Rhode Island Rams

Date/Time: Sunday February 21st @ 11:30 AM ET at The Charles E. Smith Center in Washington, DC.
TV: NBC Sports Network (NBCSN)
Ranks: 81st (KenPom), 90th (Bart Torvik), 116th (CBS)
Record Last Year: 21-9, 13-5 (3rd in A10)
Projected Record (as of now!): 12-13, 9-9 (T-8th in A10)

Coaching Record: David Cox, 39-24 in two seasons at Rhode Island. A native of DC, Cox played college basketball at William & Mary in the 90s, ranking top 10 all time in assists. Prior to becoming head coach at Rhody, he spent over 20 years as an assistant, beginning locally at Archbishop Carroll HS (with stints at Pittsburgh, Georgetown, and Rutgers). He actually got his first action as a head coach when he took over for Mike Rice in 2012 for three games, as Rice was suspended for abusive behavior towards players. Cox's ties to the DC area has played a big role in URI's recruiting as well, with five members of the team hailing from there. They also of course have Kevin Sutton on staff as well, a former GW assistant.

All Time Record: 31-30, although Rhode Island has won four straight contests and six of the past seven. The last five losses haven't been particularly close either, with the Rams winning by 31, 27, 21, 12, and 13 points. In last year's 82-51 drubbing at home, we came in similarly undermanned, and I fear another double digit loss is in the cards this year given the team isn't fully healthy and has been on pause over a month. Three of the nine players who entered the game for us were walk-ons and four of the five starters were freshman. The team shot just 29% from the field and 2-23 from distance. Shawn led the way with perhaps his best game as a Colonial with 14 points, 2 rebounds, and 5 assists, while JNJ (11 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals) and Chase (10 points, 8 rebounds, 2 blocks) also pitched in. Jamison and Maceo combined to go 2-21 from the field.

Offensive Efficiency: 133rd (KenPom), 159th (Bart Torvik)
Defensive Efficiency: 35th (KenPom), 47th (Bart Torvik)
Tempo: 132nd (KenPom), 128th (Bart Torvik)
Returning Minutes: 34% (312th in country)

Key Returning Players:
Daron 'Fatts' Russell (SR; Philadelphia, PA) 18.8 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 4.6 apg, 2.9 spg; 39% FG, 36% 3-pt, 82% FT
     Last season against us: 24 points (8-19 FG, 6-10 3-pt, 2-4 FT), 3 assists, 2 steals in 32 minutes. Let's please not give up another six threes to him today.

Key Losses:
Jeff Dowtin (Graduated; Upper Marlboro, MD) 13.9 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 3.2 apg, 1.3 spg; 43% FG, 36% 3-pt, 76% FT
Tyrese Martin (Transferred to Connecticut; Allentown, PA) 12.8 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 1.1 apg, 1.1 spg; 43% FG, 32% 3-pt, 66% FT
Cyril Langevine (Graduated; East Orange, NJ) 10.1 ppg, 10.3 rpg, 1.8 apg, 1 spg, 1.9 bpg; 47% FG, 50% 3-pt, 49% FT

Comments:
While the Rams were not screwed by COVID to the degree Dayton was, you could make the argument that their very experienced team last season had the ability to win the A10 tournament and get the auto-bid to the dance. The Rams had a solid mix of veterans in Dowtin in the backcourt and Langevine up front, and promising young pieces like Martin and Toppin. URI had a clear identity on both ends, playing the fastest tempo in the league last season while also playing suffocating defense on the other end which ranked 39th in the country. This is a team that has been built on physicality and bullying their opponents the past several seasons now.

Coming into this season, there was a chance for URI to remain as one of the top teams in the conference even despite the departures of Dowtin and Langevine to graduation. However, much like previous offseasons (where guys like Silverio, Mading, and Tertsea all transferred), there was a similar mass exodus over the summer, with Tate (midseason to Siena), Toppin (Kentucky, one of their more consistent players), Long (ODU), Hammond (UMass Lowell), and Martin (UConn) all departing. It definitely seems like it would be a battle between us and URI in terms of which program has had the least continuity from season to season in conference.

