Friars club won’t be haunted by Demons

The start of the 2020-21 college basketball season has been strange for both Providence and DePaul, but for different reasons as the two prepare for their Sunday showdown in Rhode Island.

Providence is coming off a 70-64 loss to an undermanned Butler bunch and is shooting 25.9 percent from 3-point range this season but has won true road games against Seton Hall and TCU.

DePaul had yet to have the opportunity to put together a win streak, as its Dec. 23 victory over Western Illinois was its first game this season as COVID-19 issues led to a four-week delay to the start of its season.

The Blue Demons are looking to a number of transfers to aid Charlie Moore this season, including Javon Freeman-Liberty, who had 19 points, eight rebounds and six assists after being Valparaiso’s top scorer a season ago. With so many new pieces can come a lack of chemistry, though, as DePaul committed 20 turnovers in its season-opening victory. The Friars have done a better job of taking care of the ball, as they are committing 10.6 turnovers per game and on a per-possession basis are ranked 28th in the country in fewest turnovers. DePaul is using an overhauled stable of forwards, and with Nate Watson on the other end for Providence scoring at least 17 points in seven of the team’s eight games this season, it should cause issues for a DePaul team that is looking to make up for lost time. THE PLAY: Providence -6.

Greg Peterson handicaps college basketball for VSiN.com, The Sports Betting Network.