12/2 | Providence | 7:30PM (FS1)

[reef]

Very much agree, Stevey, on the complete game and, which is why I think (like BM posted above), we can’t start Fuch’s this game as I don’t think he’s ready for this and we can’t afford a slow start ( note - these are my reasons for not starting Fuch’s and BM may have different reasoning ).

I think if we start well and play a complete game that we can keep it to 10 or under. Additionally, if we catch some breaks and they are off their game some then, we might even steal the game.

This is a very emotional game so I think anything can happen - even the unlikely outcome.

Full Disclosure: I haven’t seen PC play one minute this season. Just mainly going off who they have returned and Orduro.

My reasoning re: Fuchs is twofold:

1) I think Archie saw it and commented on it with our slow starts and then how well we played in the 2nd half yesterday. It's clear he was talking about the Weston/Fuchs sub.

2) Matchup. Hopkins isn't huge. He's 6'6 and fast. Fuchs is obviously bigger but significantly slower. Weston is a freak athlete who will be able to stay in front of Hopkins. That, or you move Zek to guard the 4 since he's longer and Weston can play the 3. This won't be a game to play a massive front court. You're going to see Cam and Weston a lot in this one.

I actually do think you'll want Fuchs in there for 4-8 mins against their backup bigs that might slot in at the 4. But this will be a Bilau/Brown on Oduro at the 5, and then Foumena for all the rest.

Big coaching test for Archie. Matchups are going to be key.

Hopkins will abuse Fuchs. Agree with your points on matchups.

Agree also on starting JB over Fuchs

I’m ok with Fuchs playing 10-12 minutes a game he’s a frosh and needs to develop and his rebounding per minute numbers are good

[jcru]

Hate 'em. Hate 'em. Hate everything about 'em. Eff that school.

This x 1,000,000,000¹⁰⁰.

Beat the mental hospital!

LOL! How did you get that ^100 in there? I've never seen that before.

[Jersey77]

Hoping we can steal this game at their place.
But with comparing their talent level to ours and the possible matchups, I am expecting this game to get ugly.
At this point, I will be satisfied if we keep it very competitive.

[Rhode_Island_Red]

Hate 'em. Hate 'em. Hate everything about 'em. Eff that school.

This x 1,000,000,000¹⁰⁰.

Beat the mental hospital!

LOL! How did you get that ^100 in there? I've never seen that before.

If you use the full editor, you'll see an icon that says "T²" on the toolbar. That gives you the superscript.

[RI_Bred]

I was wondering how much of a big/rivalry game the current players feel this is compared to all of us old-school/hard-core fans.

Is it just another game to the players at this point? Especially with all of the new guys? I feel like the hype - outside of this board - has fallen off substantially over the past few years. Thoughts?

[Rhody15]

I was wondering how much of a big/rivalry game the current players feel this is compared to all of us old-school/hard-core fans.

Is it just another game to the players at this point? Especially with all of the new guys? I feel like the hype - outside of this board - has fallen off substantially over the past few years. Thoughts?

Zero of our players have ever played @ their place.

Only Austin and Gil have been to a game there as a coach/player.

Majority of our players have zero idea about the rivalry so they probably just see it as another game.

Also it’s fallen off the last few years because we haven’t been good.

[Billyboy78]

I was wondering how much of a big/rivalry game the current players feel this is compared to all of us old-school/hard-core fans.

Is it just another game to the players at this point? Especially with all of the new guys? I feel like the hype - outside of this board - has fallen off substantially over the past few years. Thoughts?

They'll find out soon enough when they're exposed to all of those ignorant fans at the DUMP.

[Falcon]

Didn't Corey and Weston play there last year , 2 years in a row at the DUMP with Fou on the the bench redshirted or am I losing it ?

[bigappleram]

You’re losing it. We played them at the Ryan last year.

While I don’t think the players have anywhere near the same resentment toward each other as the fans they still know what’s what. Our guys still know it’s a big east school up the road that gets a lot of attention. Their guys know it’s a local rivalry and that their fans get up for it. They also know you don’t want to lose to an A10 school in your own state. It’s not the 70s but I don’t think anyone thinks it’s just another game either.

