3/15 | Oklahoma Sooners | 12:15PM | CBS (NCAA 1st Rd.)

Section104 · Unread post by **Section104** » 6 years ago

This is pretty much exactly how I feel about round 1 and potential round 2 - (From the Athletic ranking "Mid Majors" in tournament) - Nevada is #1

2. Rhode Island (25-7, seventh seed in the Midwest): Head coach Dan Hurley could not have asked for a better matchup than the one his Rams have drawn against 10-seed Oklahoma. The Sooners' kryptonite in the second half of the season is teams that are deep, high-energy and disciplined. Well check, check and checkmate. Rhody has five or six guards it can rotate onto Trae Young defensively, and that group will have a field day attacking him and the other Oklahoma guards on the other end. The only question mark is how much they'll be able to play 6-8 senior big man Andre Barry, who will get targeted in pick-and-rolls every possession he's in the game. Unfortunately, a massive Duke team with their zone defense would be a terrible Round 2 matchup.

https://theathletic.com/270946/2018/03/ ... ome-noise/

Seawrightspostgame · Unread post by **Seawrightspostgame** » 6 years ago

Nice write up. Young's defense is what you want to force. Especially with our monster point guard.

I don't think URI has been physical for like 3 weeks now or won the physical battle. Ever since Olean URI has faced teams that are willing to just play insanely physical. It has worked for those teams.

I hope to see the same EC as last game.

hrstrat57 · Unread post by **hrstrat57** » 6 years ago

rhodysurf wrote:Really good in depth preview http://three-man-weave.com/3mw/2018/3/1 ... 844207_539

Excellent analysis of Ram offense. There does tend to be players standing around at times on PnR plays. I’m certain it’s a focus of staff in practice this week. OU is a prime candidate to get shredded by a high ball screen offense that keeps moving judging from the three times I’ve seen them on TV. Hard to be certain without seeing a team in person or viewing multiple angle game tape which we have tons of I’m sure.

I’m pretty optimistic about URI chances here....

Thanks for the link - good analysis/ great read!!

Not Mike Powell · Unread post by **Not Mike Powell** » 6 years ago

https://www.insidenu.com/2017/12/22/168 ... teph-curry

Break-down of how to defend Trae Young.

rhodysurf · Unread post by **rhodysurf** » 6 years ago

Other OU board http://ouhoops.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=2

RhodysRelevant · Unread post by **RhodysRelevant** » 6 years ago

browsing espn just saw this blurb thought you guys might like...

Best first-round coaching matchup: Dan Hurley vs. Lon Kruger
Let's go with two of the better coaches in the tournament. Hurley has been linked with every big-time job under the sun lately, while Kruger has won consistently everywhere he has been. We've done too much on Kentucky and Davidson, but John Calipari vs. Bob McKillop will also be interesting.

http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basket ... s-lipscomb

rambone 78 · Unread post by **rambone 78** » 6 years ago

We've got the best matchup of the early games, plus we're on CBS and we'll have the biggest audience, what with TY and Dan....

Will be a lot of eyes on us.

Billyboy78 · Unread post by **Billyboy78** » 6 years ago

Let's just take this one game at a time. If we beat Oklahoma tomorrow, then we can start thinking about Iona...

hrstrat57 · Unread post by **hrstrat57** » 6 years ago

Billyboy78 wrote:Let's just take this one game at a time. If we beat Oklahoma tomorrow, then we can start thinking about Iona...

FattsAndFurious · Unread post by **FattsAndFurious** » 6 years ago

I want to see Fatts faceguard Young. Face guarding has frustrated him several times this year and Fatts is quick enough to stay between he and the basket.

ElmCityRhody · Unread post by **ElmCityRhody** » 6 years ago

Quiet Confidence on the eve of our game.

Let’s go.

Seawrightspostgame · Unread post by **Seawrightspostgame** » 6 years ago

Big day tmrw.

theblueram · Unread post by **theblueram** » 6 years ago

I love that we cut nets down in Pittsburgh last year. Seemed the guys had a comfort level in the arena.

CT Rhody · Unread post by **CT Rhody** » 6 years ago

Wish I was in Pitt for this game, kids ages 1 and 3 made that impossible.. Grrr

bigappleram · Unread post by **bigappleram** » 6 years ago

Just arrived. Good memories from last time in this town.
City buzzing with college hoops fans.

steviep123 · Unread post by **steviep123** » 6 years ago

Here's the full presser (seniors followed by Hurley):

OUradu · Unread post by **OUradu** » 6 years ago

I saw landthieves linked on here...ugh. Please don't go there. Someone here said they lost brain cells going over there, you'll lose more than that. Trash. Go to ouhoops.com. Much better discussion there and your wife and kids can stay in the room.

Rhody83 · Unread post by **Rhody83** » 6 years ago

Rhody ends up with a two day trip that takes 9 1/2 hours by bus to Pittsburgh.
Who is in charge of transportation decisions?
I realize there was a storm to avoid but couldn’t they take a 1 hour flight the second day.

