Hodgson’s Passing System Overhauls Providence in Exhibition Win
First-year coach Bryan Hodgson installed a high-assist, 3-point heavy scheme that generated 22 helpers and 39 deep attempts against the Panthers.
Providence men’s basketball recorded 22 assists and shot 15-for-39 from 3-point range Saturday, dismantling Pittsburgh 87-64 in an exhibition game that revealed exactly how first-year head coach Bryan Hodgson intends to fix a stagnant offense. The Friars never trailed at Amica Mutual Pavilion, breaking the game open with a 21-2 run over the final 12 minutes.
The box score represents a direct repudiation of how Providence played last season. During a dismal 2025-26 campaign, the Friars ranked 294th nationally in assist rate, sharing the ball on just 47.5% of their made field goals — their lowest mark since Keno Davis’ final season in 2010-11. Against the Panthers, Providence assisted on 66.7% of its 33 made baskets. Malik Mack and Gavin Hightower distributed seven assists apiece as the primary ballhandlers.
“We trust each other to make shots,” Mack said. “We’re an unselfish basketball team that wants to move the ball and go from a good shot to a great shot.”
That philosophy arrived directly from South Florida. Hodgson’s Bulls ranked in the top 50 nationally in assist rate last year according to KenPom.com, converting helpers on 58.4% of their makes. He recruited this 100th roster in program history specifically to replicate those numbers.
Miles Byrd led four players in double figures with 17 points. But the deeper schematic shift involved volume 3-point shooting, particularly from Arrinten Page. The 6-foot-11 center hit four 3-pointers against Pittsburgh. For context, Page attempted a combined 25 triples across his previous two seasons at USC and Cincinnati before shooting 11-for-44 at Northwestern last year. He had never made four 3-pointers in a single college game prior to Saturday.
Ryan Mela added three more from deep, finishing 3-for-4 beyond the arc. Providence took 39 3-point attempts compared to just 31 2-point shots and eight free throws. All three of Hodgson’s previous teams at Arkansas State and South Florida finished in the top 100 nationally for 3-point attempt rate.
“Not that it’s a focus, but he can do that at a high level,” Hodgson said of Page. “That’s why we recruited him. We’re going to play a little differently than where he was at before us.”
Pittsburgh managed only one field goal inside the final 12 minutes. Jonathan Powell’s 3-pointer cut the deficit to 57-52 before the Friars pulled away. The Panthers shot 21-for-49 overall and committed 16 turnovers, including six from Baye Ndongo.
Providence played without two rotation guards. Devin Vanterpool, a Florida Atlantic transfer named the team’s first captain during preseason camp, wore a walking boot and used a scooter after injuring his left ankle in practice earlier this week. Ryan Sabol, who transferred from Buffalo, sat in street clothes with a sprained left shoulder joint sustained during ball-screen drills. Both are considered day-to-day.
“I can’t tell you when he’ll be back — it’s nothing crazy or serious,” Hodgson said regarding Vanterpool. “But this is the time of the year where you can make sure he gets the full rest that he needs on that ankle to make sure that he’s ready to go when we tip the ball for real.”
Providence hosts Georgia Tech in its second exhibition next weekend. The 4,601 fans in attendance Saturday watched all 10 available scholarship players see the floor.
PITTSBURGH (64): Jonathan Powell 3-10 7-8 15, Chase Foster 4-9 0-0 8, Baye Ndongo 6-8 0-0 13, Jalil Bethea 1-6 3-4 5, Naithan George 3-4 2-2 9, A’lahn Sumler 4-9 2-3 12, Armani Mighty 0-0 2-3 2, Macari Moore 0-0 0-1 0, Dominique Diomande 0-0 0-0 0, Ibrahim Souare 0-0 0-0 0, Jermal Jones 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 21-49 16-21 64.
PROVIDENCE (87): Javon Bardwell 3-7 0-1 6, Samson Aletan 0-0 0-0 0, Ryan Mela 5-7 2-2 15, Miles Byrd 5-16 3-4 17, Malik Mack 4-10 1-1 10, Arrinten Page 6-10 0-0 16, Gavin Hightower 3-9 0-0 7, Clyde Walters 1-2 0-0 2, Jacob Bannarbie 3-3 0-0 6, Leonardo Marangon 3-6 0-0 8. Totals 33-70 6-8 87.
Halftime – Pro., 37-28. 3-point FG – Pitt. 6-21 (Powell 2-7, Foster 0-2, Ndongo 1-1, Bethea 0-5, George 1-1, Sumler 2-5), Pro. 15-39 (Bardwell 0-1, Mela 3-4, Byrd 4-12, Mack 1-4, Page 4-8, Hightower 1-4, Walters 0-1, Marangon 2-5). Rebounds – Pitt. 26 (Ndongo 7), Pro. 42 (Byrd 7). Assists – Pitt. 14 (Sumler 5), Pro. 22 (Mack 7, Hightower 7). Turnovers – Pitt. 16 (Ndongo 6), Pro. 13 (Bardwell 4). Attendance – 4,601.
Information for this report was drawn from postgame comments and statistics provided by The Providence Journal.
