Game # 24: Rams at Duquesne, Sat 2/27 7pm ESPN+

[rhodyrudder]

University of Rhode Island at Duquesne University
UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse, Pittsburgh
Saturday, February 27, 2021
7pm

Media
TV: none
Online: ESPN+
Radio: 101.5 FM (B101) or Tune In Radio App

Previews:
Duquesne’s Fan Forum

This will be the final regular season game for Rhody, and it brings a return trip to Pittsburgh. Last time out ended badly, and this time will hopefully see a change in outcome to go with the change in setting. It marks the second game played in the newly refurbished UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse. The Dukes' first game there was a win over Dayton, 69-64, on Feb. 2. Last time Rhody visited the steel city, the contest was held at D3 La Roche U, and the "hosts" won, 71-69, after the Rams fail to defend a 15-point second-half lead.

Freshman Chad Baker led the Dukes, who trailed by as many as 17 late in the first half, with 19 points, including 5-of-5 from 3-point. Michael Hughes scored 11 of his 15 points in the second half and added 10 rebounds and three blocks for Duquesne, who enter the week at .500 under fourth-year head coach Keith Dambrot. Marcus Weathers added 12 points for DU, while Makhel Mitchell led Rhody with 16 points and 11 rebounds. Duquesne, which shot 50 percent from the floor - including 65 percent in the second half - regained the lead for the first time in the second half on a Hughes bucket that made it 66-65 with 5:23 left. Dambrot did NOT immediately call timeout at that point.

Tavian Dunn-Martin, who scored all nine of his points in the second half, hit one of two free throws with 17 seconds left to make it a two-point game. Fatts drove but missed, before Jeremy Sheppard rebounded the ball and kicked to D.J. Johnson on the left wing. DJ's 3-point attempt was off line as the horn sounded.

Duquesne put the clamps on in the second half, holding the Rams to 33 percent shooting (38 percent for the game). Neither team led by more than four until Rhode Island put together a 12-0 run to turn a 19-18 deficit into a 30-19 lead. DU turned it over four times and missed four shots during the run which was fueled by five points from Sheppard. The Dukes missed six-straight shots before Baker hit a 3-pointer that made it 33-23 with 4:50 left. URI took its largest lead at 44-27 after a D.J. 3-pointer, before the Dukes closed the half with four-straight points to cut the deficit to 44-31. Duquesne, which trailed 50-35 with 17:28 left, battled back to cut it to 62-56 when Weathers was fouled on a dunk and converted the three-point play. Weathers followed with a steal and coast-to-coast dunk that made it 62-58 with just over eight minutes left.

Next time out for Rhody will see them travel to Richmond for the A-10 Tourney, which gets underway March 3. Will they avoid the 2 opening night contests? They're currently in 11th place, but the seeding for teams that play fewer than 60 percent of the median number of conference games among the league's 14 teams will be done according to the NCAA's NET ranking. (How the league will mesh those teams in with the others isn't exactly clear to me, but then again I am a math teacher.) So stay tuned.

Anywho, Wear a Mask & Go Rhody!

Opponent
Record:
7-8, 6-7 in the Atlantic 10
Last season: 21-9, 11-7 in the Atlantic 10

Rankings (URI):
KenPom: 108 (84)
NCAA NET: 127 (99)

Leaders:
Points – Marcus Weathers 14.8 (Sr., F)
Rebounds – Michael Hughes 8.1 (Sr., C)
Assists – Tavian Dunn-Martin 3.4 (Sr., G) (2.4 TO per game)

Historical
Series: 34-27
H: 20-11, A: 14-14, N: 0-2
Most Recent Matchup: 1/20/21 at La Roche Univ in Pitt: DUQ 71, RI 69
Most Recent Win Streak: 1 – DUQ

[Rhodyhooopz]

Yawn. Big stretch!!!! This program is back to the CFL days for me. No excitement, no enthusiasm, too much coach speak that makes no sense.

Good thing they couldn’t have fans in the seats this year or it would really have shown how far they have fallen in 3 years.

Moving on. Nothing to see here.

[section(105)]

.......gluten for more self abuse......will steam it......kinda like looking at the car wreck.......hey wait, we maybe will win in a ladder.......and hope rises again.......maybe the defense shows up.....

