Mount St. Mary’s finished a long road swing with six straight losses. Although they’ve done plenty of winning the past two years, they were at a similar stage last year but will need to improve in a couple of areas if they want the same result.

Yale has started a five-game road stretch with some positive signs despite losing at Providence. If they can come out of this stretch playing better basketball, they could enter and start Ivy League play in good shape.

Ready or not, Big East play beckons for the young Providence Friars. If what they showed in the last non-conference game is any indication, not much has changed from the beginning of the season in terms of what can be expected from this team.