KeaneyBlue - The URI Basketball Forum

After the Brown game, there is a short turnaround to get to Baton Rouge. I assume we are using a charter but what is the weather like in RI Friday? Will they delay and leave Saturday AM? If Jim B was here, he would already have his excuse for what will be a very tough game even without weather worries.

Shouldn't be an issue getting out Friday afternoon/evening.

Time changed to 530 eastern, 430 central.

10 am charter tomorrow morning

The game time was changed to allow fans to see the LSU game against URI and get home to watch the playoff game between the Philadelphia Eagles versus New Orleans Saints which kicks-off at 8 PM EST in Philly. All parties involved agreed to change.

Game will be televised by Cox and will be available on OSN.

No TV according to my TV "guide".

Sorry, the Cox website says it will be televised, the LSU website says it will be televised, the gorhody.com site under BB schedule shows TV: OSN.

Here's the Cox link. Disregard the list and read the third paragraph. After George Mason, the LSU game is the second road contest to be televised. Two more road contest will be televised - La Salle and St. Joseph's.

http://coxsportsonline.com/uri-mens-bas ... ox-sports/

SNY games - not mentioned on gorhody, For those who do not get OSN

2/1 7:00 PM URI at Fordham
2/12 7:00PM Rhode Island at Dayton
2/15 12:00 PM Duquesne at URI
3/1 2:00 PM Richmond at Rhode Island

A10 digital network - not mentioned on gorhody

2/22 3:45 PM at St. Bonaventure (free stream)

LSU is pretty good, hopefully we can give them a game

wakefield wrote:SNY games - not mentioned on gorhody, For those who do not get OSN

2/1 7:00 PM URI at Fordham
2/12 7:00PM Rhode Island at Dayton
2/15 12:00 PM Duquesne at URI
3/1 2:00 PM Richmond at Rhode Island

A10 digital network - not mentioned on gorhody

2/22 3:45 PM at St. Bonaventure (free stream)

Also, I have listed the 3/5 Fordham game at 7pm on SNY too.

The Lsu board is saying espn3

Yep it's on the list for ESPN3.

from the website
LSU wraps up non-conference action with its third straight Saturday home game and its third tilt against an Atlantic 10 opponent as Rhode Island visits the Maravich Center. Tip time is on-tap for 7 p.m., and the game will carried by Cox Sports Television along with http://www.WatchESPN.com.
The LSU Sports Radio Network will broadcast the game on Eagle 98.1 FM in the Baton Rouge and inside the Geaux Zone at LSUsports.net/live. Jim Hawthorne, Ricky Blanton and Kevin Ford will call the action.
For all of the latest news and information on Tiger basketball, visit http://www.lsusports.net/basketball. Fans can also follow the program on its social media outlets at http://www.Facebook.com/lsubasketball along with @lsubasketball and @lsucoachjones on Twitter.

Does anyone know if this is a "buy" game, a "one and done", or a home and home series.

I thought I saw it was a buy game.

ESPN3, very nice! Guess I will be able to see this one after all.

OK, so where is this game going to be for people here in RI?
Is Cox broadcasting it or not?

gorhody says it's on OSN (5/1005 on cox)

Gorhody isn't always up to date. The OSN tag has been there since the TV
schedule came out.

It says it in the game notes posted today as well. So that would be more up to date and (hopefully) accurate.