[TruePoint]

Win or lose, Fuck Providence.

[Billyboy78]

For the players. it's definitely not like it used to be. I'm not sure about this current group since most of them just got here, but in recent years, players from both teams would play against or with each other in the summer on the playgrounds in Providence. Most of them became friends. In the old days at the ends of games, players would sometimes have to be separated and escorted to their respective locker rooms. Tomorrow when the game ends, they most likely will hug each other and chat for a bit. While it's a nice thought to be friendly during the holiday season, I still prefer a little bit of the animosity. I mean, that's what a rivalry is, right?

[rjsuperfly66]

The issue is that the down period in the rivalry has created a large section of dismissive fans, at least for the Friars. People who grew up in RI appreciate it, but out of state fans/alumni really don't have heightened interest. It's created further divide between fans who care and those who dont. For the rivalry to return even close to where it was, both programs need to be good for extended periods of time.

[Rhody15]

The issue is that the down period in the rivalry has created a large section of dismissive fans, at least for the Friars. People who grew up in RI appreciate it, but out of state fans/alumni really don't have heightened interest. It's created further divide between fans who care and those who dont. For the rivalry to return even close to where it was, both programs need to be good for extended periods of time.

You guys have held up your part, time for us to get back to consistently winning.

I mean, it didn't get any better than Hurley and Cooley almost throwing down at half court years back. What an atmosphere that was.

Need to get back to that.

I said this last season, but the game last year was the calmest and quietest I've been to in years.

The Ryan Center even put out tickets the morning of because we didn't purchase all of them up.

[PlayMikeMotenMore]

It should be a big game for him. This is probably the best team we will play the rest of the season. He needs to win a game on the road. The win at Dayton over PC in the tourney has nothing to do with here. They have to show that they are growing and playing well in a hostile environment even if they don’t win is a big step.

He "needs" to win a game on the road...? They "have to" show...?

And if they don't win, then what? He's on the hot seat? He should be fired? The season is over? Season is worthless?

(Nobody needs to or has to do anything at this point. URI is 5 games into Archie Miller's second year. Dial it back...chill.)

You have too much coffee today? Relax. No one is expects that to realistically beat PC, but yes they need to start showing that they can at least play with the better teams and have some success on the road. This season the games don’t matter if they win or lose as they aren’t getting an at large bid, but need to keep improving and most importantly keep the key players from transferring so they can make a run next year

OK, so they "need" to keep improving. 1) You can improve and still lose this game or other games. and 2) Improvement is not linear over the course of season. (Let me know if you need me to explain what I mean by that.)

Keeping players from transferring? I don't think any coach has a magic formula for that. Winning teams lose quality players to the transfer portal all the time. Clearly (this isn't a news flash), coaches can't prevent kids from transferring and kids transfer for all different reasons, some valid and some non-sensical. I don't think Archie is worried on 11/28/23 about who may transfer in April of 2024. But maybe, I'm wrong. Maybe that's what Archie is talking about in the huddle in the under 16:00 timeout in the 2nd half.

[Rhody15]

He "needs" to win a game on the road...? They "have to" show...?

And if they don't win, then what? He's on the hot seat? He should be fired? The season is over? Season is worthless?

(Nobody needs to or has to do anything at this point. URI is 5 games into Archie Miller's second year. Dial it back...chill.)

You have too much coffee today? Relax. No one is expects that to realistically beat PC, but yes they need to start showing that they can at least play with the better teams and have some success on the road. This season the games don’t matter if they win or lose as they aren’t getting an at large bid, but need to keep improving and most importantly keep the key players from transferring so they can make a run next year

OK, so they "need" to keep improving. 1) You can improve and still lose this game or other games. and 2) Improvement is not linear over the course of season. (Let me know if you need me to explain what I mean by that.)

