Week #4 - Games of Interest

Obadiah · Unread post by **Obadiah** » 9 years ago

What a difference a week makes - from the euphoria accompanying the Nebraska win to the ordeal in Orlando. As expected, URI got no votes in Week #4 polls. I hope we don’t have to wait years to see votes again. It was also a bad week for the A-10. With two losses, VCU dropped out of both polls. They are the only A-10 team getting any votes in either poll!!

Previously #25, PC dropped out of the USA Today Coaches poll. The Friars got votes in both polls. It appears unlikely that PC will be ranked when the Rams play them on Dec. 10.

Not much action with only one game in the A-10 Monday evening.

Fordham hosts up and down Siena. 7 PM.

In games involving URI OOC opponents:

In an ACC/Big Ten Challenge game, Nebraska pays a visit to Florida State. 7PM. On ESPNU.

NAIA D2 Aquinas College at Detroit.

Ram1019 · Unread post by **Ram1019** » 9 years ago

FSU was manhandled by PC. It should be interesting to watch that matchup with Nebraska. See how both teams respond and anyalze that level of competition.

rodfromcranston · Unread post by **rodfromcranston** » 9 years ago

Transitive theory means nothing in basketball.
It's all about matchups.

rambone 78 · Unread post by **rambone 78** » 9 years ago

We proved that last night. Shoulda woulda couda...but nooooo............

Ram1019 · Unread post by **Ram1019** » 9 years ago

I agree with that. But will still be an interesting game.

PeterRamTime · Unread post by **PeterRamTime** » 9 years ago

Nebraska handling them fairly easily so far.

Obadiah · Unread post by **Obadiah** » 9 years ago

Fordham led all the way, but almost blew it in the final minutes, before winning, 69-67, over Siena. Nice to see them get back on track after some bad losses.

Interesting results in the ACC/Big Ten challenge. Nebraska beats Florida State, 70-65. The Cornhuskers led by as many as 18 in early stage of second half before the Seminoles came to life and cut the lead to one before Nebraska righted itself to close out the win.

Rutgers, often a laggard, goes into Clemson and come from behind to win 69-64. Big Ten now 2-0 in challenge.

Detroit had no problem with NAIA Aquinas College, 109-59. Why bother?

PeterRamTime · Unread post by **PeterRamTime** » 9 years ago

Way to go Fordham! A-10 needs to redeem itself this weeks. Put us in the right direction Fordham!

Seawrightspostgame · Unread post by **Seawrightspostgame** » 9 years ago

Transitive theory? Somebody should look at FSU a little closer. They suck.

Rhody Guy · Unread post by **Rhody Guy** » 9 years ago

Rathan-Mayes looked pretty good running that FSU offense, Ojo is a mountain, and Shields for Neb is a clone of Boris Diaw.

seanmc94 · Unread post by **seanmc94** » 9 years ago

So a team that you took to OT beats a team by 5(without one of their best players); therefore that team sucks? There's a lot of hoops to be played. Not sure FSU is a tourney team; but there is too much talent on that roster not to win some games this year.

Obadiah · Unread post by **Obadiah** » 9 years ago

In Tuesday night A-10 action:

UMass pays a visit to LSU. 7 PM. On SECN.

Let’s see if VCU can get back on track in a road tilt at Illinois State. 8 PM.

Howard at Duquesne. 7 PM.

D2 Rockhurst at Saint Louis. 8PM.

Only game involving URI OOC opponents:

Delaware State at Hawaii.

