Ryan Center, Kingston, RI
Wednesday, March 6, 2024
7:00PM
Media
TV: N/A
Online: ESPN +
Radio: Tune In Radio
App: Varsity Network
Live Stats: Stat Broadcast
Previews
George Mason’s Fan Forum
The University of Rhode Island Rams mercifully close out their last home game of the season on Wednesday night when George Mason arrives in Kingston. The Rams have lost 4 home games in a row & are 3 – 5 in conference play at home. Things are even worse when you look at it more broadly, losing 11 of their last 13 home & away. The end result is a somber crowd at the Ryan Center.
Even with the departure of coach Kim English to Providence, who took his two best players with him in Josh Oduro & Ticket Gaines, the Patriots reloaded by hiring Tony Skinn. You could say he has some Skinn in the game as he was a former standout guard on the Mason team that went to the Final Four during that Cinderella run in 2006. The Patriots currently are in 9th place in the conference & are looking to avoid falling into 10th place where they would have to play that opening day in Brooklyn. After upsetting Dayton at home, the Patriots have dropped 3 in a row & are only averaging 57 points per game during this bad stretch. You know they are salivating at the opportunity to put up 80+ points Wednesday night to get their offense back on track before the conference tournament.
George Mason starts a four-guard lineup with UNLV transfer Keyshawn Hall playing the 4. He is leading in points with 17.2 per game & rebounds with 8.4. Hall did miss their last game over the weekend with an ankle injury. It is questionable if he will be ready to play on Wednesday night. Along with Hall, Coach Skinn brought in two additional new players this season & both are averaging in double-digit points per game with guard Darius Maddox (13.8) & starting big man Amari Kelly (11.9). Maddox is a transfer from Virginia Tech & the team’s best three-point shooter & an excellent free throw shooter at 86%. He has scored in double figures in 21 of the last 23 games. He scored 43% of the team’s points in the last game in Hall’s absence. Kelly is a UNC Wilmington transfer who is second on the team in rebounding at 6.3 per game & has 4 double-doubles this season. Running the point for GM is Ronald Polite III. Speaking of the III, he was picked for the A10 preseason 3rd team. His scoring & assist number are down this year, but so are his turnover numbers. He has missed the last two games with an ankle injury & is also questionable for Wednesday night’s game. If Polite & most certainly Hall are unavailable Wednesday night, the Rams will have a chance for the upset win.
As for the Rams, you know anytime you put up 91 at home & still lose, you play some awful defense. The stat that was most alarming to me in the last game was the points off of turnovers. The Rams turned the ball over "just" 12 times but the Billikens scored 27 points off of those turnovers. 27 points!! They scored 2.25 points off each turnover. I have never seen anything like that. If a team is anywhere close to 2 points off of each turnover, it is impressive. 2.25, are you kidding me! Some good news, Cam had a very efficient shooting night, hitting all three of his 3-point attempts. Hopefully he can get some open looks Wednesday night.
The game versus George Mason is senior night & although we don’t have any seniors on the roster, there is one important piece of the Ram family that will have his last game at the Ryan Center Wednesday night. I wanted to give a special shout out to the one & only John Vanner, aka EZ Buckets, on what will be his last game leading the Rhody Rhody Rhody chants from the court. After 17 seasons on the job, he is hanging up his microphone & athletic pants & walking off into the sunset. And when I say sunset, I am referring to section 204 since I am sure that is where you will see him next season. Through the ups and downs of Baron, Hurley, Cox & now Miller, we always had one constant in JV. Rams’ fans were lucky to have such a great hype-man throughout all these years. His job wasn’t always easy, especially during holiday breaks with no students when the team was not good, but he always brought it, each & every game. So please remember to get extra loud when they acknowledge JV. The Newport Propane Minute of Mayhem will never be the same.
Now back to the game. Can the Rams pull off the home upset? If Hall & Polite aren’t playing, they have a decent shot. Like I mentioned earlier, the Patriots have been struggling offensively. Can the Rams keep defense step up & keep them struggling offensively? The Patriots have won the last 3 matchups & have won 2 out of the last 3 times at the Ryan Center. Since it is the last home game of the season, I will do it again. 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 “URI Race to 10”. This might be the CTE setting in from all the losses over the last few season but the Rams are going to win this one for Vanner. My prediction, URI 73 – George Mason 71. Go Rhody!!
Opponent
Record:
18-11, 7-9 in the A10
20-13, 17-7 in the A10 (Last Season)
Rankings (URI):
NCAA NET: 99 (212)
RPI: 79 (175)
KenPom: 105 (212)
BPI: 113 (219)
Barttovik: 104 (199)
Leaders:
Points – Keyshawn Hall 17.2 (Soph., G)
Rebounds – Keyshawn Hall 8.4 (Soph., F)
Assists – Ronald Polite III 2.8 (Sr., G) (1.5 TO per game)
Historical
Series: 7-7
H: 4-4, A: 3-3, N: 0-0
Most Recent Matchup: 1/27/24 92-84 L at George Mason
Most Recent Win Streak: 3 – George Mason
Match-up Predictor: 38.5% Chance of URI Winning