KeaneyBlue - The URI Basketball Forum

I promised myself that if they ever danced, I would go. I caught a break. My best friend lives 40 minutes north of the city. Free lodging! Will fly out Thursday.

TruePoint wrote:Guess who is on the call? Our friend, my love...Roz Gold-Onwude (from the Bonnies game)!

I guess she's now our good luck charm.

By that, I mean in certain situations there will be instances where the fates will intervene. In the sense that perhaps a negative outlook will be transformed into something positive. Leading to a totally different outcome than originally expected. Subsequently, people who initially were going to be upset will suddenly realize their outlook has shifted. You could say it's a sea change because it represents a new beginning, an atmosphere where hope replaces dread, where optimism overcomes pessimism, where..

PLEASE GOD MAKE HER STOP TALKING!!

Nice that we get the second game after Oregon can't wait !!

4:30 is the exact time I have to go work....ugh

I've got family obligations then ... ugh. Thank God for Tivo.

PeterRamTime wrote:4:30 is the exact time I have to go work....ugh

Well I guess its too bad you got "sick" on Friday at 4:30 then..

Yeah no chance im still at my desk 4:30 on friday.. maybe i can commandeer the 85 inch tv in the conference roon though..

rhodysurf wrote:Creighton Forum

http://bluejayunderground.com/viewtopic ... db7aaf5ab8

Reading their board, they are a pretty well informed fan base. So much classier than those VCU freaks. Can't wait for Friday, sounds like a classic March matchup that will go down to the wire.

Go Rhody!!

theblueram wrote:What's the best hotel to get?

We are staying at Vagabond Inn (looks nice). It is 1/2 mile from arena. $200/night with 3 night stay (3 in the room).

TruePoint wrote:Guess who is on the call? Our friend, my love...Roz Gold-Onwude (from the Bonnies game)!

.......maybe she will bring the same back court.....

Holy crap this wasn't a dream...we have an NCAA game this week

Blue Man wrote:Holy crap this wasn't a dream...we have anot NCAA game this week

Hahah that was my first thought waking up. I have had that dream so many times in last 18 years...

We're finally back congrats and thanks to all players and staff

Weekend in Sacramento for game or games and catch a day on slopes in tahoe sounds pretty good to me

We're getting so much hype from so many people!

Love it

yup, pretty universal that we are the under seeded hot team this year. We're shaping up to be the sexy upset pick.

boots to asses

The Hartford Courant broke down the regions this morning. One of the categories was "Cinderella". Guess who for the Midwest? Beware Bluejays!

Blue Man wrote:Holy crap this wasn't a dream...we have an NCAA game this week

That was the nice thing about getting next to zero sleep. Didn't have time to dream, so knew it was reality all along.

So tonight is the 19th anniversary of our first game in the 1998 tournament. Between the A10 game and the Murray State game I think I have plenty to watch tonight to get ready for Friday.

Line opens Creighton -2, currently Creighton -1, with 88% of (very limited thus far) bets being placed on Rhode Island. Seems like we are everyone's darling this year (media included).

Listened to CBS Eye on College Basketball Podcast this AM and Matt Norlander has URI to the elite 8. http://www.cbssports.com/college-basket ... -brackets/

.....NY Daily News....Midwest..."The Slipper. Rhode Island. Beware of the Rams. Once poster boys of the bubble, the fourth seeded Rams ensured their NCAA presence by knocking over everything in their path at the Atlantic 10 championship in Pittsburgh. Led by Danny Hurley of Jersey City, the Rams are a hustling force. Star them as a possible disruptor."

Given Creighton lost their point guard and we have two good ones, I think it's significant to point out how well Dowtin has been playing in the point role.

Since hitting the wall around the St Joes game (zero points, 0-4FG, 1 Asst, 3 TOs), he has responded by putting up these combined numbers.

58.3 FG%
14 Assists
1 Turnover
1.75 Pers Fouls/game
24 minutes/game

And that is the offensive side of it
His defense in taking on JeQuan Lewis (twice down the stretch), Scootchie Smith, Jack Gibbs (twice down the stretch), Jaylen Adams, etc has been superb.
There have also been times when Garrett and Dowtin have been out or the game together and Robinson has done a fine job at PG too.

There have been plenty of times where Dowtin and Garrett have been in the game together and played effectively. Plus Dowtin, Garrett AND Robinson have been in the game all together

Does not need to be one or the other.

Having 3 guys with PG capabilities and excellent defensive abilities has been a competitive advantage for us. Team like Dayton and VCU could not press us and steal the ball like they have done in the past.

A weakness has been only one solid PG in the past, no more.

On top of that they start 2 freshman. We're junior/senior led and battle tough.

And they won't be playing in the friendly confines of their huge arena.

Respect the opponent.
They won 8 games vs. NCAA bound teams.
They have a potential 7' lottery pick.
They went to the finals in the Big East tourney.
They may start two freshmen, but there is experience
coming off the bench.
They are well coached.
It will not be an easy game.

Jon Rothstein likes Rhody also (doesn't he always?)? He talks about the Region of Chaos, Mid-Western region, and Rhody starting at 15:30 into the podcast.

https://soundcloud.com/compass-media/co ... -breakdown

Creighton will be a tough game as they are well coached and the team and its coach are battle tested. Our coach and players will not have that luxury as the NCAA experience will be new to them. All the love that URI is getting to advance will also surely be motivation material for Creighton.

