CINCINNATI (10-4, 0-1 Big East): The Bearcats are hoping to grab their first Big East victory of the season and snap a two-game losing streak. Lost at Memphis and Marquette in previous two games. Marquette won, 84-50, thanks to 15 threes. The 34-point margin of defeat was the second-largest of coach Mick Cronin’s three years at UC. Only last year’s 96-51 loss at Connecticut was greater…Cincy shot 32.7 percent and made just 3-of-19 tries from 3-point land…Leading scorer Vaughn was held scoreless, missing all eight of his shots…Began season 10-2 with only losses to Florida State and Xavier. Best win came at UNLV…Bearcats are excellent rebounding team with Gates and Williams providing strong inside play…In the last two games, the Bearcats have shot 29.7 percent from the floor (30-for-101) and 17.1 percent from 3-point range (6-for-35).

PROVIDENCE (10-4, 2-0): The Friars hit the road for the second time this season and face an important two-game road swing. Dropped a 81-76 decision to No. 17 Boston College in only true road game. PC is 1-3 away from home on the season…PC is looking for the program’s first 3-0 Big East start since the 1989 season…The Friars have met Cincinnati three times with each game being decided by two points or less. PC won in o.t. on the road last March. Only other trip to the Queen City resulted in a two-point loss…PC is coming off a 62-54 win over DePaul where it made nine 3-pointers. The Friars are 6-1 in games where they’ve made seven or more treys…PC has shot 46 percent from the field and won four of its last five games…After a shaky start, the Friars are shooting 67 percent from the foul line. Kale (50 percent) and McDermott (53 percent) continue to struggle.

WHERE: Fifth Third Arena, 7 p.m. SERIES: PC leads, 2-1. LAST MEETING: PC won, 81-79, March 2, 2008. RADIO-TV: WEEI (103.7 FM). ESPNU.

—KEVIN McNAMARA