Ryan Center, Kingston, RI
Thursday, November 9, 2023
7:00PM
Media
TV: N/A
Online: ESPN +
Radio: Tune In Radio
App: Varsity Network
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
Previews
Fairfield Fan Forum
GoRhody Game Notes
After disposing of a team from the middle of Connecticut, the Rams welcome a team from western Connecticut to the Ryan Center for game 2 of the season Thursday night. After losing their first game of the season to Boston College, the Fairfield Stags travel 2 hours east to take on the Rams in Kingston. The college basketball season just started & there already has been some turmoil in Fairfield. A couple weeks ago, Fairfield’s coach Jay Young unexpectedly stepped down seemingly out of the blue. Assistant coach Chris Casey is now serving as Interim Head Coach.
Preseason polls picked Fairfield to finish in the middle of the pack at sixth in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. Guard Caleb Fields was a preseason second team award winner while forward Alexis Yetna was a preseason third team award winner. Both players did not play in the opening game against Boston College, so I am assuming they both are dinged up. It is definitely a safe assumption that Alexis Yetna is hurt since he has missed three full seasons due injuries & I think he is one of the oldest players in the league. Hell, he is almost as old as URI QB Kasim Hill & that is saying something.
After the first game, the Stags leading scorer former Friar Brycen Goodine, who poured in 22 in Chestnut Hill. Goodine also had a team high 3 assists in that game along with Jasper Floyd. Floyd did commit 5 turnovers, so hopefully URI can apply some pressure on him & get some easy baskets of turnovers. They have some height downlow with freshman Peyton Smith, who is 6’ 10” tall. Smith went for 12 & 6 in his first collegiate game.
For the Rams, they come into this contest 1-0 after easily taking down Central Connecticut State. They took the lead 4 and a half minutes in & never looked back. They had a great six-minute stretch where they went on a 15-0 run early on the second half. Rhody got a little sloppy allowing the Blue Devils to cut the 25-point lead by more than half. Another positive was the efficiency from the floor. The bigs shot a combined 9 for 15. The Rams will need to clean up the free throw shooting a bit as they shot an abysmal 12 for 23.
The Rams have never lost to Fairfield & look for that trend to continue Thursday night. I am looking for more of the same from the Rams. Hopefully Kortright will get some more touches & the shots fall. Other than that, more of the same please. I think this game will be a little bit more competitive with Rhody pulling away late for the win & cover. My prediction, URI 75 – Fairfield 63. Go Rhody!!
Opponent
Record:
0-1, 0-0 in the MAAC
15-15, 11-9 in the MAAC (Last Season)
Rankings (URI):
NCAA NET: 262 (263)*
RPI: 251 (278)
KenPom: 260 (194)
BPI: 324 (268)*
Sagarin: 260 (229)*
Barttovik: 267 (178)
*Denotes Last Season Rankings
Leaders:
Points – Brycen Goodine 22.0 (Sr., G)
Rebounds – Louis Bleechmore/Jasper Floyd/Peyton Smith 6.0 (Sr., G / Jr., G / Fr., F)
Assists – Jasper Floyd 3.0 (Jr., G) (5.0 TO per game), Brycen Goodine 3.0 (Sr., G) (2.0 TO per game)
Historical
Series: 5-0
H: 3-0, A: 1-0, N: 1-0
Most Recent Matchup: 12/20/09 89-84 W at URI
Most Recent Win Streak: 5 - URI
Match-up Predictor: 75.9% Chance of URI Winning