I hate that we will be the trendy upset pick.
Beyond that I like our chances and we match up well here.
Patten, their 7 foot center is most certainly a future NBA'er. He will cause Hassan fits with his length and athleticism.
We have to win the back court battle, by a significant margin.
They are well coached, experienced and fundamentally sound... this will be a war.

Sure Creighton is a good team. The only way forward for us is through them.

We owe them from the NIT.

ESPN's Andy Katz & Seth Greenberg are both picking Rhody as well. Listen starting around 6 minute mark.

http://www.espn.com/espnradio/play?id=18895599

Link will play in the ESPN Mobile app or in your computer's web browser.

Agreed that this will not be easy - no NCAA game ever is. Two things I like about us right now though -

1) we've been in "tournament" mode since after Fordham. Every game was must win to even think about an at large. Then, going into this weekend it was painfully obvious that to feel comfortable was to win through to the final..and really win the whole thing. Tough road - 2 top 100 teams, and a top 25 in their way. How did they respond? 120 minutes of play and they trailed for a total of 43 seconds. It's not like VCU was easy...or other games down the stretch like VCU and Davidson...teams came back. We were down. We closed games out. We punched back. Yes it's not the tournament, but it is still a situation that reveals who you are as a team.

2) Expectations. I think the pre-season ones added a big weight around our necks. Going through that and failing and learning how to live up to them will help. Even if we are the trendy pick I think with the confidence we have right now, we're going into this game thinking we can win. As we've seen...when this team is confident, they're near impossible to beat.

going! Just booked it!

Creighton started favored by -3
In Vegas 4 houses have Creighton - 1.5 while 3 have Creighton -1
They came in 3rd best record in BE and beat PC 2 out of 3 times including in the BE Tournament.
This will be a war.

They also have not really beaten anyone except providence since February (yes Xavier is a good RPI win but they are really depleted).

I'll take our chances. Outside of Nova the BE is overrated this year. No team is particularly better than the top teams in the A10 despite how hard they try to tell you. Respect them, yes. Fear them, hell no!

JUST KEEP WINNING!!!!!

keeping the good luck charm going

......local viewing parties?......something with a very, very, very big TV......corned beef and cabbage......green beer......Rhody win......Rhody Rhody Rhody.....

Antonio should let Preston know that he (ARD) is the Rhody lucky charm. 1999 and 2017. ARD dancing on the court and hugging everyone 18 years apart.

bigappleram wrote:I hate that we will be the trendy upset pick.
Beyond that I like our chances and we match up well here.
Patten, their 7 foot center is most certainly a future NBA'er. He will cause Hassan fits with his length and athleticism.
We have to win the back court battle, by a significant margin.
They are well coached, experienced and fundamentally sound... this will be a war.

I agree with this however, PC beat them at Creighton and PC doesn't have size.

If our improved shooting continues we will have a very good chance.

We just keep getting better and better.

I know we won't go down easy that's for sure

Latest AP Poll... URI receiving 13 votes, Creighton 11 .... the good karma continues !! Go Rams

rodfromcranston wrote:Respect the opponent.
They won 8 games vs. NCAA bound teams.
They have a potential 7' lottery pick.
They went to the finals in the Big East tourney.
They may start two freshmen, but there is experience
coming off the bench.
They are well coached.
It will not be an easy game.

Exactly. Someone mentioned their fans sounding more intelligent than vcu underestimating a basically top 25 team with a great 7 footer "ain't exactly two intelligent"

My hatred for Creighton has begun, can't wait to spend the next few days worrying about this game. I also can't stand all of this "Cinderella talk" from espn and cbs. I like the national attention, but stop putting so much pressure on us. I have faith that this team won't take the bait and will continue on this week up to the game with a huge chip on their shoulder. After the seeing the rams arrive last night, it became real for me and I'm enjoying the shit out of this no matter the result Friday, but I must say, now that we made it, I want more. GO RAMS.

Interesting match up.
What i will be looking for in the first 5 mins is how Hassan
is able to handle length and size of Patton. Could be a tough
matchup for him and will be interesting to see if we go to
immediate double team when Patton gets ball in post.

Also believe it is important that we have a good day shooting the ball
from the outside with Patton's size clogging up the lane.


What an unreal couple of days.
Team was like nothing i had seen all year as it seemed that
team was unable to play a full 40 mins of good basketball and
then they go out and play the best 120 mins of basketball this school has played
in 18 years.


Is it Friday yet? this is gonna be a looong week

Little Red and I will be at the Courtyard Sacramento Downtown. Can't wait!

Still surreal that this is happening! Good for Hassan, Hurley and the rest of the group.

Kinda of crazy to think how the pendulum has swung since the Fordham game. Now URI is the trendy pick on ESPN, CBS, etc.

So glad I was wrong about everything I posted.

That must have been some meeting with Dan and the leaders of this team. Because the Top 25 team came out of that meeting and played.

We can't get into foul trouble early especially Hassan and KI

The way we are playing now I am confident we will pull this game out

bigappleram wrote:I hate that we will be the trendy upset pick.
Beyond that I like our chances and we match up well here.
Patten, their 7 foot center is most certainly a future NBA'er. He will cause Hassan fits with his length and athleticism.
We have to win the back court battle, by a significant margin.
They are well coached, experienced and fundamentally sound... this will be a war.

Yea you have to wonder if the way the media is picking the game (all uri) if creighton should even show up. They did lose Watson but have seemed to regroup play better of late. I have to think their coach is letting them know no one is picking them.

Patton vs. Hassan will be the matchup of the game. Hassan can sometimes struggle against bigger, longer players and Patton definetly fits that bill.