Week #15 – Games of Interest/A-10

Obadiah · Unread post by **Obadiah** » 8 years ago

We begin week #15 of the season and continue our focus on the A-10 race. Dayton had a great week grabbing sole possession of first place as the Flyers won two games and VCU was upset at UMass.

URI hopes for an at-large bid disappeared long ago, and this past week the loss at home to Dayton eliminated any slim hope to get a double bye in Brooklyn.

At 6-6 URI is currently tied for sixth place with Richmond and Davidson. The URI focus now has to be on finishing the highest it can in the league standings to best position itself for a good run in the A-10 tournament. This is no easy matter considering the unbalanced nature of the A-10 schedule and this year's especially unfavorable schedule.

Four of URI's remaining six games are on the road - three of those games are against teams with RPI's in the 1-70 range and the fourth is at Fordham who would love to knock off the Rams. The home games against an offense minded Duquesne team and UMass that has been buoyed by a home upset of VCU and stirring road comeback against Duquesne also present challenges. Ironically, while URI has absolutely no shot at an at-large NCAA bid there is possibility, however slim, that URI could end the season with a losing record. That fact just underscores how dramatically different the season has turned out versus pre season expectations, and it explains clearly why the Ram fan base is a grumpy lot.

In today's release of the polls, Dayton on the strength of two wins moved to the # 15 position in the AP poll and the #13 position in the USA Today poll. Saint Joseph's sits just outside the Top 25 as the Hawks also improved their position in the other votes category of both polls.

No A-10 games scheduled for Monday.

Obadiah · Unread post by **Obadiah** » 8 years ago

We all know about the lack of quality wins in the URI record, but here are the specifics as of February 15 illustrating the problem.

Code: Select all

           Profile of URI Losses
     (Sequenced from Worst RPI to Best)

        	School	     RPI    Location  Loss Margin

#1	 Old Dominion	    177	   Away        6
#2	 UMass	           162	   Away        5 OT
#3	 Nebraska	        153	   Away        3
#4	 Valparaiso	       66	   Home        3
#5	 George Washington	53	   Away        4
#6	 PC	               39	   Home        2
#7	 St. Bonaventure	  34	   Away        5
#8	 Saint Joseph's	   28	   Away        5
#9	 Saint Joseph's	   28	   Home        9
#10	Dayton	           12	   Home        2
#11	Maryland	          6	   Neutral    23

Code: Select all

           Profile of URI Wins
     (Sequenced from Worst RPI to Best)

	    School	        RPI   Location

#1	 Brown	          308	  Away
#2	 Holy Cross	     286	  Home
#3	 American	       266	  Home
#4	 Cleveland State   261	  Home
#5	 Rider	          250	  Home
#6	 La Salle	       242	  Home
#7	 La Salle	       242	  Away
#8	 Saint Louis	    208	  Home
#9	 Fordham	        191	  Home
#10	George Mason	   160	  Home
#11	Iona	           157	  Home
#12	TCU	            152	  Neutral
#13	Richmond	       117	  Home
#14	Houston	         90  	Home

Ramulous · Unread post by **Ramulous** » 8 years ago

Thank you to Obadiah for his continued dedication and stellar work.....

Unread post by **ATPTourFan** » 8 years ago

Agreed. We all appreciate the continued quality contributions to this site.

Obadiah · Unread post by **Obadiah** » 8 years ago

Besides the URI game at VCU, the only other A-10 game on tap tonight is Richmond at Davidson. 7 PM.

Richmond, Davidson, and URI are now tied for sixth place in the conference and that tie will be broken on completion of both games. If the oddsmakers are correct, Davidson will take over sole possession of sixth place.

ramster · Unread post by **ramster** » 8 years ago

Obadiah wrote:Besides the URI game at VCU, the only other A-10 game on tap tonight is Richmond at Davidson. 7 PM.

Richmond, Davidson, and URI are now tied for sixth place in the conference and that tie will be broken on completion of both games. If the oddsmakers are correct, Davidson will take over sole possession of sixth place.

Obadiah,
It's interesting that Richmond has won 3 straight going from 3-6 to 6-6. Often in the past Richmond has been a strong finishing team in February and March so tonight's game is crucial for both these teams. I would not be surprised to see Richmond continue their mini win streak.

Seawrightspostgame · Unread post by **Seawrightspostgame** » 8 years ago

Being a fan you have to continue to re think the goals or what is possible every week.

