Ryan Center, Kingston, RI
Wednesday, January 24, 2024
7:00PM
Media
TV: N/A
Online: ESPN +
Radio: Tune In Radio
App: Varsity Network
Live Stats: Stat Broadcast
Previews
Fordham’s Fan Forum
Hope everyone is sitting because I’m about to ruffle some feathers with this next statement, but I feel like it must be said. These last 2 games were less than ideal. There, I said this hot take. It is out there & now we all must deal with it. As we all painfully know, the Rams lost back-to-back games by 30+ points. By my count, the last time we lost back-to-back games by 30+ points was the last year of Jerry D in 2000-2001. For those of you who don’t recall how horrific that 7-win season was, I will give you some context. Losing any game by 30 points is difficult, but not only did they lose consecutive games by that margin, but they also lost 3 out of 5 games by 30+, & an astounding 4 out of 8 games. For good measure we can throw in an additional 3 games they lost between 20-29 points. To say it was a tough time in Kingston is putting it mildly. The good news about today’s team is that we have a real coach & not that fraud Jerry D. In a couple years when we are celebrating an A10 championship, these 2 games will just be a little blip in the process.
To start this new chapter, the Rams welcome their fellow Rams from the Bronx to town Wednesday night. After a promising start to the Keith Urgo era at Fordham last season, the Bronx Rams have struggled so far this year. Picked in the middle of the pack in the preseason A10 poll, they are under .500 on the season & just 2-3 in the A10 although one of those wins was at St. Bonaventure. They have some horrible losses at home to the likes of NJIT & Central Connecticut. Part of Fordham’s struggles could be linked to poor 3-point shooting as they are in the mid-200s amongst all D1 schools shooting it at just 32.5% for the year.
The Rams of Fordham have a balanced offensive attack. UTSA transfer Japhet Medor is leading team in scoring at 12.7 per game & is also the team leader in 3 pointers made. He did get hurt last week & did not play in their last game against Loyola, so I am unsure if he will be playing Wednesday night. If he doesn’t play, Will Richardson will have to step up. He is second on the team in scoring at 10.5 per game but not a terribly efficient shooter, shooting it at 32% on the season. He has scored in double figured 6 of his last 7 games. Playing better as the season has progressed is forward Elijah Gray. Although playing less than 20 minutes per game, he is still averaging just over 10 & 4.6 rebounds per game. He has scored in double digits in every conference game this season. Conversely, he only did that in one third of his nonconference games. The final piece to keep an eye on offensively is Lafayette transfer Joshua Rivera. He missed some time over the holiday break but is averaging just a tick under 10 per game. Defensively they do have 2 players on the preseason all-defensive team in Abdou Tsimbila & Kyle Rose. Tsimbila is leading the team in rebounding at 7.4 per game & has almost half of the teams blocks with 44. Rose, a 5th year senior, is leading the team in steals with over 2 per game. They force turnovers unlike Rhody but do turn the ball over at a higher rate.
My biggest concern isn’t the drinking problem I developed after these last 2 games; my main concern is these last 2 games may have messed them up mentally. They looked lackadaisical & lost out there. Dayton sat Holmes for most of the second half & the Flyers still expanded their lead. Besides House, no one looked good out there. There was no defensive intensity & somehow only forced 2 turnovers all game. Since the start of conference play, teams are shooting 48% against the Rams.
Will being back in the Ryan Center help Rhody get the victory? This is the first conference game that students are back, so hopefully that will be a big lift. A nice loud, hydrated crowd could be just what the doctor ordered. Speaking of hydration, anyone that comes to me at the corner of the bar at Shaidzon between 4-6:40 Wednesday before the game gets a free Buffalo Czech on me. Just come by & say Race to 10. Rhody should be slightly favored at home Wednesday night. They will need a complete 180 to get the win Wednesday even with a struggling Fordham team coming to town. Unfortunately, I think they are still in their own head. Please prove me wrong. My prediction, Fordham 75 – URI 74. Go Rhody!!
Opponent
Record:
8-10, 2-3 in the A10
25-8, 12-6 in the A10 (Last Season)
Rankings (URI):
NCAA NET: 193 (199)
RPI: 242 (129)
KenPom: 199 (195)
BPI: 198 (209)
Barttovik: 193 (184)
Leaders:
Points – Japhet Medor 12.7 (Sr., G)
Rebounds – Abdou Tsimbila 7.4 (Sr., F)
Assists – Antrell Charlton 3.2 (Sr., G) (1.7 TO per game)
Historical
Series: 41-31
H: 21-11, A: 19-19, N: 1-1
Most Recent Matchup: 2/25/23 74-71 L at Fordham
Most Recent Win Streak: 1 – Fordham
Match-up Predictor: 60.9% Chance of URI Winning