PROVIDENCE –– Whenever Bill Coen has entered the Dunkin’ Donuts Center to face Providence College’s basketball team, it’s been a big game. That dynamic does not change tonight.

Coen enjoyed many of his previous trips to Providence as an assistant on Al Skinner’s staffs at Rhode Island and Boston College. Some of the Rams’ and Eagles’ biggest wins during those seasons came at the expense of the Friars.

Tonight, Coen comes to town looking for a win that would be the biggest of all. Now that he’s the head coach at Northeastern, all of the W’s and L’s are attached to his name, and beating Providence College would be a very big win for Coen and his Huskies.

“It’s a big challenge for us,” said Coen, who is in his third season at Northeastern. “We’ve had a taste of success the last couple years, but not the level we’re hoping for.”

Over the last year, Coen’s team has proven it can compete with most any opponent. A year ago, the Huskies played Illinois, Maryland, Connecticut and Boston College tooth and nail, but lost all four contests. Maryland and BC escaped in two-point wins. In the Colonial Athletic Association, Northeastern proved it could beat everyone except George Mason and Virginia Commonwealth, the two best teams.

The Huskies finished 14-17 overall and 9-9 in the CAA and are the only team in the league with all five starters returning. Northeastern has one of the elite guards in New England in shooter Matt Janning, but what gives NU the chance to upset bigger schools, such as PC, is its players’ size. The Huskies have six players who are at least 6-foot-8, and starters Manny Adako and Eugene Spates can play anywhere.

Northeastern is coming off a 1-1 trip to Michigan to open its season in the 2K Coaches vs. Cancer Tournament. The Huskies played well in beating IUPUI, 73-60, but didn’t deal well with John Beilein’s 1-3-1 defense in a 76-56 loss to Michigan. Northeastern shot the ball poorly (29 percent) but nearly out-rebounded the Wolverines (33-31) and were within striking distance with eight minutes to play. The poor shooting of Janning (4-of-12) isn’t very likely to repeat itself.

“Matt’s our focal point — and the guy teams will prepare for the most,” said Coen, “but what he has to show is he can make shots when everybody in the gym expects him to take them.”

Janning and his teammates will be out to spoil the coaching debut of PC’s Keno Davis. The Friars could’ve lined up an easier first game, but Davis says he’s looking forward to seeing his team suit up for the first time.

“We’ll get tested, for sure,” said Davis. “The things that jump out at me about Northeastern is how well coached they are, and that they run very good sets. Also, they have guys [who] have been through it.”

Providence is even more experienced, but even with all five starters returning, the unknown with the Friars is palpable because of a new coach. It’s also a big bonus that point guard Sharaud Curry is back on the floor after missing last season with a foot injury.

On another positive note, Davis said senior center Jonathan Kale’s wrist cast has been retaped and will allow him to play tonight. Kale did not play in last week’s exhibition win over Slippery Rock, when the referees ruled that the soft cast was not legal for competition.

kmcnamar@projo.com