Keeping players from transferring? I don't think any coach has a magic formula for that. Winning teams lose quality players to the transfer portal all the time. Clearly (this isn't a news flash), coaches can't prevent kids from transferring and kids transfer for all different reasons, some valid and some non-sensical. I don't think Archie is worried on 11/28/23 about who may transfer in April of 2024. But maybe, I'm wrong. Maybe that's what Archie is talking about in the huddle in the under 16:00 timeout in the 2nd half.

Dusty May somehow managed to keep all the FAU kids when they had less NIL than us. Don't think SDSU had a mass exodus either. Obviously multiple other winning teams did lose kids though.

NIL is important, but isn't the end all be all. Winning still matters to some, evident by a mid major final four team keeping all their guys.

[KingstonLane]

You have too much coffee today? Relax. No one is expects that to realistically beat PC, but yes they need to start showing that they can at least play with the better teams and have some success on the road. This season the games don’t matter if they win or lose as they aren’t getting an at large bid, but need to keep improving and most importantly keep the key players from transferring so they can make a run next year

OK, so they "need" to keep improving. 1) You can improve and still lose this game or other games. and 2) Improvement is not linear over the course of season. (Let me know if you need me to explain what I mean by that.)

Keeping players from transferring? I don't think any coach has a magic formula for that. Winning teams lose quality players to the transfer portal all the time. Clearly (this isn't a news flash), coaches can't prevent kids from transferring and kids transfer for all different reasons, some valid and some non-sensical. I don't think Archie is worried on 11/28/23 about who may transfer in April of 2024. But maybe, I'm wrong. Maybe that's what Archie is talking about in the huddle in the under 16:00 timeout in the 2nd half.

Dusty May somehow managed to keep all the FAU kids when they had less NIL than us. Don't think SDSU had a mass exodus either. Obviously multiple other winning teams did lose kids though.

NIL is important, but isn't the end all be all. Winning still matters to some, evident by a mid major final four team keeping all their guys.

I think going to the Final Four may be the only thing that’s close to a magic bullet lol.

Hard for another program to recruit/steal a kid away with anything other than $ in that case. What’s the pitch “Come here and you can hopefully make the Final Four here too?”

So yes winning matters a lot, directionally. But WINNING WINNING means everything. And only 4 teams a year get that far.

[RhowdyRam02]

Don’t know if it’s an official watch party but Mews would seem to be the spot to watch.

Top level is the best spot to watch games.

Yeah the upper level bar is pretty nice. Good spot to watch the game.

They renovated that whole level during Covid and the first time I went post Covid it was like a whole new spot.

10/10 now.

They seem to recreate that top area every 7-10 years. They did a great job with it this time

[Jdrums#3]

Good NIL/transfer discussion a few posts above.

I wonder what this (NIL, portal, realignment, etc) will all look like in 3 yrs, 5 plus yrs as the kids coming up become acclimated to the new system. Will loyalty matter at all?? Will winning matter as much as now or will short term NIL dollars matter more ? Where do academics fit in the equation? Because many of these kids - due to talent, injury, etc. will not have sustained, prosperous professional careers.

Just wondering because we have plenty of time to kill before Saturday.

[SGreenwell]

OK, so they "need" to keep improving. 1) You can improve and still lose this game or other games. and 2) Improvement is not linear over the course of season. (Let me know if you need me to explain what I mean by that.)

Keeping players from transferring? I don't think any coach has a magic formula for that. Winning teams lose quality players to the transfer portal all the time. Clearly (this isn't a news flash), coaches can't prevent kids from transferring and kids transfer for all different reasons, some valid and some non-sensical. I don't think Archie is worried on 11/28/23 about who may transfer in April of 2024. But maybe, I'm wrong. Maybe that's what Archie is talking about in the huddle in the under 16:00 timeout in the 2nd half.

Dusty May somehow managed to keep all the FAU kids when they had less NIL than us. Don't think SDSU had a mass exodus either. Obviously multiple other winning teams did lose kids though.

NIL is important, but isn't the end all be all. Winning still matters to some, evident by a mid major final four team keeping all their guys.

I think going to the Final Four may be the only thing that’s close to a magic bullet lol.

Hard for another program to recruit/steal a kid away with anything other than $ in that case. What’s the pitch “Come here and you can hopefully make the Final Four here too?”