Don't let Richmond or Dayton jump ahead of us! Upset a VCU that can be hot/cold!

RF1 · Unread post by **RF1** » 8 years ago

Obadiah wrote:We all know about the lack of quality wins in the URI record, but here are the specifics as of February 15 illustrating the problem.

Code: Select all

           Profile of URI Losses
     (Sequenced from Worst RPI to Best)

        	School	     RPI    Location  Loss Margin

#1	 Old Dominion	    177	   Away        6
#2	 UMass	           162	   Away        5 OT
#3	 Nebraska	        153	   Away        3
#4	 Valparaiso	       66	   Home        3
#5	 George Washington	53	   Away        4
#6	 PC	               39	   Home        2
#7	 St. Bonaventure	  34	   Away        5
#8	 Saint Joseph's	   28	   Away        5
#9	 Saint Joseph's	   28	   Home        9
#10	Dayton	           12	   Home        2
#11	Maryland	          6	   Neutral    23

Code: Select all

           Profile of URI Wins
     (Sequenced from Worst RPI to Best)

	    School	        RPI   Location

#1	 Brown	          308	  Away
#2	 Holy Cross	     286	  Home
#3	 American	       266	  Home
#4	 Cleveland State   261	  Home
#5	 Rider	          250	  Home
#6	 La Salle	       242	  Home
#7	 La Salle	       242	  Away
#8	 Saint Louis	    208	  Home
#9	 Fordham	        191	  Home
#10	George Mason	   160	  Home
#11	Iona	           157	  Home
#12	TCU	            152	  Neutral
#13	Richmond	       117	  Home
#14	Houston	         90  	Home

If URI had won a lot more games and was on the NCAA bubble, the SOS for the OOC would have been a big problem. TCU, Iona, Nebraska, and ODU did worse than expected and had subpar seasons for their programs. Other opponents such as Holy Cross, Rider, CSU, Brown, and American were even worse than originally projected. None of it however matters now.

The lack of wins versus good opponents is really telling when it is put in a list like that. Just two wins over teams with an RPI below 150. URI really settled into a middling place with little deviation. It beat most all the teams with a worse RPI than it and lost to most all teams with a better RPI.

twisted3829 · Unread post by **twisted3829** » 8 years ago

I know many people don't want to hear this but this is where missing a player like EC hurts (if you change the 5 closest losses (Dayton, PC, Valpo, Nebraska and GW) this is how it you look:

Record: 23-8
RPI: 25
SOS: 80

Current Projections:
Record: 17-14
RPI: 106
SOS: 82

Of course this is a dangerous hole to go down

Obadiah · Unread post by **Obadiah** » 8 years ago

Five A-10 games on Wednesday's schedule.

* #15 Dayton at Saint Joseph's is the marquee game. 6 PM. On CBS Sports. I'm rooting for Dayton in this one because I want to see a A-10 team in the Top 25 and also because I dislike SJU and Martelli.

* Saint Louis at George Mason. 7 PM.

* UMass at Fordham. 7 PM. Like to see a sweep of UMass.

* GW at Duquesne. 7 PM. A Duquesne loss keeps them behind the Rams.

* St. Bonaventure at La Salle. An Explorers upset would be sweet.

ramster · Unread post by **ramster** » 8 years ago

St Joes beats Dayton by 9
Miles and Bembry both with double - doubles

Obadiah · Unread post by **Obadiah** » 8 years ago

We now have a three way tie for first place -VCU, St. Joe's, and Dayton all at 11-2.

Obadiah · Unread post by **Obadiah** » 8 years ago

* Saint Louis blows big lead at George Mason, but overcomes the Patriots on a last second shot in OT, 79-77.

* Fordham sweeps UMass with a 76-66 home court win.

* GW beats Duquesne, 81-74, keeping their hopes alive for double bye.

* La Salle upsets St. Bonaventure , 71-64.

rambone 78 · Unread post by **rambone 78** » 8 years ago

Bonnies are playing themselves into the NIT.

GW is hanging on to hopes of an at large. Will have to make noise in NY.

PC's lack of depth is finally catching up to them. They will most likely still make it though.

Pretty solid top 3 NCAA tourney A10 teams now. VCU imo will make it.

LaSalle has now beaten Dayton and the Bonnies. Not bad for a bottom feeder.