URI'21 · Unread post by **URI'21** » 6 years ago

HASwatTeam wrote: Also, due to both the start time being the first game of Round 1 and it being a game with Trae Young, EVERYONE will be watching. Great time to showcase who we are.

Definitely. Plus the next four games after ours (wright state v tennessee, zags v greensboro, penn v kansas, iona v duke), don't project to be particularly close, so I'd imagine viewers would stick to watching our game and not channel flip too much

CT Rhody · Unread post by **CT Rhody** » 6 years ago

Let’s hope we don’t get the slow start tomorrow, the last thing you want to do is provide a wounded dog more energy and confidence extending throughout the game. Let’s jump on them early and often if possible.

PCFriars · Unread post by **PCFriars** » 6 years ago

Good luck to y'all tomorrow. Hope we all meet up in San Antonio in a few weeks

the_one_mike · Unread post by **the_one_mike** » 6 years ago

This is an ideal matchup for our team and an opportunity for a major confidence booster that could propel us forward a couple of rounds. For me, the question is will we take the opportunity?

The last few weeks have been rough, even during wins -- particularly highlighted by poor shot selection on offense. That isn't to say we can't get back in a groove but the emergence of hero ball has been evident down the stretch. And it hasn't particularly worked out.

The keys to success in the tournament will be a departure from the return to poor, rushed decision-making of times past, distancing ourselves from anxious play, and focusing on the fundamentals that got us here: staying in front on defense, making free throws, and moving the ball.

We win if:
1. We play our game. Starting with the St. Bonaventure loss we have appeared to be playing to our opponents' pace/strengths; this game is a major opportunity to play OUR pace and make a statement in primetime against arguably the most hyped player in basketball yet to take a paycheck (...that we know of, amirite FBI... BA DUM TSSS).
2. We remember the fundamentals that got us here. Free throws. The extra pass. Staying in front of your man on defense. Free throws. Team basketball. Free throws. And free throws.

We lose if:
1. We cannot stop the two man game early... we need to use our depth at guard to fight under screens and force Trae Young to rush his decisions. Andre Berry must be decisive and effective on the hedge. Foul trouble on our bigs will be crucial as always and being in the right position will be of the utmost importance.
2. We need key contributions from our best defensive players if we want to win. If Stan Robinson gets zero steals, we lose. This team is best when the senior leaders step up together -- and it starts with Stan. Much like last year against Oregon, we will go as far in this tournament as his energy gets us.

I am confident we have more than enough, talent and temperament wise, to win this game. The question remains if we will put our confidence back together and knock off a few BCS schools in the process.

ElmCityRhody · Unread post by **ElmCityRhody** » 6 years ago

Let’s get JT off to N early start

That is what I’ll be looking for

RI_Bred · Unread post by **RI_Bred** » 6 years ago

CT Rhody wrote:Wish I was in Pitt for this game, kids ages 1 and 3 made that impossible.. Grrr

I'm still in Greece for work, and won't be able to watch the game at all today...consider yourselves lucky!

Unread post by **TruePoint** » 6 years ago

http://www.gorhody.com/sports/m-baskbl/ ... 0314qw9idj

section(105) · Unread post by **section(105)** » 6 years ago

CT Rhody wrote:Let’s hope we don’t get the slow start tomorrow, the last thing you want to do is provide a wounded dog more energy and confidence extending throughout the game. Let’s jump on them early and often if possible.

.......second that motion.....let’s not dig ourselves the big hole to dig outta.......score first, cause them to get a taste of our defense with a turnover and go up 4/5/6 to 0......

RF1 · Unread post by **RF1** » 6 years ago

Rhody83 wrote:Rhody ends up with a two day trip that takes 9 1/2 hours by bus to Pittsburgh.
Who is in charge of transportation decisions?
I realize there was a storm to avoid but couldn’t they take a 1 hour flight the second day.

The NCAA arranges all travel for the tournament. Typically teams get charter flights. Weather and schedule conspired to make Rhody's trip less than ideal.

Da_Process_Survivor · Unread post by **Da_Process_Survivor** » 6 years ago

Trae Young is the focus on both ends of the floor.

I'd start with Dowtin on him for the length and quickness, but rotate who checks him. Give him different looks between Dowtin, Stan, Terrell, Fatts so that he cant get comfortable or start figuring it out. Keep him guessing

On offense, who ever Young is guarding is gonna have a monster day. He is a liability on that end of the floor. Really OU has a bit of Iona to them in terms of defense...a necessary evil to get the ball back and take more shots.

URI_05 · Unread post by **URI_05** » 6 years ago

Anyone watching in Boston? I’m working on Milk St today and I’m looking to skip out for a few hours to watch the game...

steviep123 · Unread post by **steviep123** » 6 years ago

Wish I could....stuck in lunch time meetings....but will have my phone out checking the scores!