So yes winning matters a lot, directionally. But WINNING WINNING means everything. And only 4 teams a year get that far.

There were 17 players named to All-Conference teams from the A-10 last year. (At least, I think so.) Of those:

- 6 remain with their original team.
- 3 transferred because their coach took a new job or got fired.
- 6 graduated or went pro.
- 1 was a graduate transfer.
- 1 transferred to a college in New Zealand, his homeland.

If you extend it to the all-freshmen team, then one player actually transferred down (Dayton to San Fran), presumably for family reasons, and RJ Luis went from UMass to St. John's. The other three remain with their original teams. So across 22 players, you essentially had 1 transfer (Luis) that seems like a "mercenary" or monetary-based one.

It sucks that we lost Leggett, who was on the cusp of the all-conference teams, but I think we're probably glad that the looser transfer rules mean that other players on the roster weren't tethered to our team for multiple years. In years past, there are plenty of examples of guys who hung around for multiple years on the roster instead of transferring immediately. If guys like Tertsea and Matthew Butler could have transferred without sitting, they probably would have, like Samb and Thomas and others did this off-season.

[woodennickel1]

I was wondering how much of a big/rivalry game the current players feel this is compared to all of us old-school/hard-core fans.

Is it just another game to the players at this point? Especially with all of the new guys? I feel like the hype - outside of this board - has fallen off substantially over the past few years. Thoughts?

With the current state of college basketball with the portal and nil stuff I seriously doubt you will ever see this rivalry like it was years ago. Very few if any players for both teams will be at their respective schools for the full four years. In fact some will be 1 and 2 year players which in turn imo they will not experience enough to build up the competitive spirit towards the other team.

[Blue Man]

I was wondering how much of a big/rivalry game the current players feel this is compared to all of us old-school/hard-core fans.

Is it just another game to the players at this point? Especially with all of the new guys? I feel like the hype - outside of this board - has fallen off substantially over the past few years. Thoughts?

With the current state of college basketball with the portal and nil stuff I seriously doubt you will ever see this rivalry like it was years ago. Very few if any players for both teams will be at their respective schools for the full four years. In fact some will be 1 and 2 year players which in turn imo they will not experience enough to build up the competitive spirit towards the other team.

A couple years ago our players legit had a brawl with PC players.

Sometimes people forget that our players also go to school here, have friends here, and tend to connect to this.

I think guys like Weston/Foumena/Rory, and the whole coaching staff that witnessed it here last year realized and realized quick what this means to the fans.

I don't think Archie/Duane/KJ truly understood what the rivalry was last year, but I think they understood after the game.

I think both sides will be incredibly invested.

[Rhodymob05]

Players get it once they’ve played in it, but so many players move around and every year now we’ll have guys who’ve never experienced it. Still a high intensity game though. Fan wise it’ll never die, I’m already going back and forth with my PC fan buddies.

[reef]

I’m going to guess we will be +8.5 or +9 on the opening line

[STC]

I’m going to guess we will be +8.5 or +9 on the opening line

I'm thinking similarly to you, reef. I would guess PC -10.5 or -11 to open.

[Jdrums#3]

Keep in mind I haven’t watched the Friars this season and I get that they have more top end talent with Hopkins,
Oduro and perhaps Carter. But, when I look at their wins so far and their team stats, are they really significantly better than us ?

Looking at their wins, other than Wisconsin, nothing really stands out.

Statistically, they turn the ball over a lot (almost 15/game), shoot okay from 3 (30%), shoot okay from the line (69%) and rebound well.

Not wins and stats of a dominant team to date, to me.

Yes, they are home and have an experience edge on us but, with their performance to date, they don’t have me shaking in my boots. I think with Bilau back and if we play like we did in the 2nd half against Yale, keep a lid on Hopkins and Oduro by keeping them each under 20 pts, and don’t give them a big rebounding advantage, I think we can hang with them.

Have the Friars been mostly half-assing it to date ?

What am I missing ? Am I dramatically underrating them ?

