The Holy Cross men's basketball team begins the third season of the Dave Paulsen era at BIG EAST Conference foe Providence on Monday, Nov. 3 in the Amica Mutual Pavilion at 7:15 p.m. The contest will be broadcast on ESPN+ with Jake Marsh and Vin Parise on the call.

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT HOLY CROSS (0-0, 0-0 PL): 

• The Crusaders are coming off a 69-68 setback to Lafayette in the Patriot League Tournament first round back on Tuesday, March 2, 2025. Then-sophomore Joe Nugent matched a team-high with 17 points going 6-of-10 (60.0 percent) from the field and 5-of-8 (62.5 percent) from deep while teammate, then-sophomore DeAndre Williams played 37 minutes in a starting role with 12 points, six assists and four boards.
• Holy Cross lost some key contributors to last season's team including the 2025 Patriot League Rookie of the Year as well as four year Crusader Caleb Kenney to graduation. Kenney, the 2024 Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year, two-time Patriot League All-Defensive Team selection and the 2025 Patriot League Award of Outstanding Leadership and Character award winner is the only player in program history with 1,000 career points, 500 career rebounds, 100 career blocks and 100 career steals.
• The Crusaders have an all-time record of 71-34 (.676) in their opening game of the year. This year will mark the 58th time Holy Cross has opened the season away from home, with the Crusaders posting a 33-24 (.579) mark in the previous 57 contests. Over the last seven years, Holy Cross stands just 3-5 (.375) in season openers. During that time, Holy Cross has defeated Sacred Heart (69-64 in 2017-18; 93-81 in 2018-19) and Regis (98-51 in 2021-22) on opening day, while falling to Maryland (95-71 in 2019-20), Boston University (83-76 in 2020-21), Siena (75-68 in 2022-23; 73-71 in 2023-24) and Wisconsin (85-61 in 2024-25).
• Against the 11 schools which currently compete in the BIG EAST, the Crusaders stand 112-117, (.489) all-time (1-0 vs. Butler, 42-22 against Connecticut, 2-1 vs. Creighton, 1-1 against DePaul, 12-9 vs. Georgetown, 0-4 against Marquette, 29-41 vs. Providence, 7-27 against St. John's, 14-10 vs. Seton Hall, 1-2 against Villanova and 3-0 vs. Xavier).
• Holy Cross opened the season ranked 352nd in the 2026 Pomeroy College Basketball Ratings ranking 320th in offensive rating and 360th in defensive rating.

SCOUTING THE FRIARS (0-0, 0-0 BIG EAST): 

• Providence finished 2024-25 with a 12-20 overall mark and a 6-14 record in league play falling 75-69 to Butler in the BIG EAST Tournament on Wednesday, March 12, 2025.
• The Friars were selected to finish fourth in the BIG EAST Coaches' Preseason Poll with 64 points. Jason Edwards, a graduate transfer from Vanderbilt was named to the Preseason All-BIG EAST second team while Oswin Erhunmwunse, a 2025 BIG EAST All-Freshman team honoree was selected to the Preseason All-BIG EAST third team.  
• Edwards was named to the Jerry West Award Watch List, one of 20 players to be selected in the nation. At Vanderbilt in 2024-25, he started 24 of the 33 games and paced the team in scoring 17.0 and free throw conversions (143). He also tanked second on the team in three-pointers (65) and free throw percentage (83.1).
• Providence has an 87-11 (.888) mark all-time in regular-season openers and they hold a 90-8 (.918) record in home openers.
• The Friars opened the season ranked 48th in the 2026 Pomeroy College Basketball Ratings ranking 45th in offensive rating and 59th in defensive rating.

LAST TIME THEY MET: 

• Holy Cross is 29-41 (.414) in the series against Providence which began in 1921. The Crusaders are 10-27 (.270) against the Friars on the road.
• The Crusaders are 0-2 (.000) all-time against Providence in season openers.
• In their last meeting on Nov. 13, 2018 the Friars earned a 70-61 win. Jacob Grandison scored a team-high 17 points with seven rebounds, three steals and two assists.
• Holy Cross last beat Providence 54-43 on Nov. 20, 1999. The Friars have won five straight contests.  

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