so though, they’ll have to again do it without Shamorie Ponds. Ponds was out in Wednesday night’s victory over Butler with an abdominal injury, and that injury will keep him out of Saturday’s game as well. Kassoum Yakwe won’t be able to play either, so St. John’s will be shorthanded yet again.

The Red Storm go into Saturday’s game on the heels of a double OT win over the Butler Bulldogs. Providence, meanwhile, was handed an 84-74 defeat at the hands of the touted Xavier Musketeers. So each team will have different mindsets heading into this contest.