Other games:

The ACC/BigTen Challenge gets really rolling with six games on tap, most of which can be see on the ESPN stations:

Ohio State at Louisville
Pittsburgh at Indiana
Minnesota at Wake Forest
Syracuse at Michigan
Illinois at Miami (FL)
NC State at Purdue

PeterRamTime · Unread post by **PeterRamTime** » 9 years ago

Nebraska was smokin them early. Florida State made a great push. I'm confident Nebraska will be pretty damn good and probably a tourny team. They have a really tough defense and stopping both Shields and Petteway is quite difficult.
Hoping the A-10 gets 4 W's tonight. I'm going to watch UMass. I really would like to see us play them in the A-10 tourny and us both be bubble teams and we crush them.

spookydog · Unread post by **spookydog** » 9 years ago

FSU just looks awful. I think by the end of the year, Florida State has a chance dropping out of the RPI Top 100. They can't hit a jump shot to save their life. 2-18 from 3 & 1-10 on jumpers in the last game. Its been like that for most of the season. Their 3 point shooting is 2nd worst in the country at (<20%). Yikes

Seawrightspostgame · Unread post by **Seawrightspostgame** » 9 years ago

I agree that Terance Mann's competition at FSU will be steep in Mayes and company, but FSU is currently 3-4.

They could struggle to find 12-15 wins this year. Look at their schedule and try to project more than 12 wins if you're familiar with the ACC.

Is VT good? maybe they win one of those, BC?, Wake sucks, maybe a Clemson. To rack up any wins they would have to prove to be the best of the ACC's worst. I doubt that they are.

I dont know why you PC guys are sensitive over FSU basketball, the ND win was good. The FSU win wasn't. It is ok.

seanmc94 · Unread post by **seanmc94** » 9 years ago

Never said they were UK; just find it funny that posters here crap on them(BC they played PC); when they lost to a team that you guys beat in ot(and celebrated like it was the final four) by five without a key offensive player

Obadiah · Unread post by **Obadiah** » 9 years ago

In the two A-10 games against respectable teams, both UMass and VCU are struggling. It's still early in the VCU game, but the Redbirds of Illinois State look to be pretty good.

PeterRamTime · Unread post by **PeterRamTime** » 9 years ago

UMass is going to lose. This Mickey guy for LSU rejects everything they shoot in the paint. UMass can't defend either.

rambone 78 · Unread post by **rambone 78** » 9 years ago

Wow, Obie.

How many A10 teams are playing better at this point than last year?

Not many, that's for sure.

Right now Dayton might be the best team. I'm sure VCU and GW will get it going, but the rest?

Ugh.

If we can ever get our offense clicking, even decently, this league is there for the taking.

Obadiah · Unread post by **Obadiah** » 9 years ago

Yea, rambone, it's looks like a tough season for the A-10.

Reviewing Tuesday night A-10 action:

In a game of turnovers, each team had 18, UMass was trounced by LSU, 82-60. The game was tied at 24-24 with 8 minutes left when LSU went on a 20-8 run to close out the first half. UMass never seriously threatened in the second as LSU outrebounded the Minutemen, 41-32, and blocked 10 UMass shots. UMass didn’t help its cause with 2-13 3-point shooting either.

VCU in a hole from the tip-off with a rough 1-11 start, finally took lead with less than a minute to go and holds on to win, 66-62, -a gutsy road win for them and a nice win for the A-10.

Duquesne trashed Howard, 81-63, using 14 players in the process. Ex-Ram Dominique McKoy, no longer a starter, scored 6 points.

Saint Louis routs D2 Rockhurst, 80-48. The only logic behind scheduling this “hands across Missouri” game is that big brother Jesuit, SLU, was doing a favor for little brother Jesuit, Rockhurst of Kansas City.

Only game involving URI OOC opponents:

Delaware State at Hawaii. Who’s staying up for the Midnight start to this game???

In the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, Minnesota, Michigan and Indiana get wins giving their conference a 5-0 lead in the Challenge. The ACC leads in two of the remaining games with Miami (FL) ahead of Illinois and Louisville thrashing Ohio State.