They've beaten 2 good teams. Two more than we have.

ramster · Unread post by **ramster** » 8 years ago

PC loses by 11 now lost 4 of last 5. and 5 of last 7 games
Xavier's PG Myles Davis gets the rare triple double

St John's beating DePaul in second half - could Mullins get his first BE win tonight?

rambone 78 · Unread post by **rambone 78** » 8 years ago

PC's schedule gets easier to finish out the regular season I think.

Plus they still have their conference tourney.

They'll get in, but as a 10 or 11 seed probably.

Ramulous · Unread post by **Ramulous** » 8 years ago

I don't watch big east games....

I never leave RI...no farms no food... I support National Public Radio...coexist...

A few of the stickers on my Prius....

NYGFan_Section208 · Unread post by **NYGFan_Section208** » 8 years ago

Ramulous wrote:I don't watch big east games....

I never leave RI...no farms no food... I support National Public Radio...coexist...

A few of the stickers on my Prius....

Lol...Hillary or Bernie?

ramster · Unread post by **ramster** » 8 years ago

Rivalry game not going well for Bobby as Arizona Is up 32 with 3 minutes to go. He needs to nail the upcoming year's recruiting class

NYGFan_Section208 · Unread post by **NYGFan_Section208** » 8 years ago

Not in the thread, but...UNC - Duke...great game.....

NYGFan_Section208 · Unread post by **NYGFan_Section208** » 8 years ago

wow...Pennn State beats #4 Iowa... and looks like there was no one there...

Obadiah · Unread post by **Obadiah** » 8 years ago

Is Cooley doing an imitation of Jim Baron as his team collapses in the late going or is it Hurley as he got a technical in the first half of the Xavier game????

ramster · Unread post by **ramster** » 8 years ago

Obadiah wrote:Is Cooley doing an imitation of Jim Baron as his team collapses in the late going or is it Hurley as he got a technical in the first half of the Xavier game????

good question
St John's ruined it for me last night beating DePaul by 15. I was hoping St Johns would be 0-17 then get Chris Mullin his long awaited win the last game of the season on his home court vs the Fryazz. PC could lose yet again their next game next Thursday @ Seton Hall 18-7 (8-5). Their stay in the Top 25 run is over now.

rambone 78 · Unread post by **rambone 78** » 8 years ago

A loss to SH will put the Friars squarely on the bubble.

Quite a fall from those heady days at #8........

RAM67 · Unread post by **RAM67** » 8 years ago

I am a long time PC "hater", but you have to give them credit for the year they are having.

ramster · Unread post by **ramster** » 8 years ago

RAM67 wrote:I am a long time PC "hater", but you have to give them credit for the year they are having.

why?

rambone 78 · Unread post by **rambone 78** » 8 years ago

They've done a lot more with what they have, than we have.

Granted, they have 2 players who are better than any of ours. One was a surprise, for sure.

But they still don't have any more depth than we have.

Until recently, you'd have to say they were big overachievers.

Us? Seriously underachieved.

That's why some here have said Cooley has done a far better job this season than Dan has.

ramster · Unread post by **ramster** » 8 years ago

rambone 78 wrote:They've done a lot more with what they have, than we have.

Granted, they have 2 players who are better than any of ours. One was a surprise, for sure.

But they still don't have any more depth than we have.

Until recently, you'd have to say they were big overachievers.

Us? Seriously underachieved.

That's why some here have said Cooley has done a far better job this season than Dan has.

they are tanking
and who cares

ramster · Unread post by **ramster** » 8 years ago

Amazing week in college basketball
Winless in BE St John's gets their 1st win of the season
Then tonight winless in The Big 10 Minnesota (0-13) upsets #6 Maryland!!

adam914 · Unread post by **adam914** » 8 years ago

Check out this clip from Joey King at Minnesota after the game. Pretty good stuff.

Obadiah · Unread post by **Obadiah** » 8 years ago

Thanks for sharing the Minnesota clip. That was really cool. We need fan support like he mentioned.

Obadiah · Unread post by **Obadiah** » 8 years ago

No games in the A-10 last night and the only game Friday is:

* Richmond at VCU. 7 PM. ESPN2. This is the second game of the Capital City Classic. The first held on Jan.16 at the Robins Center resulted in a 94-89 OT win for VCU. Richmond is currently tied with URI for seventh place in the A-10, so rooting for a VCU win helps.

