February 4, 2026; Providence, Rhode Island, USA; Providence Friars guard Jaylin Sellers (2) hits a 3-pointer against Butler Bulldogs forward Yohan Traore (21) in the second half at Amica Mutual Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Image NEW YORK – Records aside, Butler and Providence produced Game of the Year candidates in the Big East when their regular-season meeting was decided in double overtime.
The win was the highlight of a disappointing season for both schools, with their third meeting coming Wednesday when eighth-seeded Butler takes on ninth-seeded Providence in the opening round of the Big East Tournament.
“Get ready for double overtime,” said Kim English, the embattled coach of Providence. “I hope we stay healthy. Every game in this league we’re playing against one of the best coaches in the country.”
The winner will advance to a game against top seed St. John’s at noon Thursday.
The two teams will face each other in this game for the second consecutive season. Last year, Butler lost to St. John’s after ending Providence’s season 75-69, its first 20-loss campaign since 1989-90.
Butler (16-15) opened its conference schedule with a 113-110 win over Providence on Dec. 13 as Michael Ajayi totaled 28 points, 15 rebounds and Finley Bizjack had 26 points.
Both players displayed strong offense throughout the campaign, as Bizjack averaged 17.1 points and Ajayi finished his first season in the league with 16.3 points and 11.1 rebounds per game. Still, it wasn’t enough as the Bulldogs dropped 11 of their next 14 conference games before closing the season with three wins in their final five games, including an 81-71 win at DePaul on Saturday.
Bizjack scored 19 points and Ajayi recorded his 18th double-double of the game with 14 and 11 boards in a game in which the Bulldogs scored 29 points thanks to a 28-6 run to start the second half.
“Michael was amazing,” Butler coach Thad Matta said of Ajayi. “He’s been asked to do a lot of different things and it’s made him a better player. There’s so much we’ve had to go through and he just keeps playing.”
Providence (14-17) is coming off back-to-back losing seasons for the first time since three campaigns from 2009-12.
Jaylin Sellers had 36 points in Providence’s 97-87 home win over Butler on Feb. 4 after losing nine of its first 11 conference games. Sellers averaged a Big East-high 18.1 points during the regular season and has scored at least 20 points in seven of the last nine games.
Sellers had 21 points as the regular season ended with an 80-79 loss at Georgetown on Saturday, as the Friars allowed a season-worst 22 runs. It was their 6th loss this season by 5 points or less, and their 9th time allowing their opponent to shoot at least 50%.
–Larry Fleisher, Field Level Media