Rhodymob05 · Unread post by **Rhodymob05** » 6 years ago

Yea ill be streaming it in office. GO RAMS

ElmCityRhody · Unread post by **ElmCityRhody** » 6 years ago

already got the ok from my boss to watch it on our tv

let's goooooooooooooooooooooo

Micheal_Phelps_22 · Unread post by **Micheal_Phelps_22** » 6 years ago

Are they having a viewing party at Aroogas? Wasn't able to make it out to Pittsburg so I figured the next best thing was to get back to RI and watch with fellow fans.

rambone 78 · Unread post by **rambone 78** » 6 years ago

I would imagine many local bars will have the game.....not sure which one I'll be at yet.

RhowdyRam02 · Unread post by **RhowdyRam02** » 6 years ago

Yeah, watch party at Aroogas

Unread post by **TruePoint** » 6 years ago

One leftover nugget that I did not mention in my preview is that Oklahoma shoots a lot of threes - a little more than 26 per game. That is the 32nd most in the country, which puts them in the top 10% in terms of attempts. They are just outside the top-100 in percentage, a decent but not extraordinary 36.3%. This averages out to about 9.5 makes per game. On the other end, URI is pretty good at forcing teams to shoot below their average (teams shoot about 33% against URI, 68th best in the nation), but where they are really elite is in preventing three point attempts in the first place: only two teams in the country allow fewer attempts from beyond the arc than the 15.9 that Rhody allows.

If you average that out, OU typically makes 9.5/26 for 27-30 points per contest. URI typically holds teams to about 5/16 for about 15 points per game. If URI can really cause OU to leave 12-15 points that they typically get on the floor, combined with the advantage that I think they have in terms of turning OU over, that could be the recipe to keep them around 70 points as opposed to their average of 85. Vegas has the over/under at 157.5 with URI favored by 1.5/2, which would be a URI victory in the 80-78 range if it held up. If we can somehow dictate that the game is played in the high 60s or low 70s, that would further increase the chances of a URI win, IMO.

The numbers to watch for me today: hold OU to 7 or fewer made threes and turn them over at least 15 times (OU averages over 13 TOs, URI typically causes about 16). If they hit those two numbers, they will win. That is my fearless prediction.

rambone 78 · Unread post by **rambone 78** » 6 years ago

If OU makes 7 threes or less, we win easy, as long as our shooting is decent. Decent [or better] to me is anything above 40%, and 70% from the line.

Taylor Swift · Unread post by **Taylor Swift** » 6 years ago

Chophouse posted on Instagram that they're having something as well as Charlie O's. I could hardly sleep at all last night thinking about the game!

ElmCityRhody · Unread post by **ElmCityRhody** » 6 years ago

quiet confidence.
let's go.
time to get the job done.

section(105) · Unread post by **section(105)** » 6 years ago

section(105) wrote:
CT Rhody wrote:Let’s hope we don’t get the slow start tomorrow, the last thing you want to do is provide a wounded dog more energy and confidence extending throughout the game. Let’s jump on them early and often if possible.
.......second that motion.....let’s not dig ourselves the big hole to dig outta.......score first, cause them to get a taste of our defense with a turnover and go up 4/5/6 to 0......

.......AND make the free throws......!!

ramster · Unread post by **ramster** » 6 years ago

On one of the Coaches Shows this past season Steve and Don had Dan and Fatts Russell on. I think it was back in January, Dan talked about how they watched Fatts at the Nike Peach Jam in North Augusta SC, the most Elite AAU Tournament of the Summer. Fatts made 2nd team from among many talented players. Dan said on the Show that they felt Fatts was the 2nd Best Point Guard at the Peach Jam which was certainly High Praise. Dan said the only PG better than Fatts was Trae Young. So this certainly makes for an interesting match up. Young was phenomenal at the Peach Jam but so was Russell.

sevegny7 · Unread post by **sevegny7** » 6 years ago

Man for some reason I am more nervous about this years NCAA tourney game then last years versus Creighton. So ready to send Trae Young home and advance to watch more meaningful basketball on Saturday. Ramster- I do remember that coaches show and lets see if that adds another inch to that massive chip on Fatts shoulder especially guarding him and harrassing him.

reef · Unread post by **reef** » 6 years ago

Wow great nugget there and thanks for that article on TJ Bucanon

sf2010 · Unread post by **sf2010** » 6 years ago

Aaaaand here come the butterflies. Nervous/pumped/confident about this game! Let's gooooooooo Rhodyyyyyyy

URI'21 · Unread post by **URI'21** » 6 years ago

Oh my God I hope we're all more nervous than our guys are because I'm anxious as fuck

TulaneGradRamFan · Unread post by **TulaneGradRamFan** » 6 years ago

Fatts making a fade away jumper is in one of the montages that ESPN plays when they start their loop of videos playing when you are on the site. I think every college basketball fan that has ever been to the NCAAM section of the site must have heard it or seen it at least once.

RhodysRelevant · Unread post by **RhodysRelevant** » 6 years ago

Game time!

FattsAndFurious · Unread post by **FattsAndFurious** » 6 years ago

Oklahoma is soft. Tough D and attack mode offense will lead us to a W.

Iona looks tough though.

Seawrightspostgame · Unread post by **Seawrightspostgame** » 6 years ago

Here goes!

giovanni · Unread post by **giovanni** » 6 years ago

Here we go Rhody! Come out strong