[LoveThoseRams]

Playing Wagner tonight...should get a sense or comparison.

[PeterRamTime]

Keep in mind I haven’t watched the Friars this season and I get that they have more top end talent with Hopkins,
Oduro and perhaps Carter. But, when I look at their wins so far and their team stats, are they really significantly better than us ?

Looking at their wins, other than Wisconsin, nothing really stands out.

Statistically, they turn the ball over a lot (almost 15/game), shoot okay from 3 (30%), shoot okay from the line (69%) and rebound well.

Not wins and stats of a dominant team to date, to me.

Yes, they are home and have an experience edge on us but, with their performance to date, they don’t have me shaking in my boots. I think with Bilau back and if we play like we did in the 2nd half against Yale, keep a lid on Hopkins and Oduro by keeping them each under 20 pts, and don’t give them a big rebounding advantage, I think we can hang with them.

Have the Friars been mostly half-assing it to date ?

What am I missing ? Am I dramatically underrating them ?

They have some long form highlights on YouTube.

Like this

[Jdrums#3]

Keep in mind I haven’t watched the Friars this season and I get that they have more top end talent with Hopkins,
Oduro and perhaps Carter. But, when I look at their wins so far and their team stats, are they really significantly better than us ?

Looking at their wins, other than Wisconsin, nothing really stands out.

Statistically, they turn the ball over a lot (almost 15/game), shoot okay from 3 (30%), shoot okay from the line (69%) and rebound well.

Not wins and stats of a dominant team to date, to me.

Yes, they are home and have an experience edge on us but, with their performance to date, they don’t have me shaking in my boots. I think with Bilau back and if we play like we did in the 2nd half against Yale, keep a lid on Hopkins and Oduro by keeping them each under 20 pts, and don’t give them a big rebounding advantage, I think we can hang with them.

Have the Friars been mostly half-assing it to date ?

What am I missing ? Am I dramatically underrating them ?

They have some long form highlights on YouTube.

Like this

Thanks. I will check them out.

[Rhody15]

Keep in mind I haven’t watched the Friars this season and I get that they have more top end talent with Hopkins,
Oduro and perhaps Carter. But, when I look at their wins so far and their team stats, are they really significantly better than us ?

Looking at their wins, other than Wisconsin, nothing really stands out.

Statistically, they turn the ball over a lot (almost 15/game), shoot okay from 3 (30%), shoot okay from the line (69%) and rebound well.

Not wins and stats of a dominant team to date, to me.

Yes, they are home and have an experience edge on us but, with their performance to date, they don’t have me shaking in my boots. I think with Bilau back and if we play like we did in the 2nd half against Yale, keep a lid on Hopkins and Oduro by keeping them each under 20 pts, and don’t give them a big rebounding advantage, I think we can hang with them.

Have the Friars been mostly half-assing it to date ?

What am I missing ? Am I dramatically underrating them ?

Not too many P6 teams have multiple top end wins this early in the season. Wisconsin was favored @ The AMP and just beat a ranked UVA team by 20+. That’s a very good win for PC.

They have one of the best perimeter defenders in the country in Carter. Has also stepped up his offensive output.

Potential 1st round pick in Dual, long and athletic.

All League player is Hopkins.

One of the best players in the A10 the last 4 seasons in Oduro.

A scrappy, athletic defender in Gaines.

A shifty point guard in Pierre (if he plays)

Freak 6’11 athlete in Castro.

And of course, they rarely lose at home to anyone.

We’ll need to play an A+ game, they’ll need to play a D game for us to win.

[RI_Bred]

Would like to hear an honest opinion from one of our resident PC fans that post here...

[theblueram]

Keep in mind I haven’t watched the Friars this season and I get that they have more top end talent with Hopkins,
Oduro and perhaps Carter. But, when I look at their wins so far and their team stats, are they really significantly better than us ?

Looking at their wins, other than Wisconsin, nothing really stands out.

Statistically, they turn the ball over a lot (almost 15/game), shoot okay from 3 (30%), shoot okay from the line (69%) and rebound well.

Not wins and stats of a dominant team to date, to me.

