It was an opportunity where Providence simply had to take advantage.
The meat grinder that is the Big East in 2016-17 won't afford many chances at victory for programs outside of the conference's true elite. The likes of Villanova and Creighton take the floor knowing they can win every night, and the next tier of Butler and Xavier carry at least a puncher's chance.
That leaves the Friars and others scratching and clawing for survival, a fight that was on full display Saturday at the Dunkin' Donuts Center. Providence was coming off a devastating last-second defeat at DePaul and staring a second three-game losing streak of the season squarely in the face.