On the opening day of the Big East Tournament, Providence was done by dinner time. The eighth-seeded Friars never led and fell behind by 14 in the second half of a 75-69 loss to No. 9 seed Butler late Wednesday afternoon at Madison Square Garden.

Providence head coach Kim English did little to hide his frustration after the Friars fell to Butler, 75-69, in the opening round of the Big East Tournament on Wednesday

Pierre Brooks II scored 25 points and ninth-seeded Butler earned a wire-to-wire 75-69 victory over eighth-seeded Providence in the opening round of the Big East tournament on Wednesday.

After falling to Manasquan in the Central Jersey, Group 2 final last year, the Pioneers moved to Group 1 prior to this season. Playing in a completely different group against completely new teams didn’t hinder New Providence in the slightest, as the Pioneers are one of six girls basketball teams headed to Rutgers University this weekend.

Butler opened up the Big East Tournament with a victory over Providence behind 25 points from Pierre Brooks II.