Obadiah · Unread post by **Obadiah** » 8 years ago

Using superior rebounding and three point shooting especially by Melvin Johnson, VCU beats Richmond, 87-74, for a season's sweep of the Spiders!

Obadiah · Unread post by **Obadiah** » 8 years ago

Four Saturday games in the A-10 as the "Battle for the Middle" escalates:

* St. Bonaventure at #15 Dayton. 12 Noon. On NBC Sports. Dayton will be anxious to get back on track to protect their Top 25 ranking after the St. Joe's loss. The Bonnies disaster at La Salle hurt both their chances for a Brooklyn double bye and their NCAA hopes and another loss spells NIT.

* Saint Joseph's at Davidson. 2 PM. On NBC Sports. Will a hot shooting Davidson be able to derail a SJU shot at a Top 25 ranking?

* Duquesne at Rhode Island. 7 PM. Two years ago Duquesne came into the Ryan Center and handily beat URI. Last year, only a last second miracle finish by the Rams prevented losing again to Duquesne. Can URI bolster its recent efforts against the Dukes and protect its home court?

* Fordham at Saint Louis. 8 PM. Can a win here by either team be the catalyst to avoid the bottom four and the dreaded play-in game?

Obadiah · Unread post by **Obadiah** » 8 years ago

Bonnies streak out to a 15-5 lead in the first 5 minutes of game at Dayton!!!

Obadiah · Unread post by **Obadiah** » 8 years ago

Stunner in Dayton as the Bonnies win 79-72. Give credit to St. Bona as they lost the Olean game to Dayton, 85-79, and came back to beat Dayton on their home court after they had suffered a bad loss to La Salle in their previous game. Bye bye Top 25 ranking for the Flyers.

Obadiah · Unread post by **Obadiah** » 8 years ago

I think I'm talking to myself here.

Billyboy78 · Unread post by **Billyboy78** » 8 years ago

Did Pollard play today?

twisted3829 · Unread post by **twisted3829** » 8 years ago

Davidson plays less defense than the CFL teams, it's 44-39 at the under 4 timeout in the first half

ramster · Unread post by **ramster** » 8 years ago

Billyboy78 wrote:Did Pollard play today?

No he did not.
Jalen Adams with a strong game scoring 31 points.
No more Top 25 for Dayton after a 2 loss week

RAM67 · Unread post by **RAM67** » 8 years ago

Should have been 3 losses.

hrstrat57 · Unread post by **hrstrat57** » 8 years ago

VCU is better

Seawrightspostgame · Unread post by **Seawrightspostgame** » 8 years ago

VCU has found its stride. Early in the season they were prone to dry spells.

ramfan85 · Unread post by **ramfan85** » 8 years ago

So nice to see Joe's lose.

RF1 · Unread post by **RF1** » 8 years ago

ramfan85 wrote:So nice to see Joe's lose.

Hawks got St Joe'd on the road at Davidson.

FT's
SJU 10-16
DC 29-38

Nice to see them get their own medicine away from their little bandbox.

Obadiah · Unread post by **Obadiah** » 8 years ago

Two games on the A-10 Sunday Schedule.

* La Salle at GW. On NBC Sports. This game is already underway and at the half, GW is routing the Explorers, 52-23!

* George Mason at UMass. 4 PM. On NBC Sports.

RF1 · Unread post by **RF1** » 8 years ago

Obadiah wrote:Two games on the A-10 Sunday Schedule.

* La Salle at GW. On NBC Sports. This game is already underway and at the half, GW is routing the Explorers, 52-23!

* George Mason at UMass. 4 PM. On NBC Sports.

A few minutes into the 2nd half and GW is now up 61-24. I would think it very safe to put this into the GW win column.

bigappleram · Unread post by **bigappleram** » 8 years ago

Just finished watching the St Johns vs Seton Hall game. That Mullin guy must need an old sage too bc they just botched the last 20 seconds and fumbled away a loss including a puzzling last shot strategy.

Ramulous · Unread post by **Ramulous** » 8 years ago

I never watch big east games

PeterRamTime · Unread post by **PeterRamTime** » 8 years ago

It was just La Salle, but when GW gets goin they are really tough to beat.
I still have no idea why St Bonaventure couldn't beat La Salle, but they then go on the road and beat Dayton. Even though Dayton was with ought pollard, it's still crazy.

Login • Register