[steviep123]

Someone really needs to explain why this game is in Pittsburgh, not Kingston. Same question for yesterday's game.

[ramster]

Don't need to explain why it's in Pittsburgh. This provides a convenient excuse for losing for Cox and the reporters.
We don't overcome obstacles, we invent them.

[ramfan85]

Best part of this game for me is that I don't have ESPN+
Thank you, God.

[RI_Bred]

Hopefully Cox & Co. read this thread prior to the game so they get the scout in.

[Jersey77]

Someone really needs to explain why this game is in Pittsburgh, not Kingston. Same question for yesterday's game.

Probably because of travel schedule with Duquesne. They play in Philly on 2/24, travel back to Pitt on 2/25, then they would have to travel the next day to URI on 2/26 for a 2/27 game. Since we last played on 2/21 we had more time between games for travel.

[steviep123]

Someone really needs to explain why this game is in Pittsburgh, not Kingston. Same question for yesterday's game.

Probably because of travel schedule with Duquesne. They play in Philly on 2/24, travel back to Pitt on 2/25, then they would have to travel the next day to URI on 2/26 for a 2/27 game. Since we last played on 2/21 we had more time between games for travel.

Not our problem - though in these Covid times, I can certainly see it. Still it would be good for someone at the A10 to say, "here's why we are screwing Rhody out of one home game and giving Duquesne 2 home games vs. the same opponent instead of a home and home"

[RF1]

Will this be another choke job for Rhody?

[URIFIJI]

Why are we playing 2 games @ Duquesne this year?? Why is this not a home game?

[ramster]

Or for Thorr, Cox and/or local coverage reporters to ask the A10 the question
It’s clearly bothersome to some - so simply ask.

For me it doesn’t matter

If we lose to Duquesne and then to Fordham or St Joseph’s it makes the decision easy. New coach search in March.

If we are to achieve our goal of NCAA Tournament bid then we must beat Duquesne, Fordham/St Joseph’s and then the next 3 games.

I’m optimistic now but I’ll reserve my HC Grade til we are sent home.

[rambone 78]

Get ready for the coach search.

I hope.

[Jersey77]

Get ready for the coach search.

I hope.

I hope you aren't holding your breath.

[rambone 78]

Yeah I know....we got one more year of this, sad to say.

[reef]

Of Cox wants to save his job he better start winning some games a loss here and to the 14 seed may put him on the firing squad ??

[rambone 78]

Of Cox wants to save his job he better start winning some games a loss here and to the 14 seed may put him on the firing squad ??

reef, URI doesn't hack their coaches like the pros do. Pro teams are owned by billionaires who can afford to eat contracts.

URI moves slowwwwwllllyyyyy. Money, or lack of it, is the motivator here.

If they move after this season, it will only be because the big donors pony up.

[PlayMikeMotenMore]

Of Cox wants to save his job he better start winning some games a loss here and to the 14 seed may put him on the firing squad ??

reef, URI doesn't hack their coaches like the pros do. Pro teams are owned by billionaires who can afford to eat contracts.

URI moves slowwwwwllllyyyyy. Money, or lack of it, is the motivator here.

If they move after this season, it will only be because the big donors pony up.

Spot on, Rambone.

[rambone 78]

The big donors were willing to pony up to keep Dan Hurley.

Will they do the same to pay off Cox, and increase the pool for the next staff?

To get a proven winner in here, it's going to cost more than 750K a year for the coach.

And the assistant pool has to be bigger.

URI itself is probably in no position financially to do it now, or even soon.

The revenue losses due to the pandemic are pretty steep I would guess.

[Rhodymob05]

I still watch to enjoy seeing our team on the floor, and to see Fatts/Shep as much as I can. Our situation sucks, but life is short.

[PeteRI]

.......gluten for more self abuse......will steam it......kinda like looking at the car wreck.......hey wait, we maybe will win in a ladder.......and hope rises again.......maybe the defense shows up.....

I'm trying to go glutton-free, but it's hard for me to go without curbs.

[theblueram]

I'm guessing we lose by 10. Cox pulls Walker around 4 minutes, Carey comes in and turns it over and the big follow is Betrand airballs a 3.

[rambone 78]

I'm guessing we lose by 10. Cox pulls Walker around 4 minutes, Carey comes in and turns it over and the big follow is Betrand airballs a 3.

