Week # 12 - Games of Interest

[Obadiah]

In Friday night's featured game in the A-10:

* VCU at Davidson. 6 PM. On ESPN2.


Only two games involving URI OOC Opponents:

* Princeton at Brown. 6 PM.

* Manhattan at Iona. 7 PM. On ESPNU.

[NYGFan_Section208]

In Friday night's featured game in the A-10:

* VCU at Davidson. 6 PM. On ESPN2.

Who do we prefer to win and why?

[Obadiah]

VCU is a lock to get a bye in Brooklyn and with a top record will certainly get a bid to the Dance whether they win the A-10 tourney or not and I want that to happen so I will pull for them. Besides, Davidson winning strengthens them in getting a bye in Brooklyn and that competes with the Rams getting a bye.

[ATPTourFan]

Wow, VCU is in Davidson's head big time. Gibbs has zero points and 6 turnovers in 12 minutes of play so far.

29-7 VCU!

[NYGFan_Section208]

Wow...what a comeback to make it 10....

[RoadyJay]

Would be great to have at least one team ranked in the A10... Best thing for conference is for VCU and Dayton to keep winning... until they play us of course

A VCU win tonight and URI win tomorrow against St. Joe's puts us in sole possession of 4th place in the conference.

[Seawrightspostgame]

I always felt Shaka Smart was given a bit more credit than he deserved. He is a good coach but he had NBA players and inherited a program that was already turning up some NBA players. Maynor and Sanders before he even took the seat. Also that talent in a low league.

I don't like VCU but I love that Wade is playing Cox with Tillman. Smart would play just 1 big guy in the middle. These two big guys are putting this game away.

Offensive rebounding can break backs down the stretch. Take notice Dan Hurley! play the big guys! Second chance points are like the basketball equivalent to a sack that counts for like a field goal.

[Obadiah]

VCU's Alie-Cox will be a challenge to handle when the Rams play in Richmond.

[Obadiah]

Jake Gibbs is one sweet player, but he did make a bonehead pass at a critical time. Both of these teams disrupt the passing lanes, so Dan Hurley take note or else lazy passes will exact a toll.

[rambone 78]

It certainly does look like VCU and Dayton are on another level from the rest of the league.

St. Joes might be 3rd right now. GW 4th.

Then you've got the middle group, or "muddle" group is more like it.

Bonnies, Davidson, Richmond, and us.

The next few games will tell whether we belong there, or can become a threat for a bye in NY.

[Billyboy78]

I said it a couple of weeks ago when I watched VCU. They're the class of the league once again.

[rambone 78]

That's a sign of a really solid program.

Even losing a couple of recruits, plus graduates, they aren't missing a beat.

And a new coach too, although he's from the same staff.

Do we have anybody here who could take over from Dan when the time comes, and keep things going like this?

[Obadiah]

In other games:

* Brown remains mired in the Ivy League cellar as Princeton blasts the Bruins from the tip-off on to win, 83-59.

* Iona remains at the MAAC top with a convincing win over Manhattan, 70-56.

[Obadiah]

In Saturday A-10 games in addition to URI hosting Saint Joseph's:

* Fordham at UMass. 12 PM. On NBC Sports.

* La Salle at Dayton. 2 PM. On NBC Sports.

* Duquesne at Saint Louis. 6 PM.


In games involving URI OOC Opponents:

* Houston at East Carolina. 12 PM. On ESPNN.

* Navy at Holy Cross. 1:05 PM.

* Tennessee at TCU. 2 PM. On ESPN2. Part of the Big12/SEC Challenge.

* American at Colgate. 2 PM.

* Cleveland State at UIC. 4 PM.

* Nebraska at Purdue. 4:30 PM. On BTN.

* Old Dominion at Florida International. 7 PM.

* Penn at Brown. 8 PM.

* Providence at Georgetown. 8 PM. ON FS1.

[RF1]

That's a sign of a really solid program.

Even losing a couple of recruits, plus graduates, they aren't missing a beat.

