PC Friars Drop Two Places in AP Poll to 12th, Ben Bentil Named Big East Player of the Week

PC news release…

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — The Providence College men’s basketball team is ranked No. 12 in the Associated Press Poll and No. 13 in the most recent USA Today Coaches Poll. Both polls were released today (December 28). It marks the fifth consecutive week that the Friars have been ranked in the national polls.

The Friars have posted a 12-1 mark overall. Last week, the team recorded a 90-66 win in its only game at UMass on Dec. 21.

Providence will return to action on Thursday, December 31 in its BIG EAST opener at No. 9/10 Butler at 2:30 p.m. on CBS Sports Network.

Associated Press Top 25 Poll

RK TEAM                                RECORD PTS

1    Mich State (64)  13-0         1,623

2    Kansas (1)         10-1         1,534

3    Oklahoma          11-0         1,498

4    Maryland           11-1         1,428

5    Virginia              10-1         1,351

6    Xavier                                12-0         1,296

7    North Carolina   10-2         1,219

8    Arizona              12-1         1,081

9    Butler                 10-1         984

10  Kentucky           10-2         963

11  Iowa State          10-1         938

12  Providence         12-1         923

13  Miami (FL)        10-1         867

14  Purdue                               12-1         818

15  Duke                  9-2           781

16  Villanova           9-2           643

17  SMU                  11-0         636

18  Louisville           11-2         516

19  West Virginia     10-1         500

20  Texas A&M       9-2           371

21  Utah                   10-2         224

22  Cincinnati           10-3         199

23  Baylor                                9-2           195

24  South Carolina   11-0         175

25  UCLA                9-4           51

USA Today Coaches Top 25 Poll

RK TEAM                                RECORD PTS

1    Mich State (27)  13-0         771

2    Oklahoma (3)     11-0         730

3    Kansas (1)         10-1         715

4    Maryland           11-1         683

5    Virginia              10-1         648

6    Xavier                                12-0         610

7    Arizona              12-1         544

8    North Carolina   10-2         530

9    Iowa State          10-1         480

10  Butler                 10-1         471

11  Kentucky           10-2         465

12  Duke                  9-2           434

13  Providence         12-1         396

14  Purdue                               12-1         378

15  Miami (FL)        10-1         367

16  Villanova           9-2           309

17  West Virginia     10-1         299

18  Louisville           11-2         249

19  Texas A&M       9-2           220

20  South Carolina   11-0         157

21  Baylor                                9-2           146

22  Utah                   10-2         94

23  Cincinnati           10-3         90

24  Gonzaga             10-3         79

25  Pittsburgh           10-1         49

It was announced today (Dec. 28)  that No. 10/14 Providence College sophomore Ben Bentil (Wilmington, Del.)  was named BIG EAST Player of the Week.  It marks the first time in his career that Bentil has been named BIG EAST Player of the Week. 

Bentil earned the honor after recording a career-high 32 points and grabbing 12 rebounds in a 90-66 win at UMass on Dec. 21 in the Friars’ only game last week.  For Bentil it was his third double-double of the season.  He was 11-16 from the field, including 3-5 from three-point territory.  He also had two assists and two steals in the win.

Bentil leads the BIG EAST in scoring (18.8 ppg) and ranks sixth in the league in rebounding (8.0 rpg).

The No. 10/14 Friars will return to action on Thursday, Dec. 31 at nationally ranked Butler at 2:30 p.m. on CBS Sports Network.  The Friars will then return home to face St. John’s on Saturday, Jan. 2 at 3:30 p.m. on FS1.