http://gorhody.com/sports/m-baskbl/2013 ... 0103qlpqdx

that's what i referred to

Some info on the LSU Tigers:
• Coached by Johnny Jones, LSU ‘85, in his second year.
• Brought in a consensus Top Ten recruiting class this season.
• Record: 9-2. The two losses were at UMass and Memphis.
• Front court is anchored by Johnny O’Bryant, 6-9, 256 lbs. A NBA prospect. Last season O’Bryant had 12 double-doubles in SEC games.
• This season O’Bryant is aided by two freshmen, Jarell Martin and Jordan Mickey which gives LSU one of the beefiest and best front courts in the nation.
• Seasoned backcourt in Anthony Hickey and Andre Stringer with each averaging 10-12 points per game. Both have outstanding Assist to Turnover ratios, ranging from 2.5 -3.5.
• High scoring team , PPG is 78.7, FG% - .462, 3-point FG% -.345, FT% - .671.
• Six players have scoring averages above 8 ppg. O'Bryant is the leading scorer at 15.1 ppg.
• Rebounding – 43.2 per game, rebounding margin +7
• Common foe to Date: McNeese State. URI won their encounter, 76-71, after blowing a 21 point second half lead. LSU beat them 79-52.
• Blue Ribbon forecast was for the Tigers to finish #4 in the SEC and get a NCAA bid.
• Tough match-up for the Rams. Prediction : LSU 78-61.

Likely Starters:

Sounds like the small lineup wont work against these guys. Inevitable Biruta and Iffy foul trouble could be deadly.

Good stuff Obadiah. Thanks.

Maybe the small lineup creates a mismatch for their bigs. A long as Hassy is able to protect the rim we have a shot at staying in the game

Hassan will have to contain O'Bryant. Tough one.

EC will have 6" on his man. Could have, and will need, a big game from him again.

TJ will take one of their other forwards, who has 6" on him. Another tough one.

The other 6'9" forward will probably run wild on Gil or O. Oh well.

X will have several inches on his man. Another 25 from him wouldn't hurt.

I think we hang with them, but they pull away late, same type of game as Southern Miss.

Same type of game as SMU? That's why I'm worried about

You're thinking of Southern Methodist in November, Iggy.

That was a blowout after the first 10 minutes. Southern Miss was a close game until the last 3-4 minutes.

I think this team, for the most part, has turned the corner to be at least competitive in most of it's remaining games, especially at home.

They'll need to be, for the schedule the next few weeks isn't easy. No more cupcakes, yes not even Duquesne, the rest of this season.

I think we can beat GMU and maybe LaSalle the next two weeks. If we do that, a .500 or close to it conference record is possible.

LSU head coach Johnny Jones met with the media Friday afternoon after the team’s final practice before the LSU-URI game and here are some of his comments:

Opening Statement…
“Over the last few weeks, I’m starting to feel somewhat like a football coach playing once a week. We’ve gone from one Saturday to the next, and we’ve had a long time to prepare. I’m certainly hopeful that we’ve done a tremendous job in getting ready for a very good and solid (Rhode Island) basketball team. They’re really good with their guard play. At the same time, they have a post player (Gilvydas Biruta) who transferred in from Rutgers who has been eligible to play right away. He has done a really good job for them. I think we’ve had a good, solid week of practice. I think our guys have grown and become better in terms of what we are trying to do executing-wise, both offensively and defensively. One of the main focuses for us again is rebounding – making sure that we’re solid and continuing to grow in that area as well. Prior to conference play, we want to make sure that we are at our best. This is our last opportunity, and our last outing we will have to see where our improvement is. We will have to improve throughout the season. This game is really important for us to have a good showing on Tuesday as well.”

On why the Rhode Island matchup is a good preview for SEC play…
“I think that they present a lot of things that you will have an opportunity to see. They’ve got good guard play. They run a lot of sprint-to-screen action. They have capable shooters on the perimeter – guys that can really get going. Then, they’ve very physical inside in terms of their post players and their centers – guys that are physical enough to force us to have to play a different way inside.”

On comparing Rhode Island to Atlantic 10 teams Saint Joseph’s and UMass that LSU has played …
“If I was going to think of a team that you could compare them to, I would say more along the lines of a St. Joe’s. Those are the type of athletes I think they have strength-wise, quickness, the size they have inside and how their post guys really compete on every play offensively and defensively. I think it would be more along the lines of a St. Joe’s-type team.”

"eligible to play right away" ?

there is so much misinformation out there lol

I wish our interior game was as Coach Jones described us; "the size they have inside and how their post guys really compete on every play offensively and defensively".