Groundhog day......deja vu all over again.......

[NYGFan_Section208]

Hopefully Cox & Co. read this thread prior to the game so they get the scout in.

I thought spooky had the scout?

[RI_Rams]

If we lose this game... forget it. Duquesne is horrible.

[section(105)]

......I think we win big, run away......give a false positive to the current situation.......

[ramster]

If we lose this game... forget it. Duquesne is horrible.

And Duquesne already beat us once this season

Can you imagine going back to August and you are told we got waivers unexpectedly for Makhel Mitchell, Makhi Mitchell, Malik Martin, Jalen Carey and Alan Betrand?

And you are then told URI lost both games to UMASS and both games to Duquesne? It could happen.

[RhowdyRam02]

If we lose this game... forget it. Duquesne is horrible.

Duquesne has a better conference record than us and as someone already mentioned beat us head to head. So what does that say about us?

[reef]

Duquesne isn’t that bad they are middle of the pack like us should be a war

[RI_Rams]

It's concerning we're losing to teams we shouldn't like GW. And the fashion in which we are losing.

[ramster]

Game opened Duquesne (-1)
Current spread is pick em.

[reef]

Yup just saw pick em also a true War

[RF1]

Today's game will probably be another disappointing and rather lackluster loss in a season that featured many such outings.

[ramster]

Game opened Duquesne (-1)
Current spread is pick em.

Betting going the way of Duquesne has moved to Duquesne (-1.5)

[RhodyMadness072]

The women’s team is home this weekend. UMass women are also playing their games at the Ryan Center. With four teams already playing I don’t think URI or the league wanted to add another game at the Ryan Center this weekend. That would make 6 teams playing 5 games in 3 days at same location while getting in practices. Not exactly smart for COVID protocols

[reef]

I am taking Rhody tonight

Go Rams !!

[Rhodymob05]

The mentality should be - Leave it all on the floor, just like Dayton. Catch some sort of fire before Virginia. F**K IT! GO RAMS.

[section(105)]

......hello out there........

[reef]

Hello how are you??

We trail 13-6

MM 2 quick fouls

Going to be a very long night

[RhodyRam86]

......hello out there........

haha 105! apparently you and i need a life.

[Rhode_Island_Red]

......hello out there........

Sorry — I was throwing up ...

[steviep123]

Apparently they think the game starts at 8.

[URI_05]

5 min into a game and 3 posts, no one cares anymore. I hope Thorr notices how far we've fallen.

[section(105)]

......hello out there........

Sorry — I was throwing up ...

......must have been the defense they are serving.....

[URI_05]

Ugly start, what's new?

[Blue Man]

Watching Dan Hurley's offense - I don't think we appreciated a constant motion offense where EVERYONE is moving on the floor. Even if the ball stays in the same area with a weave, everyone else is in constant motion to create gaps and lanes for passing, driving, and shooting.

Watch our offense. Iso "whoever has the ball PG" basketball. Dribble high outside. Two wings stay stationary on the 3 point line. 2 guys switch high low. Slow ball movement. Just deplorable to watch.

[Rhode_Island_Red]

How the hell was that an offensive foul?

[section(105)]

.......refs are out to get us......

[Rhody15]

Watching Dan Hurley's offense - I don't think we appreciated a constant motion offense where EVERYONE is moving on the floor. Even if the ball stays in the same area with a weave, everyone else is in constant motion to create gaps and lanes for passing, driving, and shooting.

Watch our offense. Iso "whoever has the ball PG" basketball. Dribble high outside. Two wings stay stationary on the 3 point line. 2 guys switch high low. Slow ball movement. Just deplorable to watch.

My buddy, who watches probably 3-5 games a year, just texted me “How the hell do you watch them every game?”

I think he summed it up pretty well.

[NYGFan_Section208]

Watching Dan Hurley's offense - I don't think we appreciated a constant motion offense where EVERYONE is moving on the floor. Even if the ball stays in the same area with a weave, everyone else is in constant motion to create gaps and lanes for passing, driving, and shooting.

Watch our offense. Iso "whoever has the ball PG" basketball. Dribble high outside. Two wings stay stationary on the 3 point line. 2 guys switch high low. Slow ball movement. Just deplorable to watch.

It's sad when you miss the weave. (I seriously miss the weave)