11/23 | Illinois State | 11:00AM (FloSports)

[spookydog]

University of Rhode Island vs Illinois State University
John Gray Gymnasium, George Town, Cayman Islands
Wednesday, November 23, 2022
11:00AM

Media
TV: N/A
Online: FloSports
Radio: Tune In Radio
App: Varsity Network

Previews:
Illinois State Fan Forum

After playing a MUCH better game against Tulane in the second round of the Cayman Islands Classic, the Rams will take on the Illinois State Redbirds Wednesday morning in a battle to not leave paradise winless. Illinois State come into this game at 2-4, having lost both tournament games by double digits to LSU & Western Kentucky. On a side note, they also split an out of conference home & home series with Northwestern State that were played a few days apart. That is something you don’t see too often (excluding the COVID years).

In the preseason, Illinois State was picked to finish 10th in the Missouri Valley Conference. The Redbirds are led by two upperclassmen in Darius Burford & Kendall Lewis. Both are averaging in double figures but have been a bit inconsistent. Lewis had 2 games where he scored in the 20s but also had 2 games where he scored 4 or less. He also has struggled from deep, shooting just 2 for 11. After starting slow this season, Elon transfer Darius Burford has been playing much better as of late, averaging over 17 in his last 4 games. Rhody will have to keep an eye on the transfer from Kansas State, Luke Kasubke. He is by far their best shooter from behind the arc. Illinois State has an 8 man rotation with 2 guys in that rotation at 6’10” but they aren’t too much of an offensive threat. Both teams are averaging over 16 turnovers per contest, so this game could potentially be a bit sloppy.

As for Rhody, I just want to talk about Ish Leggett & how much of a beast he has been this season. I know that Rhody is only 1-5, but if it wasn’t for Ish this team would be winless with all double digit losses. He is the only Ram who has been able to shoot the ball with any consistency. After struggling a bit last season, he is back with a vengeance. He has been the team’s leading scorer in every game, led the teams in half of the games in assists, & even lead the team in rebounds one game. The only aspect of his game that he struggled a bit was 3 point shooting, but that all changed when he went a blistering 7 of 10. He is the first Rhody player since Fatts to hit seven threes in one game, but he shot 3 more than Ish to get 7 made. If you are not there already, jump on the Ish bandwagon cause it’s going to be a fun ride. On a non-Ish related note, it was great to see Freeman play much better, let the game come to him & score how all of us expected. Thank goodness for that. Keep it rolling Bray.

I would like to think Rhody is going to build on how they played against Tulane. I think Rhody might by favored by a couple points. It is never good when you are playing a morning game, but it is what it is. Whichever team can overcome the fatigue of playing its 3rd game in 3 days will win this one. My prediction URI 64 – Illinois St 61. Go Rhody!!

Opponent
Record:
2-4, 0-0 in the Missouri Valley Conference
13-20, 5-13 in the Missouri Valley Conference (Last Season)

Rankings (URI):
NCAA NET: 200 (142)*
RPI: 270 (325)
KenPom: 262 (177)
BPI: 184 (231)
Sagarin: 256 (189)
Barttovik: 248 (176)
* Denotes last season

Leaders:
Points – Darius Burford 12.6 (Jr., G)
Rebounds – Kendall Lewis 8.8 (Sr., F)
Assists – Darius Burford 2.5 (Jr., G) (3.0 TO per game)

Historical
Series: 0-0
H: 0-0, A: 0-0, N: 0-0
Most Recent Matchup: N/A
Most Recent Win Streak: N/A
Match-up Predictor: N/A

[Jdrums#3]

Thanks for the fast turnaround, Spooky. Much appreciated!

Winnable game here if we keep playing like we did tonight. Hope Archie inserts Bray and Westin into the starting lineup for a better start offensively.

First ever game against Ill St. Let’s take it!

[Jersey77]

Thanks for the fast turnaround, Spooky. Much appreciated!

Winnable game here if we keep playing like we did tonight. Hope Archie inserts Bray and Westin into the starting lineup for a better start offensively.

First ever game against Ill St. Let’s take it!

Yes, thanks Spooky

We should at least leave Grand Cayman with a victory here.