Yes, they are home and have an experience edge on us but, with their performance to date, they don’t have me shaking in my boots. I think with Bilau back and if we play like we did in the 2nd half against Yale, keep a lid on Hopkins and Oduro by keeping them each under 20 pts, and don’t give them a big rebounding advantage, I think we can hang with them.

Have the Friars been mostly half-assing it to date ?

What am I missing ? Am I dramatically underrating them ?

Not too many P6 teams have multiple top end wins this early in the season. Wisconsin was favored @ The AMP and just beat a ranked UVA team by 20+. That’s a very good win for PC.

They have one of the best perimeter defenders in the country in Carter. Has also stepped up his offensive output.

Potential 1st round pick in Dual, long and athletic.

All League player is Hopkins.

One of the best players in the A10 the last 4 seasons in Oduro.

A scrappy, athletic defender in Gaines.

A shifty point guard in Pierre (if he plays)

Freak 6’11 athlete in Castro.

And of course, they rarely lose at home to anyone.

We’ll need to play an A+ game, they’ll need to play a D game for us to win.

P4/be. The Pac is no longer in existence.

[Rhody15]

Keep in mind I haven’t watched the Friars this season and I get that they have more top end talent with Hopkins,
Oduro and perhaps Carter. But, when I look at their wins so far and their team stats, are they really significantly better than us ?

Looking at their wins, other than Wisconsin, nothing really stands out.

Statistically, they turn the ball over a lot (almost 15/game), shoot okay from 3 (30%), shoot okay from the line (69%) and rebound well.

Not wins and stats of a dominant team to date, to me.

Yes, they are home and have an experience edge on us but, with their performance to date, they don’t have me shaking in my boots. I think with Bilau back and if we play like we did in the 2nd half against Yale, keep a lid on Hopkins and Oduro by keeping them each under 20 pts, and don’t give them a big rebounding advantage, I think we can hang with them.

Have the Friars been mostly half-assing it to date ?

What am I missing ? Am I dramatically underrating them ?

Not too many P6 teams have multiple top end wins this early in the season. Wisconsin was favored @ The AMP and just beat a ranked UVA team by 20+. That’s a very good win for PC.

They have one of the best perimeter defenders in the country in Carter. Has also stepped up his offensive output.

Potential 1st round pick in Dual, long and athletic.

All League player is Hopkins.

One of the best players in the A10 the last 4 seasons in Oduro.

A scrappy, athletic defender in Gaines.

A shifty point guard in Pierre (if he plays)

Freak 6’11 athlete in Castro.

And of course, they rarely lose at home to anyone.

We’ll need to play an A+ game, they’ll need to play a D game for us to win.

P4/be. The Pac is no longer in existence.

Dude Jesus Christ man

The Pac 12 is a conference this season in college basketball. It wholeheartedly exists right now.

Do you not understand that?

The Big East is a power conference for basketball and one of the best in America.


Thus, P6 in basketball.

[rjsuperfly66]

PC hasn't hit its stride yet. Most of that is offensively, where their top perimeter shooters are well-off career percentages (Hopkins, CFJ, Gaines). PC basically played the last three games without starting PG (Pierre) and beat Georgia without either of its two PGs (Dual was suspended). Pierre looks close to a return (not playing tonight), I'd bet he's out there Saturday night.

I think talent/athletically, it's a noticeable lean towards PC, but I also worry about how you guys handle the moment. Our guys have had the chance to play multiple games in front of a hyped/engaged Amp. If the moment is too big from the jump, we'll grab a lead and never look back.

[section(105)]

Always my concern taking the bus to Providence, and the players first in your face hostile environment in the PCC/Dunk/Dump/Amp/Cooley Center . No time for weak knees. Gotta respond to the first punch.

[KevanBoyles]

Scouting PC tonight against Wagner on FOX one sports.

[Rhode_Island_Red]

Always my concern taking the bus to Providence, and the players first in your face hostile environment in the PCC/Dunk/Dump/Amp/Cooley Center . No time for weak knees. Gotta respond to the first punch.

