The Big East Conference has suspended Providence's Duncan Powell for three games following a brawl with St. John's. The suspension, announced on February 15, includes two additional games beyond the mandatory one-game suspension for fighting, as mandated by NCAA rules. The incident occurred during the game on February 14, where Powell was ejected for a flagrant 2 foul with 14:25 left in the second half. After a video review, officials determined that Powell engaged in additional combative actions, leading to the three-game suspension. Powell will miss games against DePaul, Xavier, and Creighton. The brawl began when St. John's forward Bryce Hopkins was fouled hard by Powell while going for a shot. Hopkins, who had previously played for Providence, took exception and confronted Powell, leading to a physical confrontation between the two teams. Six players were ejected in total, including Powell and Jaylin Sellers from Providence, and Dillon Mitchell, Kelvin Odih, Ruben Prey, and Sadiku Ibine Ayo from St. John's. Despite the incident, Hopkins remained in the game. The coach, English, expressed mixed feelings about the foul, stating that while hard fouls are sometimes necessary, the specific incident was unnecessary and could have been handled more legally. The game ended with St. John's winning 79-69, showcasing their ability to press and overcome the Friars' short-handed lineup.
