KeaneyBlue - The URI Basketball Forum

RAMS TO HOST OPEN PRACTICE AUGUST 5TH
The Rhode Island men's basketball team will hold an open practice session on Saturday, Aug. 5 from 9-11 a.m. at the Thomas M. Ryan Center.

Fans are encouraged to come to the Ryan Center to watch the Rams make their final on-court preparations before leaving for their foreign trip to the Bahamas on Aug. 7.
Rhody will play two games in Nassau against teams made up of members of the Bahamian National Team, as they prepare for the FIBA World Cup qualifying games in November.

Get a first hand look at Coach Hurley and his staff’s coaching style and a sneak peak at the defending A-10 Champions. After practice, fans will have a chance to say a quick hello to players and coaches.
Admission is FREE!

DOORS OPEN: 8:45 am (north entrance)

GIVEAWAY: 2017 A-10 Championship poster and be sure to stop by the marketing table to enter to win (2) tickets to watch URI vs Providence College on December 2 at the Ryan Center.

PARKING: Available in the Ram Lot or Plains Road Lot. Parking Map:
http://us1.eventbooking.com/media/66850 ... erlots.pdf
Don’t miss this opportunity to get an inside look at Rhode Island Men's Basketball!

Football has an open practice at 3 that day.

I won't be there, I will be working training camp at Gillette that day

Will be there!

Going to be a busy day for me. Open practice, tilted barn right after, then bon fire at my place. good day though.

I'll be there bright and early, Rhody runs on dunkin and so so I.

Rhody Guy wrote:Going to be a busy day for me. Open practice, tilted barn right after, then bon fire at my place. good day though.

This sounds like an invitation lol. #GoRhody

Wow....actually an event I can go to....I'm still on vaca so I should be there.

Unfortunately I will be in Lebanon and have to miss this practice.....

Yeah, I'll be there. I need a Rhody fix.

I am pissed that I cannot make this practice. Furthermore, I am really pissed that I am probably missing a great opportunity to meet you know who and..............

Time for a new forum banner!

Season about to begin!

Planning on headin over to RC for practice viewing.

Let's gooooooo !

hrstrat57 wrote:Time for a new forum banner!

Season about to begin!

Planning on headin over to RC for practice viewing.

Let's gooooooo !

Good call, I gotta get on that. I'll put something together soon.

I'm there of course

NorthernRamFan wrote:

Rhody Guy wrote:Going to be a busy day for me. Open practice, tilted barn right after, then bon fire at my place. good day though.

This sounds like an invitation lol. #GoRhody

All who bleed Keaney Blue are welcome.

Can't wait to get everybody's report on this practice, especially interested to see how the front court is shaping up.

Yes, cannot wait to hear about everyone's impressions.

Same here looking forward to the reports

And, if you can go to this and get a chance to chat with the players, maybe let them know you recognize how well they represent themselves and your program. It doesn't sound like much, but then you read about that Miller guy from Dayton, and it really is much appreciated.

ace wrote:And, if you can go to this and get a chance to chat with the players, maybe let them know you recognize how well they represent themselves and your program. It doesn't sound like much, but then you read about that Miller guy from Dayton, and it really is much appreciated.

When Dayton comes there better be a Sam miller can't fight chant that echoes from the rafters.

Miller was probably so shit faced that my granddaughters could have
beat him up.

......going, tuff to get my slack fat ass(not quite Chris Christy) off the beach.....fish on Sunday......very interested to see what Mike and Mike are going to offer.....stay tuned.....Rhody Jay, you going???

.....what I really don't wanna report is that Tertsea is "Iffy with upside....."

section(105) wrote:......going, tuff to get my slack fat ass(not quite Chris Christy) off the beach.....fish on Sunday......very interested to see what Mike and Mike are going to offer.....stay tuned.....Rhody Jay, you going???

Hey 105.. long time no see/talk!

I'll be there with my son and nephew...

Blue Man wrote:

ace wrote:And, if you can go to this and get a chance to chat with the players, maybe let them know you recognize how well they represent themselves and your program. It doesn't sound like much, but then you read about that Miller guy from Dayton, and it really is much appreciated.

When Dayton comes there better be a Sam miller can't fight chant that echoes from the rafters.

I don't know what's more savage... Miller getting knocked out or the way Desus and Mero break down the video footage

Rhody74 wrote:

Go JT
Represent!

Really upset I can't make it today but I have to work. Please keep us updated on how the team looks! Thanks.

First impression ... Berry REALLY has slimmed down.

Rhody74 wrote:First impression ... Berry REALLY has slimmed down.

What is he rumored to weight?

Everyone looks like they're in great shape, including Teresa and Layssard. Thompson is here, but not participating. He is limping, but no crutches

Physique wise, Ryan Preston fits right in. Tremendous shape. Berry is hitting treys regularly.

Ditto here - Layssard and Berry look in great shape. Akele looks like he put on some muscle as well. Guards looked great from outside in the shooting drill.

Preston is impressing me, too, especially on the glass. Very active rebounder, and he hits his putbacks. Outside shot not so much, but that's why we have EC, Jarvis, Jzred Jeff and Stan

Please post some video.

KevanBoyles wrote:Please post some video.

I can't seem to figure it out. I'll try to do it later.

If attitude were everything Will Levitton would be a starter.

I don't know if it means anything, but Garrett and Dowtin are playing together a lot

Andre Berry and Ryan Preston look great. Preston stuffed langevine down low. Has a great nose for the ball.

Also EC looks like a MAN. Couple of Davidson OT deprive dunks.

Blue Man wrote:Andre Berry and Ryan Preston look great. Preston stuffed langevine down low. Has a great nose for the ball.

Also EC looks like a MAN. Couple of Davidson OT deprive dunks.

