PROVIDENCE — At this stage of his first season coaching at Providence College, Keno Davis is looking for some simple, daily improvement.

That’s the goal tonight when the Friars entertain Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania. This is the Friars’ final tune-up before the season-opener next Saturday night against Northeastern.

“I’m hoping that people who saw us against Ottawa and see us against Slippery Rock and then see us against Northeastern, they will see an improvement. Both offensively and defensively,” Davis said.

“Everybody knows all too well that when the Big East rolls around, you have to be a better team. You have to be a better team than you are right now. It’s about how good you’re going to get, and it takes a while. Hopefully, you get some wins along the way.”

Davis says he sees plenty of small problems every day with his team but is excited about the daily improvement. He likes the team’s 3-point-shooting ability, even after a woeful 1-for-22 effort in an 85-57 thrashing of the University of Ottawa last week. In fact, he wants players such as Jeff Xavier, Brian McKenzie and Weyinmi Efejuku to fire up more long-range bombs.

“We’re seeing some guys turning down shots. They tell us, ‘I thought we’re supposed to run some offense,’ ” said Davis.

“I tell them that we’re running offense in order to get that shot. If we get it early, you have to take it. We need to get our 3-point-attempt numbers up, regardless of how we shot the ball against Ottawa.”

After tonight’s exhibition, the Friars will turn their focus toward a dangerous Northeastern team that is expected to contend, along with Virginia Commonwealth and George Mason, for the Colonial Athletic Association title.

While PC waits, the Huskies will be in Ann Arbor, Mich., playing in the 2K Sports Classic, to benefit Coaches vs. Cancer. NU is matched up against Indiana-Purdue and will likely play Michigan if it wins. Those games are on Tuesday and Wednesday of next week.

Slippery Rock finished 7-20 a year ago and will debut with a new coach tonight in Kevin Reynolds, a former assistant at Moorehead State.

SRU returns its top two scorers in guards Erroll Robinson and Darnell Johnson.

kmcnamar@projo.com