11/25 | #18 Arizona State | 7:00 PM (ESPN) | Empire Classic – Mohegan Sun

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......on to Bubbleville game 2.......

[Dino611]

If Jay Bilas thought this was a foul fest he should seen our last game at Mohegan Sun (WVU) ....... and there were more fouls in that one (4)

[ram1980]

Not a fan of moral victories but a lot of positives from this moral victory.. very encouraging.. already can tell this team has much more depth than last years with more scorers.. favorite stretch of the game was the multiple fatts drives to the hoop and finding the open man.. multiple scoring options too.. now get rid of this pandemic so we can get to the ryan center some time in the new year and support these guys.. 11 work days til retirement.. my wife and I want to resume the trek to kingston..

[RhodyRam86]

If Jay Bilas thought this was a foul fest he should seen our last game at Mohegan Sun (WVU) ....... and there were more fouls in that one (4)

Even Blue Man picked up a foul in that game. I think it was a technical.

[RhodyRam86]

Fatts to Walker looks like the new Stockton to Malone.

[Section104]

At one point this summer we lost Toppin and Martin - had no transfers signed - and had rumors both Fatts and Harris would be joining them.

We have since added some key pieces, gained more experience with key pieces (Sheppard, Walker, DJ) and retained some key talent. To be in the game in the final minutes on the biggest stage in college hoops (7pm ESPN Wednesday before Thanksgiving) - especially given the COVID obstacles - is truly remarkable and about absolutely all we could have asked for during the dark days of spring and summer.

This team will gel. They’ll have some incredible games and some duds but but talent-wise we’re at the very top of the A10. Does that translate to wins? We’ll soon find out.

Love Shepard’s game. The Mitchell twins have P5 size and will improve. Walker looked like a stud. Carey was impactful. Martin gave us some good defense. Leggett contributed off the bench. Fatts was vintage passing Fatts in second half.

Win tomorrow! Go Rhody!

[Urifan91]

I would expect the turnovers and fouls to go down as they learn to play together. Only 2 of the 9 guys who played tonight, played for URI last year. Should be a fun team to watch!

[rhodysurf]

Too bad they missed the opportunity.. but damn this hyped me up for the season. Real potential, and some fun ass players

[Donrxer79]

OK boys, everyone shoots at least 100 free throws a day, every day.

[KevanBoyles]

I was disappointed in Malik Martin and really liked DJ Johnson. I would have liked to see more DJ in the last five minutes.

[Rhodysk]

I was more than happy with this teams play.
A lot of Positives!!!

Fouls were expected (maybe not as much) but to play a real game against a dam good team and this team not knowing each other and coming back from 16. I’ll take it.
Fatts fouling out is rust. I would bet he doesn’t foul out another game all year.
Shepherd is a deadly shooter.
Really like the twins game.
DJ looked good.
Walker looks like a completely different player
Carey is a slasher and quick, with him and fatts they will be tough.

Overall let’s pray COVID avoids this team because I truly feel the more games they play the more dangerous they will be.
There will be some up and downs in the next few weeks but 6 games in I think 10 days is just what they need.

[PeteRI]

That comeback from 16 down was the BALLS. Our 3-point shooting percentage was almost as good as our free throws. Scoring 88 points in our first game against a Top 20 team is extremely encouraging. This is going to be a fun team!

[Jersey77]

I also have to question Cox's use of TO's, and leaving Fatts in to pick up his 4th foul at the end of the half.

[RhodyRam86]

Interesting...looking at the fouls...we had 29. they had 25. not as big a disparity as it seemed. Turnovers were 17 to 12. We really tightened things up in the 2nd half. The difference in the game was poor free throw shooting and Fatts fouling out. He gave us far more than i expected in the 2nd half playing with 4 fouls.

[rhodylaw]

I also have to question Cox's use of TO's, and leaving Fatts in to pick up his 4th foul at the end of the half.

The 4th foul was maddening - Fatts needs to know they were calling everything at that point

[brady1]

Love this team lots lots lots of potential!

The box out on free throws is lazy high schoolish. Easy fix.

Walker is awesome but as a pass to option.

Love the Mitchell’s, they can tear up A10 , but Thor a free throw shrink helps that a lot probably 500 bucks on zoom.

Loved everything else! We can go far!

GO RHODY!

[steviep123]

Would have loved the win and get a shot at nova. That would give another Q1 game. But they could have folded down 16 late in the first half and claw back in it. They were down 40-24 with about 6 or so left and closed the half on a 17-8 run. Fatts fouling out was tough and that O foul late was the ice.

Not sure if this was posted earlier but this cracked me up:

[Jersey77]

I also have to question Cox's use of TO's, and leaving Fatts in to pick up his 4th foul at the end of the half.