Well ,we all know LSU is a football factory and basketball is something to occupy
the natives until spring football practice.
Too bad Hurley is so anti zone defense. Man to man isn't going to keep our
guys out of foul trouble, whereas a zone would.
The only time we played zone that I recall was against Arizona, and they had a field day slipping people
behind our comatose front line, for about a hundred slam dunks.
I don't mean just play a zone, but play it well. It's not that hard to teach.
You're just guarding your area of the floor, and anyone who comes into that area.
If we get down big, early, it could get ugly. If we get into early foul trouble with
dumb fouls, ditto.
We can stay with them with 3's. Pray that Munford and Matthews are on.
Go Rhody!

Game 7 - UNC Asheville Starting Line Up and Minutes Played
Biruta 21
Reischel 24
Iffy 18
MP 26
X 34
Bench: EC 24, TJ 23, Minnis 18, Martin 9

Game 8 - McNeese State Starting Line Up and Minutes Played
Biruta 32
Iffy15
EC 26
Minnis 30
X 34
Bench: TJ 24, Reichelle 21, MP 10, Martin 8

Game 15 - LSU Starting Line Up as in PROJO today
Biruta
Minnis
Martin
Mathews
Munford
Bench: TJ, Iffy, Butler, Reichelle

The Preferred Line Up I had before the Season Started:
1 Hare - no doubt
2 Biruta - no doubt
3 Munford - no doubt
4 Mathews - no doubt
5 Between Martin, Minnis and TJ - let them battle it out

So now we have almost the Line Up I recommended before the first game was played except for Hare
We have the 4 M's in the starting Line Up with TJ first off the Bench and now elevated to Captain
Iffy has played some very valuable minutes for URI and is an important factor with the loss of Hare - good thing that we have him and he has lot's of time to grow with this team. JR has shown some good potential. Butler looks to be a keeper with his outside shooting acumen. Aaman showed last year he can be a solid rebounder and inside scorer. So the competition for Playing time is not over by any means - Dan Hurley impresses in that he will give the Playing time and Starting roles based on performance. A big change from the previous administrations over 13 or so years.

I think the LSU game will be close and could even be an upset win for the Rams.
- McNeese State was the first major starting line up change by DH inserting EC and Minnis. This takes a bit of time for the nervousness and the change itself to settle in, so even though it was in effect for McNeese it was the first time for this unit.
- Martin is now a major factor in the Starting Line Up
- URI showed they could blow out McNeese State but now a better Starting Line Up is in place
- I wanted 7 guys getting the majority of minutes before the season started - Hare is gone but the other 6 are now getting the majority of the minutes either starting or first off the Bench - perfect.
- These are the guys to lead this team. An upset win today would really propel this team into the A10 as one to be well respected.
- Dan Hurley has really impressed me with how he allowed the players to show what they were capable of in the OOC Games. He arrived at the starting line up that I think is his best (minus Hare which is a different story or course). Dan did it as he said he would - with competition. The best have risen to the top and even TJ gets his just recognition.
- I predicted 8-7 OOC, 7-9 in A10 and 15-16 overall which is about double our performance of last year - a respectable accomplishment. I'd love to see a win today and take a 9-6 record into A10 play.
- The team is on the right track. The right guys are on the bus and now in the right seats. Improving every game. Gaining experience every game. This URI team will be a dangerous one to face once A10 Tournament Play begins

Sorry, but against a huge team like LSU,
Hurley is going to have to throw Oneykaba in there
until he gets his usual four fouls. Whether he's starting or not
isn't important.
He has to be part of any rotation, by default.
I'm sure Reischel will get some time, when he heals.
Same with Aaman, if he ever plays.
The latter really pisses me off, because he's hurting his team by
his off campus nonsense.
How do you suspend someone on the disabled list?
I hope Hurley has gotten the message over to Aaman, in no uncertain terms.

I expect the worst in this game.....we do not stay competitive and fall behind big early.....we are nowhere near ready talent-wise for this level of competition.....