Agree. I'm feeling a lot better about our front court. Akele looks stronger and more confident, too.

1,000 people for an open practice in august is impressive.

Berry is definitely ahead of Layssard and Tertsea on the depth chart. I think we go 10 deep with 6 guards and 4 forwards. I like what I saw from Preston. He's strong and athletic and works hard on the boards. He will be our 2nd best rebounder behind Langevine. EC looks great, strong and with a lot of spring in his legs. Dowtin makes some very nice passes. Leviton is the most vocal person in the gym. If you didn't know who he was, you'd think he was a coach, very loud and very enthusiastic. Great guy to have at the end of the bench. Fatts is behind the rest of the guards right now. You can see the talent though. We'll see how fast he progresses. That will determine his playing time. When I first got there, I knew Jared wouldn't be there. But I couldn't see Jarvis either. It's because he looks so different. He looks really thin to me.

I would say everyone looks great, Lassyard not so much but overall I was pleased. Great turn out too. Everyone getting autographs including myself like a 10 year old. The fan base is in great shape. Andre berry with some great footwork.

.......likes; Preston's 10-15 ft range left handed jumpers; Mike L moves to the hoop, court speed; Confidence in Akele; quickness back with EC(no knee brace); Berry's continuation of soft hands and inside short range touch, looked quicker, may not be the liability on defense as we have seen; Stan; Jeff; unknowns; need more eye balls on Fats; Mike T, does he have A-10 body strength? CL hands? Coaching; like Tom Moore apparently working with forwards. Maybe this group is more representative of the deep rotations of interchangeable players("positionless players") that Dan has wanting.....bring on the A-10 Banner and get this season going!! Liked what I saw.....

I liked what I saw of Layssard. ... Tertsea is at the end of the bench, right now. I think it's a.confidence issue with him. Everyone else looked loose and confident. Fatts has a lot to learn. But boy, is he fearless.

Not to get silly, but I believe by the time we get to conference play, the front court will be considered an asset. First impression of Preston is that he can fill the Hassan role for this team except it will be from the 4 not the 5. Strong, aggressive with a nose for the ball, loves contact and played mainly against Langevine in the scrimmage and played him to a standstill. I thought he had a little edge about him, not a bad thing.

Agree with the observations on Berry and Akele. I think Akele can absolutely fill the hole left by Iverson, perhaps more capably by his senior year. While Berry has noticeably lost more weight, he is still soft around the middle. In any event, it seemed that every time I looked up he was in the middle of a scrum for the ball. Excellent footwork and touch around the basket and even dropped a couple of threes for good measure.

Tertsea and Layssard did not impress as having made a lot of progress from last year though it is still early and they both have ample opportunity to eventually work their way into being contributors, but it won't be this year.

The backcourt situation is borderline insane...one through six there is no appreciable drop-off in talent except that EC is clearly the Alpha and primed for a huge season. I had a thought on the drive home that, if he chose, Hurley could platoon his backcourt in the first half in 5 minute increments. The possibilities are endless. I would envision a starting five of EC, Jared, Jarvis, Cyril and Ryan. Mix and match Nikola and Andre in the frontcourt rotation and substitute Jeff, Stan and Fatts in the backcourt as a unit.

The key, as always, is whether we can stay healthy and keep our lineup intact for the entire season.

1. Similar thoughts to previous posts.
2. Berry looked and played great. He was working very hard to establish low post position. At the end of practice he sat down next to someone who could have been his dad. Was congratulated and gave a very humble response. It is quite apparent that he has been working hard.
3. Our new juco looked impressive, not much of a shooter but very aggressive inside. He definitely gets minutes.
4. I know this is insane, but I would considered Will for co captain. He is the consummate team player cheering and encouraging from the sidelines.
5. All the returning guards were fine. It seemed like EC was showing some leadership.
6. At the moment it looks like a ten man rotation with lessard and turtsia(sp) out of the mix, unless we need to give some fouls.
7. Scoreboard had "not in our house" Rhode Island a- 10 champions (make that into a t-shirt.
8. Sections 103,104 and 105 were filled.
9. Can't wait!

My thoughts....

EC: looked noticeably stronger/quicker, going to be his year
Berry: in even better shape.... best hands in the paint by far... looks quicker... made an unbelievable fade away jumper about 15ft
to end practice

Preston: better than what I thought we were getting.... very strong build...quick/high flyer/strong defensive rebounding skills/ not bad form at all shooting ten footers. Will definitely see good minutes

Dowtin: looked great... little stronger.... great talent

Jarvis: I didn't even recognize him... shaved head with a headband....looked very thin..... his game seemed sharp...great speed/ball handling....was playing off the ball a lot more.....taking more shots

Stan: Stan the man. Love his game.....seemed very confident as usually......his shot has really developed.....can do a bit of everything for us

Lassard: practiced very hard out there today....really trying to earn minutes....great strength/body frame. Seemed quicker offensively improved.....needs opportunity this year in my opinion.

Cyril: seemed off today....huge fan of his play down the stretch last year...... just seemed flat today for some reason....I didn't notice his body being any stronger looking which was surprising.

Fattts: a lot of natural ability.....will need to make adjustments to his game because of the physical difference from high school....will take time to settle into a role. Height will be a challenge for him at this level..... but his talent with the right adjustments and he will be great for us down the line

Tertsea: good potential and noticeably improved just a step behind from a skill/confidence level from Lassard. That being said he has great height and is definitely a serviceable option.

Akele: continues to improve a bit and seems stronger.....plays very hard and smart decision maker.

Berry was very good on offense and Preston did the things he needs to do during the season, rebound and block shots. I thought Layssard didn't have a good practice, he makes easy shots hard. He fades away instead of going strong to the hoop. Great event by URI.