Welcome to the latest edition of the Providence Journal's college basketball podcast. This is Bill Koch, sports writer for the Journal. I'm joined as always by Nick Coit, the sports director at ABC6 and weekend co-host of Cordischi and Coit on WEEI Providence.

Providence's men are set to host Villanova in what feels like an NCAA Tournament at-large elimination game (3:25). The Friars and Wildcats are both desperate for an additional quality win or two to burnish their credentials.

Brown will host four games this weekend -- two for the men, two for the women -- that could determine Ivy Madness berths (25:20). The Bears men would punch a ticket with two victories. Brown's women could take a major step forward even with a split. 

Bryant's women have clinched an America East home quarterfinal date after a Thursday win over UMass Lowell (50:50). The Bulldogs are surging to the finish and continue a strong 2023-24 debut under Lynne-Ann Kokoski.

The Bulldogs men have dropped three straight and missed a chance to earn one of the top to seeds in America East (61:30). Bryant will host its own quarterfinal next weekend before likely road trips in the next two rounds -- it's the hard way back to March Madness.

Thanks as always for listening.