The 4th foul was maddening - Fatts needs to know they were calling everything at that point

Fatts last 2 fouls were both reach-ins trying to strip the ball, I was hoping he would be more careful considering the way the game was being called. He is an aggressive defender so it is hard to blame him, and difficult to turn it on and off.

[PeterRamTime]

We are good.

Period.

[eli#10]

And we thought Cyril was tough to watch at the free throw line. He looks like Jimmy Baron compared to Mitchell. His two misses at the end were beyond crucial and were not even close. PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE
We just could not contain ASU's quickness. They were getting to the rim way too easy and our interior defense was not very good. Did the refs even call one charge? Without Fatts on the floor at the end Cox definitely should have called at least one time out.
Team showed huge balls coming back the way they did. Gonna be an interesting year!!!

[Rhody83]

Very encouraging. Outplayed a top 20 team the last 28 minutes (by 10 points).
Coach Cox can tell the team if they play like they did the last 28 minutes for the complete game, they are going to win a lot of games.
Big positives - Sheppard, Walker, DJ and Fatts penetrating & distributing in 2nd half.
Sheppard is a SG and not a PG. Dribbles too much and gets too fancy as PG. Leggett will develop into backup PG.
Harris will add to this team. Probably more polished offensively than Makhi right now.
When Fatts fouled out in 2nd half, Rhody only had 3 TO in second half.

[eli#10]

Also I think Leggett did a decent job considering it was his first game and he was guarding a potential first team All American.

[Rhody83]

Not a fan of moral victories but a lot of positives from this moral victory.. very encouraging.. already can tell this team has much more depth than last years with more scorers.. favorite stretch of the game was the multiple fatts drives to the hoop and finding the open man.. multiple scoring options too.. now get rid of this pandemic so we can get to the ryan center some time in the new year and support these guys.. 11 work days til retirement.. my wife and I want to resume the trek to kingston..

Congrats on the upcoming retirement!

[steviep123]

BC up over Nova by 1 at halftime...

[rhodyruckus]

If you told me Fatts would only play 25 minutes with 12 points and we'd shoot 60% from the FT line with 11 less FTs than ASU I'd say we were blowed out. Great team effort to rally and almost take this one.

[RhodyFanNotAlum]

Not saying anything that hasn't been said already here but here's my synopsis.

Loved what I saw:

- This team's size
- This team's depth
- Antwan
- Fatts and Antwan in the second half
- Did I mention Antwan?
- Sheppard
- Johnson
- Carey
- Mitchells when not at the line

Hated what I saw:

- Fatts being in there to pick up that fourth foul
- The timeout management at the end
- Play calling out of timeouts
- Free-throw shooting generally, and Makhi's specifically

Inconclusive, need to see more:

- Leggett
- Martin

[ramster]

we shot 9-18 on 3FGs for 50%
Fatts only shot 1-6 so rest of team shot 8-12 for 67% on 3FGs

[SandorClegane]

What time is tomorrow’s game?

[Rhody83]

What time is tomorrow’s game?

7:00 PM ET

[DanInAZ]

I thought Ishmael did a decent job defensively on Remy. Forced him to give up the ball a few times. Nice movement with his feet laterally to stay in front of Remy.

[Running Ram]

Ok, we may need some time to gel as was the original concept, but I can say every player that took the court last night for Rhody looked like they could make an impact for us at some point this season. Some we weren't sure about have already made an impact, Walker, Johnson, Shepard all had big games against what seems to be a tough opponent. That right there is huge!! This game showed us we have great depth and can play aggressive D all season, with the exception of Fatt's and Shep a player on this team with 3 fouls in the first half won't worry me much.

[rhodylaw]

we shot 9-18 on 3FGs for 50%
Fatts only shot 1-6 so rest of team shot 8-12 for 67% on 3FGs

What was the best sign to me was after DJ hit a three the ASU D started pulling out to guard him more, opens up so much space when you have shooters on the floor. This team is going to be good.

[Rhode_Island_Red]

Saw lots of good things from our guys, so rather than repeat them here’s another observation: When they went up 16, Hurley went deeper into his bench and they began losing their momentum. Thanks, Bobby!

[UCH21377]

I don't blame Cox for leaving Fatts in the game in the first half. He was trying to keep us in the game. Fatts need to be a little more disciplined with the reach-ins, depending on the refs.

It's disappointing that we lost, but it sure looks like we have plenty of pieces. Agree with all above posts. DJ looked like he can really help us. I liked our speed with the smaller line up. I hope we continue to force tempo; we looked really good when doing that.

[rhodyrudder]

Some of the half court sets looked bad...
To be sure, playing a top team coached by a Hurley,
missing the leadership of Fatts for huge chunks...
(why was he in there with 3 late in the first half?...
did no one else see that coming?...
they called 7496 fouls in a row at one point in the half!)
with a group made up entirely of newbies when he was out,
all these factors undoubtedly played a big part of that.
And it was the first game!!!

