Week #15 - Games of Interest

[Obadiah]

In the AP poll, Dayton retains the #6 slot, Maryland remains #9, West Virginia in a slight drop to #14, and LSU drops to #25 with the loss to Vandy. URI gets 57 votes in the others category, only Michigan State is higher in that category

In the USA Today/Coaches poll, Dayton remains in the #6 position, Maryland retains the #9 slot, West Virginia falls to #14, and LSU is dropped from the Top 25 and gets 61 votes at the top of the others category. Rhode Island gets 18 votes in the others category. Baylor remains as the #1 team in the AP poll and the Coaches' poll.

The cumulative record of URI OOC opponents is 166-112, 0.5941, stable over the previous week. Only Long Island and Middle Tennessee sport losing season records.

With the home win over UMass and the GW blowout win in DC, the key URI metrics showed further improvement over the previous week.

NET - 36, up 4
BPI - 46, up 4
Pomeroy - 42, up 3
Sagarin - 40, up 5


On Monday night, there is no action in the A-10 or among URI OOC opponents.

[Rhody15]

The calm before the storm...

[Obadiah]

A nine week progression of the NET rankings for URI and this year's opponents, sequenced based on the latest rankings of Week 15.

NET RANKING* of A-10 TEAMS

School	       Week 7  Week 8	  Week 9   Week 10  Week 11    Week 12  Week 13  Week 14  Week 15

Dayton	         #10	 #14       #12       #8        #8        #5       #5       #5       #5		
VCU	         #52	 #58       #52       #34       #43       #45      #39      #36      #35	
Rhode Island	 #72	 #80       #69       #91       #67       #61      #47      #40      #36
Richmond	 #22	 #54       #77       #53       #63       #56      #55      #56      #55
Saint Louis	 #66	 #61       #60       #74       #48       #54      #69      #68      #74
Duquesne	 #20	 #66       #105      #66       #47       #55      #92      #88      #85
Davidson	#101	 #99       #94       #94       #112      #107     #98      #98      #97	
St. Bonaventure	#189	#180       #176      #169      #141      #128     #133     #126	    #113
La Salle	#130	#123       #119      #136      #179      #174     #173     #162     #157
UMass	        #158	#139       #128      #121      #127      #175     #164     #179     #175	
George Mason	 #67	 #72       #71       #119      #140      #171     #168     #180     #177
GW    	        #235	#232       #226      #256      #244      #196     #195     #198     #203	
Saint Joseph's	#228	#210       #210      #222      #221      #202     #223     #221     #233	
Fordham	        #258	#267       #266      #258      #284      #274     #274     #273	    #261
				

NET RANKING* of URI OOC OPPONENTS

School	        Week 7	Week 8	  Week 9    Week 10   Week 11  Week 12  Week 13  Week 14  Week 15

Maryland	 #11	  #20       #16       #14       #17	 #15      #13      #11      #8
West Virginia	 #12	  #10       #9        #12       #10      #9       #7       #9       #9		
LSU	         #26	  #57       #41       #30       #28	 #23      #25      #22      #27	
Alabama	         #96	  #77       #65       #64       #61      #42      #41      #41      #42
Providence	#146	 #119       #129      #100      #90      #79      #79      #65      #56	
North Texas	 #98	 #110       #111      #105      #102     #92      #78      #94      #90
W. Kentucky	 #84	  #95       #122      #118      #119     #119     #112     #119     #120
Nicholls State	#114	 #193       #192      #162      #136     #179     #180     #193     #182	
Manhattan	#260	 #273       #274      #246      #226     #227     #240     #236     #224	
Brown	        #256	 #252       #259      #237      #209     #220     #228     #229     #230
Long Island	#231	 #247	    #256      #270      #274     #242     #253     #248	    #255
Mid. Tennessee  #283	 #291       #296      #311      #319     #328     #318     #287     #290
				
* Rankings continually change with new game results, but both ranking comparisons are based on rankings as of Monday morning of each week. 

[Rhody15]

Texas, a borderline bubble team, at home vs number 1 ranked Baylor right now. Let’s go Bears.

[Rhody15]

Also 24th ranked bubble team Texas Tech crushing TCU in the first half.

[reef]

I don’t think Tex Tech has to many worries about their bubble status they will be dancing

[TruePoint]

A nine week progression of the NET rankings for URI and this year's opponents, sequenced based on the latest rankings of Week 15.

NET RANKING* of A-10 TEAMS

School	       Week 7  Week 8	  Week 9   Week 10  Week 11    Week 12  Week 13  Week 14  Week 15

Dayton	         #10	 #14       #12       #8        #8        #5       #5       #5       #5		
VCU	         #52	 #58       #52       #34       #43       #45      #39      #36      #35	
Rhode Island	 #72	 #80       #69       #91       #67       #61      #47      #40      #36
Richmond	 #22	 #54       #77       #53       #63       #56      #55      #56      #55
Saint Louis	 #66	 #61       #60       #74       #48       #54      #69      #68      #74
Duquesne	 #20	 #66       #105      #66       #47       #55      #92      #88      #85
Davidson	#101	 #99       #94       #94       #112      #107     #98      #98      #97	
St. Bonaventure	#189	#180       #176      #169      #141      #128     #133     #126	    #113
La Salle	#130	#123       #119      #136      #179      #174     #173     #162     #157
UMass	        #158	#139       #128      #121      #127      #175     #164     #179     #175	
George Mason	 #67	 #72       #71       #119      #140      #171     #168     #180     #177
GW    	        #235	#232       #226      #256      #244      #196     #195     #198     #203	
Saint Joseph's	#228	#210       #210      #222      #221      #202     #223     #221     #233	
Fordham	        #258	#267       #266      #258      #284      #274     #274     #273	    #261
				