Native wrote:LSU head coach Johnny Jones met with the media Friday afternoon after the team’s final practice before the LSU-URI game and here are some of his comments:

Opening Statement…
“Over the last few weeks, I’m starting to feel somewhat like a football coach playing once a week. We’ve gone from one Saturday to the next, and we’ve had a long time to prepare. I’m certainly hopeful that we’ve done a tremendous job in getting ready for a very good and solid (Rhode Island) basketball team. They’re really good with their guard play. At the same time, they have a post player (Gilvydas Biruta) who transferred in from Rutgers who has been eligible to play right away. He has done a really good job for them. I think we’ve had a good, solid week of practice. I think our guys have grown and become better in terms of what we are trying to do executing-wise, both offensively and defensively. One of the main focuses for us again is rebounding – making sure that we’re solid and continuing to grow in that area as well. Prior to conference play, we want to make sure that we are at our best. This is our last opportunity, and our last outing we will have to see where our improvement is. We will have to improve throughout the season. This game is really important for us to have a good showing on Tuesday as well.”

On why the Rhode Island matchup is a good preview for SEC play…
“I think that they present a lot of things that you will have an opportunity to see. They’ve got good guard play. They run a lot of sprint-to-screen action. They have capable shooters on the perimeter – guys that can really get going. Then, they’ve very physical inside in terms of their post players and their centers – guys that are physical enough to force us to have to play a different way inside.”

On comparing Rhode Island to Atlantic 10 teams Saint Joseph’s and UMass that LSU has played …
“If I was going to think of a team that you could compare them to, I would say more along the lines of a St. Joe’s. Those are the type of athletes I think they have strength-wise, quickness, the size they have inside and how their post guys really compete on every play offensively and defensively. I think it would be more along the lines of a St. Joe’s-type team.”

This is just typical coach speak and nothing more. Baron was famous for talking up cupcakes as if they were Duke or Kentucky. In reality, any coach who scouts us, realizes that we dont have good guard play, we can shoot and we have very little interior offense or defense. In reality, the coach is really thinking that this is LSU's last chance to work things out before SEC play, a loss for them against URI at home after a week of preparation would be nothing short of devastating. To pull the upset we'll need big games from our freshman, TJ's infectous play inspiring others, and for Gil or O to be able to stay in the game for at least 25 minutes. It wouldnt hurt to see Hurley switch up the defense to maybe show a little zone

LSU 75
URI 59

rodfromcranston wrote:Sorry, but against a huge team like LSU,
Hurley is going to have to throw Oneykaba in there
until he gets his usual four fouls. Whether he's starting or not
isn't important.
He has to be part of any rotation, by default.
I'm sure Reischel will get some time, when he heals.
Same with Aaman, if he ever plays.
The latter really pisses me off, because he's hurting his team by
his off campus nonsense.
How do you suspend someone on the disabled list?
I hope Hurley has gotten the message over to Aaman, in no uncertain terms.

Rod I have found it a little strange that Aaman has been home lately and not with the team even though he can't play. Seems weird to me. Maybe there was some kind of "suspension"

adam914 wrote:

rodfromcranston wrote:Sorry, but against a huge team like LSU,
Hurley is going to have to throw Oneykaba in there
until he gets his usual four fouls. Whether he's starting or not
isn't important.
He has to be part of any rotation, by default.
I'm sure Reischel will get some time, when he heals.
Same with Aaman, if he ever plays.
The latter really pisses me off, because he's hurting his team by
his off campus nonsense.
How do you suspend someone on the disabled list?
I hope Hurley has gotten the message over to Aaman, in no uncertain terms.

Rod I have found it a little strange that Aaman has been home lately and not with the team even though he can't play. Seems weird to me. Maybe there was some kind of "suspension"

I was wondering the same thing. It's possible he went home to see his own doctor, I guess. I have no idea though.