Ish has really emerged as the star of this team, what a great turn-around from last season.
Great to see both Bray and Weston starting to become impact players for us.

Bilau returning a little earlier than expected is a nice surprise and addition.

I think we will continue to experience much growing pains, but certainly feel we are headed in the right direction.
I feel very good about this young group of players that our staff assembled.

[adam914]

8am game for me out here on the west coast. Not getting much work done in the morning I guess.

[Blue Man]

I have literally no idea what day it is.

[reef]

8am game for me out here on the west coast. Not getting much work done in the morning I guess.

Same with me bright and early !! This is definitely a win for us

[Rhody72]

Defenses will adjust and Ish will be unable to maintain his current scoring rate. But where defenses take away they will give something up somewhere else. Besides Ish, there is no other offense among the starting five, Bray and Weston must play and feast off the attention Ish will get.

[section(105)]

Team Rankings says…….waiting for their update
Hot off my inbox, they have their #205, #13 A-10 ranked URI with 54% chance to beat their #224 ranked Ill St.

[Rhody15]

Illinois St -4.

[Rhody Sody]

No doubt, expecting a win here unless our shooting is atrocious.
Obviously, it be good for the team to progress throughout the trip and leave with a win. It is so encouraging to see the team improve each game and see progression among players like Leggett.

The biggest issues for me with Cox was seeing progression, seeing a together team on the floor, and virtually no game plan or adjustments. I feel like we are seeing all of that with this team. Each team Cox had started and ended at the same level.

Hope the progression continues today and happy to have Archie.

[spookydog]

Illinois St -4.

I was way off. ha. I took the improvement from last night's game a little too much I guess.

[Jersey77]

Illinois State might currently favored but not totally surprised considering the start to our season.
They do have some size and balanced scoring but like us they also turn the ball over.
I think it will be a very competitive game but feel we will come out on top.

Ish so far has emerged as our star and looking forward to a strong game from Bray and Weston as well.
I also expect solid play out of Martin.

[spookydog]

Illinois St -4.

I was way off. ha. I took the improvement from last night's game a little too much I guess.

I am seeing it as URI -2.5

[ramster]

Redbirds are an excellent FT Shooting team

92-110 for 6 games = 83.6%. Good for 5th among 350+ teams

15.3 points per game from FT line

[Jersey77]

Redbirds are an excellent FT Shooting team

92-110 for 6 games = 83.6%. Good for 5th among 350+ teams

15.3 points per game from FT line

Guessing we can't get into foul trouble.
Don't want to turn this into a FT contest.

[KingstonLane]

Illinois St -4.

I was way off. ha. I took the improvement from last night's game a little too much I guess.

I am seeing it as URI -2.5

According to Action Network, the line opened as -4 Illinois State and has moved significant to now -2.5 for URI.

Clearly some sharps thought that line was way off.

Can’t say I blame Vegas, really hard to know what you’re going to get from our team right now

[KeaneyBluBallz]

I don't like the quick turn around for our guys right now.

Ill. St. by 3

[Blue Man]

Let’s hope we’re healthy. Definitely no Carey. Martin was pretty banged up. Hopefully Tchikou will get back in there.

Big opportunity for Lou and Rory potentially.

[Jersey77]

Let’s hope we’re healthy. Definitely no Carey. Martin was pretty banged up. Hopefully Tchikou will get back in there.

Big opportunity for Lou and Rory potentially.

Blue Man, any word on Carey's injury?

[RhowdyRam02]

Let’s hope we’re healthy. Definitely no Carey. Martin was pretty banged up. Hopefully Tchikou will get back in there.

Big opportunity for Lou and Rory potentially.

This is what the game comes down to me. How many of our guys can play with this turnaround and how much can they give? If we have enough guys that can give a representative performance we should win

[rhodyrudder]

I have literally no idea what day it is.

It’s Winsday!

[ramster]

I was way off. ha. I took the improvement from last night's game a little too much I guess.

I am seeing it as URI -2.5

According to Action Network, the line opened as -4 Illinois State and has moved significant to now -2.5 for URI.

Clearly some sharps thought that line was way off.

