Jared Bynum and the Friars open Big East play at home vs. Marquette on Dec. 20 (Photo: PC Athletics)

It’s no doubt the penalty for enjoying a monster season a year ago but Providence College basketball fans will not enjoy a high-profile opponent at the Amica Mutual Pavilion before the start of Big East play this season.

The Friars released their schedule Friday and the non-league portion of the slate features a road game at Texas Christian and a vitally important visit to the Hall of Fame Tipoff at Mohegan Sun where the Friars match up with the Miami Hurricanes in the first round. The home games at the newly-dubbed AMP come against Rider, Northeastern, Stonehill, Merrimack, Columbia, Manhattan and Albany. Stonehill is making its debut as a Division One program and none of the other six foes enjoyed a winning campaign in the 2021-22 season.

PC’s non-conference tests will come away from Providence. The game at TCU is part of the Big East/Big 12 Battle and will be a difficult trip as Jamie Dixon’s team is being tossed about as a Top 25 contender. The Friars also travel to URI to face new coach Archie Miller’s Rams.

Without a marquee home game in the non-league portion of the schedule, the Friars would greatly benefit from winning the Tip Off at Mohegan. Maryland and Saint Louis are on the opposite side of the bracket so all three potential opponents are likely top 75 teams.

The Friars have finished in the top 65 of the NCAA’s NET in three of the last five seasons. That rating is largely based on the depth and strength of the Big East as 20 of PC’s 31 games come in-conference. However wins over Wisconsin and Texas Tech last season cemented the Friars as a national Top 25 team with a gaudy strength of schedule number well before conference play even began.

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OCTOBER
15 Sat. MAL BROWN GAME (AMP – TEAM SCRIMMAGE) 4:00 p.m.
20 Thur. AIC (AMP – EXHIBITION GAME) 7:00 p.m.
29 Sat. ASSUMPTION (AMP – EXHIBITION GAME) 4:00 p.m.

NOVEMBER
8 Tue. RIDER FS1 6:30 p.m.
12 Sat. NORTHEASTERN FS2 8:00 p.m.
15 Tue. STONEHILL FS2 5:00 p.m.

19 Sat. vs. Miami ^ ESPN News 4:00 p.m. (Hall of Fame Tipoff/Mohegan)
20 Sun. vs. St. Louis/Maryland ^ ESPN Nets 1/3:30 p.m. (HoF)
23 Wed. MERRIMACK FS2 7:00 p.m.
26 Sat. COLUMBIA FS2 4:00 p.m.
30 Wed. at TCU (BIG EAST/Big 12 Battle) TBA TBA

DECEMBER
3 Sat. at Rhode Island ESPN Networks TBA
7 Wed. MANHATTAN FS1 8:30 p.m.
10 Sat. ALBANY FS1 2:00 p.m.
17 Sat. at Seton Hall * FOX 12:30 p.m.
20 Tue. MARQUETTE * CBS Sports Net 7:00 p.m.
29 Thur. at Butler * FS1 6:30 p.m.

JANUARY
1 Sun. at DePaul * FS1 2:30 p.m.
4 Wed. CONNECTICUT * FS1 8:30 p.m.
7 Sat. ST. JOHN’S * FS1 12:00 p.m.
14 Sat. at Creighton * FS1 2:00 p.m.
18 Wed. at Marquette * CBS Sports Net 9:00 p.m.
21 Sat. DEPAUL * FS1 2:00 p.m.
25 Wed. BUTLER * FS1 8:30 p.m.
29 Sun. at Villanova * (Wells Fargo Center) FS1 12:00 p.m.

FEBRUARY
1 Wed. at Xavier * FS1 6:30 p.m.
8 Wed. GEORGETOWN * CBS Sports Net 7/8:00 p.m.
11 Sat. at St. John’s * (Madison Square Garden) FOX 12:00 p.m.
14 Tue. CREIGHTON * FS1 7/7:30 p.m.
18 Sat. VILLANOVA * FOX 4:30 p.m.
22 Wed. at Connecticut * (Gampel Pavilion) FS1 6:30 p.m.
26 Sun. at Georgetown * FOX 12:30 p.m.

MARCH
1 Wed. XAVIER * FS1 6:30 p.m.
4 Sat. SETON HALL * FOX/FS1 TBA
8 Wed. at BIG EAST Tournament (MSG)