Still waiting for the results of the investigation into the attack on Rhody.

[section(105)]

Always my concern taking the bus to Providence, and the players first in your face hostile environment in the PCC/Dunk/Dump/Amp/Cooley Center . No time for weak knees. Gotta respond to the first punch.

Still waiting for the results of the investigation into the attack on Rhody.

Maybe that will be part of the cold case file that a new state prosecutor inherited?

[reef]

I’m going to guess we will be +8.5 or +9 on the opening line

I'm thinking similarly to you, reef. I would guess PC -10.5 or -11 to open.

You may be correct or somewhere in the middle !

[KevanBoyles]

Gaines is 5-7 from 3. 33-19 under 4.

[RamStock]

He "needs" to win a game on the road...? They "have to" show...?

And if they don't win, then what? He's on the hot seat? He should be fired? The season is over? Season is worthless?

(Nobody needs to or has to do anything at this point. URI is 5 games into Archie Miller's second year. Dial it back...chill.)

You have too much coffee today? Relax. No one is expects that to realistically beat PC, but yes they need to start showing that they can at least play with the better teams and have some success on the road. This season the games don’t matter if they win or lose as they aren’t getting an at large bid, but need to keep improving and most importantly keep the key players from transferring so they can make a run next year

OK, so they "need" to keep improving. 1) You can improve and still lose this game or other games. and 2) Improvement is not linear over the course of season. (Let me know if you need me to explain what I mean by that.)

Keeping players from transferring? I don't think any coach has a magic formula for that. Winning teams lose quality players to the transfer portal all the time. Clearly (this isn't a news flash), coaches can't prevent kids from transferring and kids transfer for all different reasons, some valid and some non-sensical. I don't think Archie is worried on 11/28/23 about who may transfer in April of 2024. But maybe, I'm wrong. Maybe that's what Archie is talking about in the huddle in the under 16:00 timeout in the 2nd half.

Obviously in this new world of college basketball it is almost impossible to keep all your players. You can keep your lesson on improvement. I’m sure your magic formula is that URI will just make the tournament in year 3 or 4 because that is the natural progression under Archie Miller despite not knowing what players will be here? Florida Atlantic made it work and although this is a rare situation in todays college basketball it is the best way to achieve success for Archie. This is a one bid league most years and even if URI goes 22-9 they aren’t getting an at large bid. I’m not sure what your hope is. You might be fine with topping out at 19-12 over the next couple years and just missing out on the NIT? This might be your definition of gradual improvement. I want them to make the tournament t again. They are obviously better this year, but if they have to start over again next year than making the tourney is no guarantee under Archie

[rjsuperfly66]

You have too much coffee today? Relax. No one is expects that to realistically beat PC, but yes they need to start showing that they can at least play with the better teams and have some success on the road. This season the games don’t matter if they win or lose as they aren’t getting an at large bid, but need to keep improving and most importantly keep the key players from transferring so they can make a run next year

OK, so they "need" to keep improving. 1) You can improve and still lose this game or other games. and 2) Improvement is not linear over the course of season. (Let me know if you need me to explain what I mean by that.)

Keeping players from transferring? I don't think any coach has a magic formula for that. Winning teams lose quality players to the transfer portal all the time. Clearly (this isn't a news flash), coaches can't prevent kids from transferring and kids transfer for all different reasons, some valid and some non-sensical. I don't think Archie is worried on 11/28/23 about who may transfer in April of 2024. But maybe, I'm wrong. Maybe that's what Archie is talking about in the huddle in the under 16:00 timeout in the 2nd half.