RF1 · Unread post by **RF1** » 9 years ago

UMass has had a fairly difficult OOC schedule the last two years. It however was favorably weighted with home games against many good opponents last year and they took care of business on their home court winning many close games. That has flipped this year with several true away games - at LSU, at PC, at BYU, at Harvard. It is tough to win on the road in college hoops. Adjusting to life without Chaz is also not helping in the early going.

rodfromcranston · Unread post by **rodfromcranston** » 9 years ago

Slightly OT, but I was watching the NC State-Purdue game last night.
Abu only played four minutes in this game.
He's been averaging around 12 plus minutes a game, but the minutes have lessened
in recent games.
There's three guys ahead of him, all sophomores.
I was talking to someone with deep ties to Expressions Elite, who told me
Abu actually came very close to coming here with Terrell.
He came here with Terrell just to keep him company, and was highly
impressed by Dan Hurley and his openness.
I know PC fans will pooh pooh this, but this source is rock solid.
Anyway, there was talk during the summer of Abu decommiting
and coming here.
I wonder if his diminished role and the studs playing in front of him
will lead him to consider a transfer to reunite with his best buddy?
Just thinking out loud.

rambone 78 · Unread post by **rambone 78** » 9 years ago

We could use him. We need big bodies, ball handlers, and shooters.

More holes than originally thought. Although, I think Dan has known all along that besides being a work in progress, this team isn't complete.

He has said that we need at least another piece, I think referring to a big man. I think we need more than that.

rodfromcranston · Unread post by **rodfromcranston** » 9 years ago

Yes, we need a real shooter. Looking at Thompson's
numbers so far, I'm underwhelmed.
I hope we can get a mid season transfer, so he could play
next season in December, instead of sitting out 2015-06.
A good juco could help, too, on either front.

Billyboy78 · Unread post by **Billyboy78** » 9 years ago

rodfromcranston wrote:Slightly OT, but I was watching the NC State-Purdue game last night.
Abu only played four minutes in this game.
He's been averaging around 12 plus minutes a game, but the minutes have lessened
in recent games.
There's three guys ahead of him, all sophomores.
I was talking to someone with deep ties to Expressions Elite, who told me
Abu actually came very close to coming here with Terrell.
He came here with Terrell just to keep him company, and was highly
impressed by Dan Hurley and his openness.
I know PC fans will pooh pooh this, but this source is rock solid.
Anyway, there was talk during the summer of Abu decommiting
and coming here.
I wonder if his diminished role and the studs playing in front of him
will lead him to consider a transfer to reunite with his best buddy?
Just thinking out loud.

I haven't stopped thinking about that since the day you told me. And IIRC, the story also involved a possible transfer after one semester. I meant to look up his minutes recently. Now I don't have to. He'd certainly get all the minutes he could handle here. He'd sure look good in Keaney Blue second semester next year. Yeah, I know. But I can dream.

rambone 78 · Unread post by **rambone 78** » 9 years ago

Yeah, we need him to make up for the loss of Gil. I know we need a "ready made" big man to replace him, he would be as close to that as we could get I would think.

Rod, concerning Thompson's numbers, how many shots is he taking? If he's shooting it at 30%, he's not the answer. If he's getting those points on just a few shots a game, well that's another story.

rodfromcranston · Unread post by **rodfromcranston** » 9 years ago

No clue on Thompson's shots. Someone told me his prep team is loaded,
so that could account for the low numbers.
We need someone to replace Gil, and so far, it doesn't look like we're
getting one from the 2015 class.
As for Abu, he's a bright kid. He must see the three guys ahead of him getting all the run.
PC isn't an option, because of all the PFs and centers they have or have coming in.
IF he ever decided to go where he can play right away, Kingston is an option
for several reasons.
I'm sure BC would try to get into the mix if this happened. He's from Boston.

Unread post by **SGreenwell** » 9 years ago

rambone 78 wrote:Yeah, we need him to make up for the loss of Gil. I know we need a "ready made" big man to replace him, he would be as close to that as we could get I would think.

Rod, concerning Thompson's numbers, how many shots is he taking? If he's shooting it at 30%, he's not the answer. If he's getting those points on just a few shots a game, well that's another story.

Unless it's someone local that you can watch a couple times and scout, I think it's incredibly tough to provide proper context for high school stats. Some people are on one-man teams, some are on loaded prep squads, some might have an injury they're playing through, etc. Just a lack of information that makes drawing conclusions - positive or negative - pretty tough.