There was one piece of good news for URI this offseason though. The decision for Daron 'Fatts' Russell to take his name out of the draft and return to school was a big sigh of relief for Cox and their fanbase. There really isn't much that Fatts cannot do, and he improved his numbers across the board last season. Most notably, he went from not being a threat from distance to one that needed to be on all opposing coaches scouting reports. While his efficiency continued to be hampered somewhat by falling in love with midrange jumpers, Fatts is the quintessential three-level scorer. It should not be dismissed that he is a willing rebounder and heck of a passer as well, especially when he is driving down the lane with a head full of steam and much attention needs to be sent his way. Defensively, Fatts is a thief, averaging just under 3 steals a game which was third best in the country last year, and second best in the conference behind Gilyard. He has continued to be their alpha this season when healthy (he missed two conference games with a bad ankle).

URI also returns two supporting pieces in Georgetown transfer Antwan Walker and junior Jermaine Harris. Walker, who was dismissed from the Hoya program (the list of guys under that category seems to be very high at that program of late) is mostly an inside presence who will help out on the boards, although he has been experimenting with a long-range jumper. Walker had a couple buckets in our game last year. Harris has pretty much continued his role as being a rotational piece. His game is similar to Walker - not much of a shooter from distance, but likes to penetrate and get to the line where he shoots it at 75%. He had eight points last year against us but ran into a bit of foul trouble.

Cox has done well to plug in some of the holes with transfers. Jeremy-Carter Sheppard, who sat out last year after coming over from the JUCO ranks, is second on the team in scoring at just under 12 points a game. On a team that isn't very strong shooting from distance, Sheppard is an exception, knocking down 42% of his attempts and making 36 threes on the year (the latter leads the team). The former East Carolina Pirate has more or less taken the Jeff Dowtin role in the offense, serving as a secondary ball handler and passer in halfcourt settings.

To offset the loss of Langevine, Cox landed the twin tower tandem of Makhel Mitchell and Makhi Mitchell, both who arrive in Kingston after forgettable freshman campaigns at Maryland (their mom had a word or two to say about the situation as well). The Lindo-Mitchell battle should be an interesting matchup to watch in this one apart from the obvious Bishop-Russell one. Makhel is averaging just under 10 points a game and ranking second on the team in rebounding behind Russell. Most notably, he averages 1.8 blocks a game (47th nationally), continuing what Langevine and (Hassan) Martin did in previous eras at URI by making it tough getting to the rim. Makhi is out for the year with a knee injury. We enter this game #1 in the conference in free throw rate and top 30 nationally in shots close to the rim so it will be interesting to see if (Makhel) Mitchell changes that game plan any.

Other D1 transfers expected to see time include Malik Martin (Charlotte; brother of Hassan), Allen Betrand (Towson), and Jalen Carey (Syracuse). Martin and Betrand have seen a bit of a dip in efficiency shooting the ball since coming to URI but both add some complementary scoring. Carey has probably been the most efficient finishing of the three, but is purely a penetrating guard. He's shot just seven threes on the year (missed them all) compared to 88 field goal attempts overall. Martin and Carey also contribute on the glass.

The remainder of the rotation will consist of Williston (ND) JUCO transfer DeVale 'D.J.' Johnson and freshman Ishmael Leggett. After Sheppard, these two are the best shooters on the team. Leggett (whose first offer was from us out of HS) is probably the worst defender on the team, but that's understandable as a freshman. He sees a bit more time than Johnson but has a very respectable shooting slash of 49/44/75. A local St. John's HS product, there may be some extra motivation for him playing back at home.

Honestly, there is not much expectation in this one, will leave it at that. Happy for the team that they are able to get a few games in before the season wraps up.

Predicted Score: Rhode Island 75, GW 70. 30% chance to win (Bart Torvik). ESPN gives us a 22.7% chance to return with a W. URI is a nine point road favorite. I'll be honest, I'm surprised it's only that much given our 35 day pause (and we don't tend to play well in games that start noon or earlier).
 

Florida Colonial wrote:

Battle playing?

One can only hope!!!!

I hope the women share some of their 3 point shooting juice with the men.
 

Last edited by russianthistle (2/21/2021 10:43 am)

Only 7 scholarship players available today, 3 of whom are the frosh.

Going south

Moyer and Paar are the other scholarship guys not dressed.

With the three who left midseason and now we see others out, this is not a good situation.
We could use all 3 right now.

Brown might take awhile to develop,but his frame gives him real potential. He seems better this season. Or maybe hasn t had the chance to play and develop

Undermanned GW playing great, but URI exposing our lack of team speed and weak interior play on both offense and defense.

Ball and Brelsford showing very little today.