Billyboy78 wrote:

adam914 wrote:

rodfromcranston wrote:Sorry, but against a huge team like LSU,
Hurley is going to have to throw Oneykaba in there
until he gets his usual four fouls. Whether he's starting or not
isn't important.
He has to be part of any rotation, by default.
I'm sure Reischel will get some time, when he heals.
Same with Aaman, if he ever plays.
The latter really pisses me off, because he's hurting his team by
his off campus nonsense.
How do you suspend someone on the disabled list?
I hope Hurley has gotten the message over to Aaman, in no uncertain terms.

Rod I have found it a little strange that Aaman has been home lately and not with the team even though he can't play. Seems weird to me. Maybe there was some kind of "suspension"

I was wondering the same thing. It's possible he went home to see his own doctor, I guess. I have no idea though.

Another thing I thought of is maybe he can't fly with his concussion. He did take a train back to Jersey.

We sound pretty good, according to their coach. I wonder if he's ever seen us play. Coaches should never be asked about upcoming opponents. It's a waste of time. it's always the same.
With Aaman, if his eye is as bad as speculated, and he may need surgery, he has to be close to the doctor, not the team. His antics are getting tiring, though.

Some good points on Aaman guys, hadnt thought about that aspect of it.

Ramfan - his antics? Kid got in two fights and we don't know the real back story behind either one. Sure everyone is let down by him not being on the team but we have no reports that he was ever a distraction during the season.

By all reports, he's been a hard working player, with no issues
basketball related.
Obviously he has problems off the court, stories to the contrary.
If it looks lik a duck, walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck,
it is a duck. Getting beat up so bad as to be hospitalized twice in
two years, presents a problem.
Oh, and he always takes the train to NJ.
Maybe he's hanging around with Brandon Austin?

"Antics" is probably a poor choice of words. I was referring to his off-court activities. You're right in saying we don't know the details. But, two major incidents (with serious injuries) in less than two years is a concern.

RE:Aaman...it's about it being a potential distraction and limiting the teams abilities by neutralizing his own worth to it. It's very disappointing to say the least, sure shit happens but this situation smells like shit. If the problem on the night in question was one that could be solved by 'throwing down' then there was no reason to be dropped off at the house, keep the car running, grab your friend and get him the hell out of there. Perhaps Mike see's himself as a hero, brains before brawn is heroic. The scattered details that we do know seem to make Mike's part in this very stupid. There was enough time for the friend to call Mike, then Mike arranges a ride to 'who knows where' to subsequently get beat down. I'd be willing to bet there were 1001 potential better decisions that could have been made regarding the altercation. Not even being snarky, I suppose its possible that Aaman's previous concussions limited his impulse control and decision making abilities, if not it seems as if he needs some guidance as to how to direct his impulses.

Wasn't the story last year when his girlfriend tweeted a pic of Mike in the hospital that he was drunk as hell and fell and hit his head on the sidewalk/curb? I don't remember there being a fight involved in that one....not that that makes it any better. I'll tell ya, I loved Mike at Madness this year. He was very entertaining, even a little crazy. I don't have a problem with a player being a little crazy, as long as it's channeled correctly. Mike needs to get home earlier at night and channel his craziness into hitting the boards, playing defense, etc. That's the kind of craziness I like.

He had cuts and bruises around his eyes in the photos last year.
Not consistent with a fall, where cheeks or nose or chin, would take the
brunt of the damage.
I still think ramfan85 should volunteer his vast knowledge and offer to coach Aaman on
self defense. Couldn't hurt.
That might save the team from losing a backup center, in the future.

GAME DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!......heh

rodfromcranston wrote:He had cuts and bruises around his eyes in the photos last year.
Not consistent with a fall, where cheeks or nose or chin, would take the
brunt of the damage.
I still think ramfan85 should volunteer his vast knowledge and offer to coach Aaman on
self defense. Couldn't hurt.
That might save the team from losing a backup center, in the future.

I'd suggest "wax on, wax off."

But, to get back on topic, imagine what a win today would do for this team going into league play. I guess stranger things have happened.