Can’t say I blame Vegas, really hard to know what you’re going to get from our team right now

Crazy

BFB3E285-2AC8-43E7-BBC8-A98E10158156.jpeg

[Blue Man]

Martin walked down the stairs and looked normal. I’d expect him in.

Tchikou is available but might be in the dog house for KState.

Carey is doubtful. Hip flares up and then goes away.

[Jersey77]

Martin walked down the stairs and looked normal. I’d expect him in.

Tchikou is available but might be in the dog house for KState.

Carey is doubtful. Hip flares up and then goes away.

Thanks for the update Blue Man

[KingstonLane]

I am seeing it as URI -2.5

According to Action Network, the line opened as -4 Illinois State and has moved significant to now -2.5 for URI.

Clearly some sharps thought that line was way off.

Can’t say I blame Vegas, really hard to know what you’re going to get from our team right now

Crazy

BFB3E285-2AC8-43E7-BBC8-A98E10158156.jpeg

The line probably doesn’t draw a crazy amount of $ bet. Likely didn’t take more than one or two decent sized wagers to move it that much. Books just care about offsetting their liabilities and taking the VIG

[Billyboy78]

No doubt, expecting a win here unless our shooting is atrocious.
Obviously, it be good for the team to progress throughout the trip and leave with a win. It is so encouraging to see the team improve each game and see progression among players like Leggett.

The biggest issues for me with Cox was seeing progression, seeing a together team on the floor, and virtually no game plan or adjustments. I feel like we are seeing all of that with this team. Each team Cox had started and ended at the same level.

Hope the progression continues today and happy to have Archie.

Agree with everything except I think Cox's teams got worse as the season went on, much like many of Baron's teams did.

[RhowdyRam02]

Carey out, Tchiku is dressed

[adam914]

I'm in a college fantasy league and picked up Ish after yesterday's game, so if he starts to struggle now you know who to blame...

[Billyboy78]

Get to the basket today. 3 pointers are tough on a 3rd day in a row. If Ish keeps making them today, he has really strong legs.

[reef]

It’s URI -3.5 now

[RI_Bred]

Let's go boys, I didn't come into the office this morning for nothing...

[section(105)]

Let’s go Brandon!!

[reef]

Bray in for Bassy already

[Jdrums#3]

Is it time for Bray and/or Westin yet?

[Jdrums#3]

Thanks, Reef!

[Jdrums#3]

Bray! Hit those 3’s! Wooo hoooooooo

[reef]

We trail 5-3. 1519

Our defense looks active

Bray with a 3 with the shot clock winding down

[Native]

at the 15:19 mark of the first half,

Illinois State 5, URI 3



just getting started

[Blue Man]

This team makes great adjustments as the game goes on. It’s the first 8 mins that we really seem to struggle.

[Jdrums#3]

Need to keep the turnovers down and keep these birds off the line. They can shoot the freebies.

[SGreenwell]

Stewart in early, so we've gone nine deep before 8 minutes elapsed, ha. (And just like that, he's back out.)

[Jdrums#3]

Rock fight. Better grab my helmet.

[reef]

We trail 9-5. 1128

For those who aren’t watching not missing much except bad play

Rory getting early minutes

Ish cold

[SGreenwell]

Playing 11 a.m. the day after an evening / night game probably doesn't help the offensive efficiency - for either team. Looks like both coaches are going deep to the bench, just to find some fresher legs.

[PeterRamTime]

Need a few to fall so we can get goin

[steveystuds06]

All he does is talk smack about Archie. Yesterday he gave Archie no credit for benching Bray.

[adam914]

Hoping we can hit double digits by the half!

[Jdrums#3]

Before the hoop by Bray we were 2 of 14 from the field and went 5 plus minutes without a point. That’s Rough.

[reef]

We trail 12-8. 756

An absolute rock fight

[KingstonLane]

All he does is talk smack about Archie. Yesterday he gave Archie no credit for benching Bray.

I get what he’s trying to say, that you don’t just hire a coach because of what he did a while ago and set no expectations.

But what he’s missing is people know there are expectations. Reasonable people also realize it’s extremely unrealistic to turn around a program that was in free fall within a season, let alone the first 5 games of your first season. Patience is hard, but I think the worst thing programs do (non blue bloods at least) is put every new coach on super short leashes.