Obadiah · Unread post by **Obadiah** » 9 years ago

For the record, in a late game last night, Hawaii dominated Delaware State, 75-60. Hawaii never trailed in the game and their lead maxed at 22 points in the second half.

In Wednesday night A-10 action:

In a Big Five match-up at Hagan Arena, Temple vs. St. Joseph’s. 6:30 PM . On CBS Sports.

Buffalo at St. Bonaventure. 7 PM.

Dayton at Miami (OH) 7 PM.

William & Mary at Richmond. 7 PM.

Charlotte at Davidson. 7 PM.

Old Dominion at George Mason. 7:30 PM.

In another Big Five match-up at Gola Arena, Villanova vs. La Salle. On CBS Sports. 8:30 PM.

In games involving URI OOC opponents:

In The ACC/Big Ten Challenge, Georgia Tech at Northwestern.

American U. at Brown. 7 PM.

NJIT at UMass-Lowell. 7 PM.

North Dakota St. at Southern Miss. 8:30 PM.

The ACC/BigTen Challenge contuinues for the third and last evening of action. After eight games, the Big Ten leads the series, 6-2. In addition to GT game:

#4 Duke at #2 Wisconsin
#19 Michigan State at Notre Dame.
Virginia Tech at Penn State.
#7 Virginia at #21 Maryland.
Iowa at #12 North Carolina.

RF1 · Unread post by **RF1** » 9 years ago

There are a lot of regional OOC match-ups tonight involving A-10 members.

PeterRamTime · Unread post by **PeterRamTime** » 9 years ago

You're teasin us Rod!
Seems like there's a possibility that he could transfer here though... We would accept him with open arms and hearts.
Mark Gottfried seems like a good guy and he's been doing well there so still maybe quite unlickly he'll leave.

rodfromcranston · Unread post by **rodfromcranston** » 9 years ago

No, PRT. Just speculating based on the situation.

seanmc94 · Unread post by **seanmc94** » 9 years ago

ABU to uri makes a lot of sense; especially with JT starting and getting a lot of minutes
Xmas break will be telling

rodfromcranston · Unread post by **rodfromcranston** » 9 years ago

Agree, Sean.
It's when kids talk to their friends, relatives
and former coaches.
He can't be happy with dwindling minutes and the young
players in front of him.
By the way, that roster is loaded with Oak Hill players.
Somebody ask Bob Hurley Sr, what he thinks of Oak Hill.

Billyboy78 · Unread post by **Billyboy78** » 9 years ago

Last night against Purdue, Abu played 4 minutes.

theblueram · Unread post by **theblueram** » 9 years ago

Sheesh. Kid would have helped us maybe beat Kansas and def beat GT. And would be getting some press as well. Along with many minutes.

Billyboy78 · Unread post by **Billyboy78** » 9 years ago

Here are Abu's minutes for the season for their 7 games starting with game one....18-16-18-4-8-16-4. Terrell played 40 minutes against Nebraska alone.

rodfromcranston · Unread post by **rodfromcranston** » 9 years ago

Solid minutes for the first three games, not much the next two,
a 16 minute stretch followed by 4 minutes last night.
Of course, Terrell was plugged in as a starter before the ink dried on his LOI.
Abu has three very good players in front of him, all sophs.
We can dream, can't we?

rodfromcranston · Unread post by **rodfromcranston** » 9 years ago

OK, just turned on the MSU-ND game. They showed someone playing
The Sugarplum Fairy from The Nutcracker..
Super heavily made up, almost clown like.
When Doris Burke asked,"Can anyone guess who's playing the part",
I knew it was Digger Phelps. It was!
I'm sure you can catch this on You Tube and elsewhere tomorrow.
They said it was some sort of Christmas tradition at ND.
Very strange, but hilarious.

