Bryce Hopkins smiled then laughed.
Of course, his first Big East Tournament game as a Johnnie could wind up coming against his old team, Providence.
“I kind of had a feeling it was going to happen again,” the 6-foot-7 St. John’s forward said Monday during a meet and greet with Red Storm fans at Applebee’s in Queens.
Providence still has to win a game to meet No. 1 seed St. John’s (25-6), but if the No. 9 seed Friars get past No. 8 seed Butler in the out-bracket round Wednesday night, there will be a third meeting between the rivals at noon Thursday.
Everyone remembers the last encounter.
Providence forward Duncan Powell took down Hopkins in transition with a clothesline, starting a fight that led to six ejections.
Powell was suspended three games.
Hopkins and St. John’s had the last laugh, leaving Amica Mutual Pavilion with a victory after hearing venomous chants and booing throughout the contest. If the teams do meet again, it would add spice to the opener at the Garden on Thursday.
“It’s going to be the same thing I feel like. It’s going to be very aggressive, high emotions all over the place,” Hopkins said. “They’re going to come with their best shot again. I’m sure it’s going to be a tough, physical game again. That’s what the coach likes over there. Whatever the case may be, we’ll be ready for that.”
Dylan Darling added: “It would be theater. I think that would be good TV.”
Hopkins has taken the high road regarding his former team.
After Providence knocked off St. John’s on Jan. 3, Friars wing Jamier Jones said that had Hopkins stayed at Providence, he would’ve still played over him.
Hopkins responded by saying that Jones is a great player and he respects him.
He has also not made any negative comments about Providence since the fight.
During the skirmish, Providence big man Oswin Erhunmwunse pulled Hopkins away from the scrum.
“I know the guys I played with are all good guys on the team. I texted Oswin after the game,” Hopkins said. “[I told him], ‘I appreciate you doing that,’ just to settle the situation down. It means a lot for me for him to do that, to have my back in that situation. Just showing the love that we have for each other.”
No. 13 St. John’s went on to win its second straight outright Big East regular-season crown, while Providence enters the Big East Tournament sitting at 14-17 overall.
Coach Kim English is reportedly on the way out. The Friars do have one thing going for them if the matchup does happen: They are one of two Big East teams to have beaten the Johnnies this year, and they did it at the Garden.
Hopkins has received a lot of criticism from Providence fans for only appearing in three games last year following ACL surgery, then transferring to a league rival.
A bone bruise in his surgically repaired knee kept him out for a good chunk of the season, and by then, the year was almost over.
Considering where both programs are, Hopkins clearly made a good decision. He won a regular-season title and will play in the NCAA Tournament again.
On Sunday, Hopkins was named to the Big East’s second team, as voted on by the league’s coaches, after averaging 13.3 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists.
“I came here to be on a winning team, I came here to play in bigger games and be on a bigger stage,” he said. “I feel like I did that. It looks like [we’ll have] a decent seed for March Madness as long as we keep on winning. I’m just looking forward to playing in bigger games and being in March Madness again.”
