February 28, 2026; Omaha, Nebraska, USA; Providence Friars guard Jaylin Sellers (2) scores in the second half against the Creighton Blue Jays at CHI Health Center in Omaha. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-Imagn Image Although the season hasn’t gone as planned for Providence, there’s been a lot to celebrate recently.
The Friars will be riding a three-game winning streak when they host Marquette on Wednesday.
Providence (14-15, 7-11 Big East) began a streak at DePaul on Feb. 21, knocking off Xavier at home and narrowly beating host Creighton on Saturday. Jaylin Sellers earned Big East Player of the Week honors after leading Providence with 27 points on 5-for-8 shooting from deep against Creighton.
“We’ve been in a lot of games like this this season and fortunately we were able to get away with it,” Providence coach Kim English said. “I’m proud of our fight and determination.”
Marquette (10-19, 5-13 Big East) suffered a setback Sunday at home against rival DePaul, scoring just 14 points in the first half and eventually falling 62-51.
Big East Freshman of the Week Nigel James Jr. led Marquette with 14 points, and Chase Ross, playing through a shoulder injury, added 12 points.
“It’s been a while since our guys were deer in the headlights, but they were there,” Marquette coach Shaka Smart said. “Of course if we score 14 points it’s not enough.”
The last time these teams faced each other was one of the highlights of the Big East season, when Marquette won a 105-104 overtime thriller on Jan. 19.
James had a career-high 38 shots in the game and went 13-for-20 from the floor. Sellers scored 27 points for Providence in a game in which backcourt sidekick Jason Edwards sat out due to injury.
James averaged 16.2 points and 4.9 assists per game, while Ross averaged 14.4 points. Sellers leads Providence with 18.0 points per game and Edwards adds 17.6.
As prospects for the Big East Tournament begin to take shape, there’s a chance these teams will face off one more time this season. Providence is currently ranked 7th and Marquette is 11th, so a rematch is possible in games 7-10 or 6-11.
–Field level media