But lots of bright spots: Sheppard and Walker...HOLY SMOKES!!!
The outside shooting (save for the 40-footers...of which
they did make one) was fantastic.
The defense (at times) and the play inside the paint...
Some of the one-twos with Fatts and Antwan were amazing!!!

I think I'm gonna like this team!

[Rhodymob05]

Besides the obvious highlights like Fatts to Walker, Sheppard looking like Xavier Mumford and DJ coming out party, the twins have serious length and are great rebounders. Just need to make more shots around the rim.

[DevRam]

Something I just noticed, when Sheppard turned the ball over down 4 with 25 seconds left, it should have been called a kick ball!! Dribbled it right of an Arizona State players foot, they got two points off the turnover and the game was over

[DevRam]

[Rhody_NYCT]

Was Betrand suited up for the game? Redshirt?

[DC_Rams]

Something I just noticed, when Sheppard turned the ball over down 4 with 25 seconds left, it should have been called a kick ball!! Dribbled it right of an Arizona State players foot, they got two points off the turnover and the game was over

It’s only a kickball when it’s intentional.

[PeterRamTime]

Was Betrand suited up for the game? Redshirt?

Hes redshirting sadly. We'd be insane with him. But its okay!

[PeterRamTime]

I mean has there ever been a URI team this talented top to bottom? I mean there are no stiffs! We have always had some stiffs!

And we haven't seen Jermaine yet!

There are no Christian Thompsons or Nicola Akele's coming off the bench.

No stiffs!

Jeremy Sheppard can shoot better than anybody since Jimmy Baron. He can dribble like a demon. He kept us from being blown out. Xavier Munford but BETTER (in college)

DJ, also, best shooter since Jimmy! Was he really not ready to play last year?

Twan improved a shitload.

The twins are big and very athletic. They will only get better from there.

Carey was shaky at first with his ball handling but man! He's smooth! Hit that big jumper towards the end. Obvious P5 talent.

Ish held is own like a big dawg out there! Don't really miss a beat with him out there.

Some aren't sure about Malik, but I like his shot. He's athletic, he can play defense. He can drive.

Such a complete team. They're all fluid athlete's too.

I LOVE this team.

Thank you waivers!

Let's not foul a billion times and smoke the Eagles tonight!

[reef]

Our chances drastically dropped once Fatts fouled out . He would have made plays down the stretch to possibly win it

[ramster]

Maybe expectations too high for the Mitchell twins going into the season??
Go back a year ago with the Maryland - URI Game:

• Harris 21 minutes, 4-9 FG, 2-2 FT, 5 rebounds, 1 TO, 4 Fouls, 10 points

• Mekhi 4 minutes, 1-1 FG, 0 rebounds, 1 block, 1 TO, 4 Fouls, 2 points

• Mekhel 6 minutes, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 TO, 3 Fouls, 0 points

• So those worried about Harris who had 4 fouls in 21 minutes should consider the Mitchell's combined had 7 Fouls in 10 minutes

• Fatts 40 minutes, 1-8 FG, 2-4 FT, 2 rebounds, 4 assist, 3 steals, 3 fouls, 5 points

It's why they play the games

Mitchell combined totals from last night:

• 28 minutes played, 2-4 FG, 3-9 FT, 10 rebounds, 0 blocks, 4 TOs, 7 Points, 9 Personal Fouls

[Jersey77]

Maybe expectations too high for the Mitchell twins going into the season??
Go back a year ago with the Maryland - URI Game:

• Harris 21 minutes, 4-9 FG, 2-2 FT, 5 rebounds, 1 TO, 4 Fouls, 10 points

• Mekhi 4 minutes, 1-1 FG, 0 rebounds, 1 block, 1 TO, 4 Fouls, 2 points

• Mekhel 6 minutes, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 TO, 3 Fouls, 0 points

• So those worried about Harris who had 4 fouls in 21 minutes should consider the Mitchell's combined had 7 Fouls in 10 minutes

• Fatts 40 minutes, 1-8 FG, 2-4 FT, 2 rebounds, 4 assist, 3 steals, 3 fouls, 5 points

It's why they play the games

Mitchell combined totals from last night:

• 28 minutes played, 2-4 FG, 3-9 FT, 10 rebounds, 0 blocks, 4 TOs, 7 Points, 9 Personal Fouls

Not great when the fouls are higher than the total points. I agree that we need to pump the brakes in thinking that the twins will instantly dominate the paint in the A10 this year. That is reason for my concern on the status of JH going forward. There are some excellent bigs in this conference and it will take some time before the twins will reach their potential in this league.

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........yes, this what jersey 77 posted.....