Unread post by **TruePoint** » 9 years ago

Usually I'm glad to see A10 teams win out of the conference, but a little disappointed personally to see Bonnies turn back Bobby's Buffalo team. Buffalo was down big at the half and never really got all the way back into it - the final margin of 9 was about as close as they got all night.

rambone 78 · Unread post by **rambone 78** » 9 years ago

Overall a good night for the A10. 5-2, and GM came close to making it 6-1 against a good Old Dominion team.

Looks like some teams in the conference are starting to play a little better, but it's still early.

LaSalle is going to get creamed by Villanova.

PeterRamTime · Unread post by **PeterRamTime** » 9 years ago

Davidson looks pretty darned good. They may be one of the top teams in the conference. They beat Charlotte pretty easily and Charlotte is a pretty big strong good team and they've blown out everyone else they've beat and hung around with UNC. Haven't seen them play yet but, looking good on the scoreboard.

rambone 78 · Unread post by **rambone 78** » 9 years ago

One thing Davidson can do is score the ball. They have several players who can put up numbers.

Maybe Dan can ask McKillop how he runs his offense! Ha ha.

PeterRamTime · Unread post by **PeterRamTime** » 9 years ago

Hehe.
Dan will see for himself come February.
Is anyone watching Wisconsin and Duke play? Maaaaann are they good.

Obadiah · Unread post by **Obadiah** » 9 years ago

Good night for the A-10 tonight:

St. Joseph’s edged Temple, 58-56. Temple missed two good shots to tie game with 2 seconds left.

Bobby Hurley’s Buffalo lost to St. Bonaventure, 72-63. Bonnies now at 5-1.

Dayton won a close one over Miami (OH), 66-62.

Richmond squeezed by William & Mary, 68-67. 7 PM.

Davidson beats a good Charlotte team, 92-86. Davidson record is 5-1.

Old Dominion, who whipped VCU last week, struggled at George Mason, but finally prevailed, 75-69.

Villanova thumping La Salle.

In games involving URI OOC opponents:

American U. ran away from Brown in second half to win, 66-49.

UMass-Lowell prevailed over NJIT, 71-67, moving their record to 6-2.

After a terrible shooting display on the road at Drexel, Southern Miss totally reversed that experience with a strong win over North S Dakota St., 78-65. USM shot 64% FG, 50% 3-pointers, (10 of 20), 67% FT’s. While the Purple Eagles were outrebounded by a small margin, they showed good ball control with 11 turnovers and 15 assists.

In the ACC/BigTen Challenge ;

Iowa upset #12 North Carolina, 60-55.
#19 Michigan State lost in OT at Notre Dame, 79-78..
Penn State edged Virginia Tech, 61-58.

Three games still in progress:

#7 Virginia leads #21 Maryland, 37-27.
#4 Duke ahead of a#2 Wisconsin.
Georgia Tech leads Northwestern.

If the games in progress hold up, the Big Ten will win the Challenge 8-6.

PeterRamTime · Unread post by **PeterRamTime** » 9 years ago

Our non-conference opponents are looking pretty good. Still frustrating to think about that Georgia Tech game!
If we win the rest of our non-conference games, our RPI will be really solid. It's in the 30's now

rambone 78 · Unread post by **rambone 78** » 9 years ago

I'm trying to not think about that game anymore, but it's not easy.

rambone 78 · Unread post by **rambone 78** » 9 years ago

Just what I thought...So.Miss is a different team at home...

Although don't know how good or bad N. Dakota St. is.

I would imagine we'll play better defense than they did.

When a team shoots 64%, that's a lot of layups and wide open shots.

This is no gimme...

Unread post by **TruePoint** » 9 years ago

Southern Miss is not good.

RF1 · Unread post by **RF1** » 9 years ago

I look at the USM game as I did with last year's away Detroit game. Games like these can be a barometer for the season. When the Rams could not get an away win at a woeful Detroit team last year, that confirmed for me that the team was not yet ready for a big turn around. If we are going to see a break from the past, they have to win this game at Southern Miss. The Georgia Tech game troubled me. A following loss at Southern Miss would really concern me.

Hopefully this team protects the ball better and keeps their turnovers down. A few jumpers and threes would also help as would playing hard for an entire game.