Buffaloes set to host Providence Friars: Kim English’s Return to Boulder

In addition to this being Tad Boyle's first time facing Providence, it will also be his first game coached against his former assistant, Kim English. (Photo by Kellen McFarland/Sko Buffs Sports)

Coaching against your close friends is likely stressful and nerve-racking. For that reason, Colorado Buffaloes (2-0) head coach Tad Boyle and Providence Friars (2-1) head coach Kim English haven’t spoken in a while. 

The two will have to break the silence on Friday night when the Friars and the Buffaloes take the court against each other for the first time ever. 

“You hate playing guys that you really know and care about; it's no fun,” Boyle said. “But look, for two hours on Friday night, he’s going to try to beat our brains in, we’re going to try to beat his brains in. That’s what competitors do… I think the world of him, not just as a basketball coach or player, but as a human being. He’s one of the best I’ve ever known.”

English was an assistant coach under Boyle from 2017-19, just his second collegiate coaching position. He began his head coaching career two years after he left Colorado, at George Mason.

English is entering his third season as head coach of the Friars. In the first two years, he led Providence to a 33-34 overall record, finishing sixth in the Big East conference in 2023-24 and eighth in 2024-25. 

The Friars are 2-1 to start the year and fresh off a blowout win against the Pennsylvania Quakers. They held Penn to 35.7 percent from the floor while shooting 53.7 percent as a team. Senior guard Corey Floyd Jr. led the team in points (20) and three-pointers made (4), shooting 80 percent from deep. 

Providence’s lone loss on the season was to the Virginia Tech Hokies in overtime. Senior guards Jason Edwards and Jaylin Sellers did not go down without a fight, combining for 54 points in the game, on 19-of-38 shooting. 

So far this season, three players are averaging more than 15 points per game for Providence, led by Edwards (17.7 ppg) on 43.6 percent from the field. The 6-foot-1 guard also leads the team in assists (3.3) and minutes per game (26.7). 

The other leading scorers for the Friars are Sellers and guard Stefan Vaaks, who both average 16.7 points per game. Sellers joined Providence this season in his last year of eligibility, after playing two years for both the Ball State Cardinals and UCF Knights.

Despite his scoring abilities, Vaaks has come off the bench in all three games. The 6-foot-7 freshman is second on the team in assists (2.3), steals (one) and blocks (0.7) per game. The Estonia native has professional experience suiting up for his home country’s national team at the 2025 European Championship and competing in the Latvia-Estonia Basketball League for two years.

On the defensive end, 6-foot-10 forward Oswin Erhunmwunse is the Friars’ main enforcer. The sophomore started 24 games for Providence last year, averaging 6.8 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.6 blocks in 20 minutes per game. Through three games this season, the Nigeria native has significantly improved defensively, averaging nine rebounds and 3.7 blocks per game in 24 minutes. 

“He seems like a big, physical five-man,” Buffs forward Sebastian Rancik said. “He works in the post…[he is] a physical body for rebounds and a really good rim protector.”

This game will be the biggest test for Colorado’s defense so far, one that has allowed its opponents to shoot 50 percent or better from the field in all four halves played this year.

The Buffs will have to stay out of foul trouble and give consistent effort on defense for a full 40 minutes to compete with this talented squad. 

The game will take place at the CU Events Center at 7 p.m. MT (ESPN+).