Obviously in this new world of college basketball it is almost impossible to keep all your players. You can keep your lesson on improvement. I’m sure your magic formula is that URI will just make the tournament in year 3 or 4 because that is the natural progression under Archie Miller despite not knowing what players will be here? Florida Atlantic made it work and although this is a rare situation in todays college basketball it is the best way to achieve success for Archie. This is a one bid league most years and even if URI goes 22-9 they aren’t getting an at large bid. I’m not sure what your hope is. You might be fine with topping out at 19-12 over the next couple years and just missing out on the NIT? This might be your definition of gradual improvement. I want them to make the tournament t again. They are obviously better this year, but if they have to start over again next year than making the tourney is no guarantee under Archie

And that's why NIL collectives are so important... You can't pay everyone but can you get your top 3-4 players $100k a year? If you can do that, you can be competitive. The back-channel whispers with figures are there and you need to be semi-competitive to keep talented guys on the roster. For many kids, that's life-changing money. I don't blame them for wanting it if it's there. Those who yearn for the old way and aren't down for "paying for players" are only hurting themselves.

[steveystuds06]

Keep in mind I haven’t watched the Friars this season and I get that they have more top end talent with Hopkins,
Oduro and perhaps Carter. But, when I look at their wins so far and their team stats, are they really significantly better than us ?

Looking at their wins, other than Wisconsin, nothing really stands out.

Statistically, they turn the ball over a lot (almost 15/game), shoot okay from 3 (30%), shoot okay from the line (69%) and rebound well.

Not wins and stats of a dominant team to date, to me.

Yes, they are home and have an experience edge on us but, with their performance to date, they don’t have me shaking in my boots. I think with Bilau back and if we play like we did in the 2nd half against Yale, keep a lid on Hopkins and Oduro by keeping them each under 20 pts, and don’t give them a big rebounding advantage, I think we can hang with them.

Have the Friars been mostly half-assing it to date ?

What am I missing ? Am I dramatically underrating them ?

They should kill us and probably will. Much better than we are on paper. But anything can happen in a rivalry game. I think we are down double digits for most of the game and cut it to under 10 a few times but the game will never be in doubt.

[RI_Bred]

Putting a b!tch beating on Wagner currently...

[bigappleram]

It’s great that they are getting fat on Wagner. Much better than them struggling and getting crushed at practice next few days. Strategery people.

[steveystuds06]

I'm not going to lie, guys. I used to get so excited about these games. Now that we have a slim chance at best every year, it no longer gets me hyped up. I go into these games expecting to get spanked. Hopefully, next year at home, we will be more evenly matched. I think PC will get a little worse under English. He's not Ed Cooley.

I was talking to Dawan Robinson the other day and I sent him some clips of him dominating PC. Man, I wish he was still around.

[reef]

The line may be 10 or 11 after this dismantling, I think we have a good shot to cover that , It will be a stretch to win this outright on the road

[rhodysurf]

PC had to shoot like 5% from 3 to beat Wagner, and instead they shot 50 lol Wagner never had a chance

[Jdrums#3]

Keep in mind I haven’t watched the Friars this season and I get that they have more top end talent with Hopkins,
Oduro and perhaps Carter. But, when I look at their wins so far and their team stats, are they really significantly better than us ?

Looking at their wins, other than Wisconsin, nothing really stands out.

Statistically, they turn the ball over a lot (almost 15/game), shoot okay from 3 (30%), shoot okay from the line (69%) and rebound well.

Not wins and stats of a dominant team to date, to me.

Yes, they are home and have an experience edge on us but, with their performance to date, they don’t have me shaking in my boots. I think with Bilau back and if we play like we did in the 2nd half against Yale, keep a lid on Hopkins and Oduro by keeping them each under 20 pts, and don’t give them a big rebounding advantage, I think we can hang with them.

Have the Friars been mostly half-assing it to date ?

What am I missing ? Am I dramatically underrating them ?

They should kill us and probably will. Much better than we are on paper. But anything can happen in a rivalry game. I think we are down double digits for most of the game and cut it to under 10 a few times but the game will never be in doubt.

I hear ya, Stevey. I am wearing pre-game rose colored glasses for now and trying to talk myself into a win.

Clearly, it is our toughest game to date for multiple reasons.

Now, permit me to put my rose colored glasses back on.

[Rhodymob05]

We're constantly in a rebuild, they've been cruising for 10 years or more. Archie is the key to sustainability and should help flip the script.

[The Dude]

I think the only chance URI has of winning the game is if they limit their turnovers, rebound well, & don't allow PC to get good 3pt shots.