Izzy Mignardi ‘27

by Izzy Mignardi ‘27 on October 8, 2026

You would have thought it was the Fourth of July had you walked into the wrong room at the Marriott Marquis in Time Square last Thursday. Every screen in the massive presentation room displayed red, white, and blue graphics, and the overhead lights were set to an aggressive cerulean. But it was the start of October, and there was not a hot dog or hamburger in sight. Instead, anywhere you looked, you could find one of the country’s best basketball players or coaches. They sat at tables underneath banners proudly displaying the Big East logo. The liveliness of the room certainly resembled the liveliness of the attendees, especially our very own PC Friars: Coach Bryan Hodgson and players Malik Mack ’27, Miles Byrd ’27G, and Devin Vanterpool ’28. What was special about this group is that, besides Mack, these Friars are not only new to the Big East conference but also new to PC, aside from sole-returning player Ryan Mela ’28. Tim Brosnan, the Big East commissioner, is new too. His opening remarks emphasized the determination with which each team has to enter this season to achieve his goal of sending at least six teams to the NCAA tournament this year. Having been a Big East athlete himself, he has been passionate about this conference since his own college days at Georgetown University. Luckily, our three new roster additions share this fervor. Byrd said, “I just love the passion that the fanbase in the Big East brings. You feel that as soon as you touch down in Providence.” For him, playing in the Big East is a full circle moment,considering his dad, Calvin Byrd, played for the Villanova Wildcats. His dad told him how physical this conference can be, but for Byrd, it’s “something that I’ve always dreamed of.” The iconicity of the Big East brand is what draws players in; it’s a place where they don’t have to compete with other sports for energy from the fans. Coach Hodgson said, “When I remember college basketball, I remember Big East basketball.” Most of the discussions with the Friars concerned the newness of the team: 13 additions to the roster under a new head coach. Media and fans alike questioned how this would affect the upcoming season and what this would mean for Providence fans. But Hodgson’s goal was clear, and he believes they can achieve it: “To compete. To win the Big East. To play on a national stage.” The young men he recruited not only have a strong character and work ethic, but are excited to play for and represent PC. Although they are new, it has not affected their determination to play meaningful basketball games, especially in March. Byrd actually believes this is an advantage. It gives them the opportunity to learn about basketball and the school together, making them a really close group before the season has even started. “We work out every single day together and we’re tired in the locker room after practice, laying down just chatting,” he said. So, despite the initial shock of walking into a room resembling an America 250 celebration, winter is right around the corner—basketball season is right around the corner. Back in Providence, the team made their introductions to the rest of the Friar family at Late Night Madness on Saturday, Oct. 3. With that, the countdown to the start of Big East basketball has officially begun. Friars are impatiently awaiting.