And a new coach too, although he's from the same staff.

VCU has done a very good job with its coaches in the last 15 years - Capel, Grant, Smart, and now Wade. It has made good choices with replacements and never missed a beat. The only other similar type school to have done as well so often would be Xavier. Both schools really value their basketball programs and have invested in them and provided them all the support they need to succeed.

[ATPTourFan]

Both don't have to spend a dime on football either. They are truly all-in on hoops.

[NYGFan_Section208]

Both don't have to spend a dime on football either. They are truly all-in on hoops.

URI doesn't spend a dime on football either, do they?

[ramfan85]

Both don't have to spend a dime on football either. They are truly all-in on hoops.

URI doesn't spend a dime on football either, do they?

+1

[Obadiah]

I hear you, ATP, but the question is will that money be diverted to spending on the basketball program and other sports, especially facilities. I remember that when BU dropped their football program with the comment that funds will be diverted to raise the level of their basketball program and play games in their combo hockey/basketball Agganis which seats 7,200 for basketball. How did that work out. Years later BU is not within sight on the national basketball radar scene and their games are all played in the smallish 1800 seat Case Gym. And they moved from the low level America East to equally low level Patriot league.

[TruePoint]

Fordham going into halftime at UMass tied (because UMass hit a 3/4 court shot at the buzzer to tie it). I think this is the first halftime they have not trailed in conference.

[adam914]

That shot was crazy. Made me not hate myself so much for watching an entire half of Fordham UMass.

[RF1]

That shot was crazy. Made me not hate myself so much for watching an entire half of Fordham UMass.

UMass hit another 3 pointer with 8 seconds left in regulation to send game to OT where they later lost 78-72 to Fordham. UMass has now lost seven in a row. URI should, on paper, win on Tuesday but UMass will be desperate to break their skid. I would not expect a very big crowd at the Mullins for this game given how their season is going.

[NYGFan_Section208]

That shot was crazy. Made me not hate myself so much for watching an entire half of Fordham UMass.

UMass hit another 3 pointer with 8 seconds left in regulation to send game to OT where they later lost 78-72 to Fordham. UMass has now lost seven in a row. URI should, on paper, win on Tuesday but UMass will be desperate to break their skid. I would not expect a very big crowd at the Mullins for this game given how their season is going.

Any other URI fans making the trip?

[PeterRamTime]

We better beat the goddamn doors off of them. No way should we lose to UMASS

[Ram1019]

That shot was crazy. Made me not hate myself so much for watching an entire half of Fordham UMass.

UMass hit another 3 pointer with 8 seconds left in regulation to send game to OT where they later lost 78-72 to Fordham. UMass has now lost seven in a row. URI should, on paper, win on Tuesday but UMass will be desperate to break their skid. I would not expect a very big crowd at the Mullins for this game given how their season is going.

Any other URI fans making the trip?

I'll be making the trip. Go Rhody!

[Obadiah]

Dayton just polished off La Salle, 59-44, though the Explorers gave them fits through most of game.

[section(105)]

Would love to see us continue to send UMass into downward spiral....and send Kellog to the door....

[Billyboy78]

Would love to see us continue to send UMass into downward spiral....and send Kellog to the door....

Kellogg has a great class coming in. He's not going anywhere.

[NYGFan_Section208]

and, how many players will Rhody have...?

[Billyboy78]

and, how many players will Rhody have...?

Is this a trick question? I'll say 6.

[NYGFan_Section208]

so...Rex the longsnapper might get some pt?

[Billyboy78]

so...Rex the longsnapper might get some pt?

He might get some Tuesday if Kuran and Jarvis can't go. 3 players foul out and Rex is in the game. He was close to having to play tonight. With two players fouling out, two players in the hospital and Akele with 4 fouls, Rex was next man up.

[rambone 78]

Well, KI is in concussion protocol, so he's out for at least one game, maybe more.

JG, if he's got a broken jaw, might be out for the season, or at least a few weeks.

This team might be at .500 by the time he returns.