Game 1 American University

[runninrams5]

American playing out of the Patriot league lost in their conference finals last year to Lafayette and finished the season at 17-16 (8-10). They return 3 starters from last years team and have 2 transfers available now that sat out last year.

G Jesse Reed 6'5" 185 Senior out of Saltzburg, PA
He played 38.5 minutes game leading the team in scoring and rebounding at 14.3 PPG and 5.0 RPG, while shooting it at 35% from 3

G/F Charlie Jones 6'4" 185 Junior out of Manchester, MD
He played 32.9 minutes game scoring 8.0 PPG and 3.8 RPG, while shooting at 37% from 3

G/F Marko Vasic 6'5" 200 Senior out Belgrade, Serbia
He played 20.3 minutes game but was in the 30's in conference play scoring 5.7 PPG and 3.6 RPG

From reading their board and some articles it looks like the other key players for them will be:

F Leon Tolksdorf 6'8" 225 Junior out of Berlin Germany
He sat out last year after trasnfering from UConn where he played in a reserve role, but is expected to be a key part of this squad going forward

F Paris Maragkos 6'9" 243 Junior out of Amarouisi, Greece
He sat out last year after transferring from George Washington where he played a couple minutes a game for the Colonials, he is expected to also be a key big for American

G James Washington 6'1" 160 Freshmen out of Norwalk, CA
He is expected to be point guard for this team, though some on their board have speculated they may go at times without a real point guard on the floor

G/F Delante Jones 6'5" 195 Freshmen out of Lynchburg, VA
Seems to be their big freshmen recruit coming in that was a top 10 HS player in the state of Virginia. There was a video posted on their board seems to be athletic and guy that is going to score for them

G Jalen Rhea 6'2" 205 Junior out of New Albany, OH
Was the 6 man for the team last year that only played 6 guys down the stretch of the season, shot 40% from 3 and 80% from the line

Seems that as a team they will have some good perimeter shooting and size wise be similar to what we are. With no returning PG, you figure we show heavy pressure on their ball handlers and see if they can handle it. With a strength of our team last year being 3 % defense, looks like we match up favorably with American

[RF1]

American Fan Forum
http://auhoops.proboards.com/board/2/men-basketball

[Rhodymob05]

I'm just happy to see a "game day thread"

[Obadiah]

All time series with American U. is 4-2 in Rhody's favor. The teams played mostly in late 60's/early seventies the last game being in 1972 when in a visit to American, URI lost 69-64. Now is time to avenge that loss!!

[bigappleram]

AU plays a Princeton style, throwback offense, and slows the game to a grind...I believe they had one of the lowest # of possessions per game last season, despite finishing near top of Patriot. Like a running team in football it is tough to make up ground quickly so if we get separation it could open the flood gates. Athletically we should overwhelm them. Close for the first 10 mins then Rhody cruises to 20 pt victory.

[Smokinjimit]

Freshman point guard on the road against our D? Good luck kid. Big apple hit it on the head.