NET RANKING* of URI OOC OPPONENTS

School	        Week 7	Week 8	  Week 9    Week 10   Week 11  Week 12  Week 13  Week 14  Week 15

Maryland	 #11	  #20       #16       #14       #17	 #15      #13      #11      #8
West Virginia	 #12	  #10       #9        #12       #10      #9       #7       #9       #9		
LSU	         #26	  #57       #41       #30       #28	 #23      #25      #22      #27	
Alabama	         #96	  #77       #65       #64       #61      #42      #41      #41      #42
Providence	#146	 #119       #129      #100      #90      #79      #79      #65      #56	
North Texas	 #98	 #110       #111      #105      #102     #92      #78      #94      #90
W. Kentucky	 #84	  #95       #122      #118      #119     #119     #112     #119     #120
Nicholls State	#114	 #193       #192      #162      #136     #179     #180     #193     #182	
Manhattan	#260	 #273       #274      #246      #226     #227     #240     #236     #224	
Brown	        #256	 #252       #259      #237      #209     #220     #228     #229     #230
Long Island	#231	 #247	    #256      #270      #274     #242     #253     #248	    #255
Mid. Tennessee  #283	 #291       #296      #311      #319     #328     #318     #287     #290
				
* Rankings continually change with new game results, but both ranking comparisons are based on rankings as of Monday morning of each week. 

Tremendous stuff, Obadiah.

[reef]

Pretty impressive wins over 35. 42 56
Losses to. 8. 9. 27

That’s a tournament resume right there

[bigappleram]

Also of note 3 of those 4 wins were double digits.

[Obadiah]

Tuesday night action in the A-10 is highlighted by the rumble in Dayton as Rhode Island visits the #6 Flyers in a match-up of the two best teams in the A-10. Game time is 7:30 PM. On CBSSN.

Other conference games:

St. Bonaventure at Saint Joseph's, 7 PM. On ESPN+.

Fordham at Davidson, 7 PM. On ESPN+.


In games involving URI OOC opponents:

Nebraska at #9 Maryland, 8:30 PM. On BTN.

Missouri at #25 LSU, 9 PM. On SECN.

[Rhody15]

And just like that, a one (well two cus we have tiebreaker) game lead on the Bonnies.

[Obadiah]

Both LSU and Maryland won surprisingly close contests at home against inferior opponents.

After a close first half, St. Bonaventure ramped it up to easily beat St. Joe's. Ossunniyi was the games leading rebounder and also put in twelve points. Wondering if URI would have beaten the Bonnies if Osunniyi was in that game.

Davidson won in in a romp over Fordham, 79-49.

[RF1]

Tuesday night results

Opponents:
Davidson wins at home over Fordham 79-49
St Bonaventure wins at St Joe's 74-56
Maryland at home beats Nebraska 72-70
LSU at home beats Missouri 82-78

Bubble:
Virginia at home beats Notre Dame in OT 50-49
NC State wins at Syracuse 79-74
Michigan State wins at Illinois 70-69
Penn State wins at Purdue 88-76
Miss St loses at Ole Miss 83-58
Arkansas loses at Tennessee 82-61
Utah State wins at Colorado St 75-72

[ramster]

Both LSU and Maryland won surprisingly close contests at home against inferior opponents.

After a close first half, St. Bonaventure ramped it up to easily beat St. Joe's. Ossunniyi was the games leading rebounder and also put in twelve points. Wondering if URI would have beaten the Bonnies if Osunniyi was in that game.

Davidson won in in a romp over Fordham, 79-49.

Bonnie’s go to 9-3.
They have a relatively easy last 6 games as 4 games are on their home court
Davidson - Home
Richmond - Home
Duquesne - Home
LaSalle - Away
St Josephs - Home
Saint Louis - Away

093D8AAD-319B-4F9C-9434-DA1B7B9F3255.png

[steviep123]

We’re going to need to keep winning.

[TruePoint]

Both LSU and Maryland won surprisingly close contests at home against inferior opponents.

After a close first half, St. Bonaventure ramped it up to easily beat St. Joe's. Ossunniyi was the games leading rebounder and also put in twelve points. Wondering if URI would have beaten the Bonnies if Osunniyi was in that game.

Davidson won in in a romp over Fordham, 79-49.

Bonnie’s go to 9-3.
They have a relatively easy last 6 games as 4 games are on their home court
Dayton - Home
Richmond - Home
Duquesne - Home
LaSalle - Away
St Josephs - Home
Saint Louis - Away

093D8AAD-319B-4F9C-9434-DA1B7B9F3255.png

I get that 4 of their games are at home, but 4 are also against teams in the thick of it for the double bye. As usual in the Schmidt era, Bonnies will be a factor down the stretch one way or the other. If Osun stays healthy they could be a problem.

[ramster]

Both LSU and Maryland won surprisingly close contests at home against inferior opponents.

After a close first half, St. Bonaventure ramped it up to easily beat St. Joe's. Ossunniyi was the games leading rebounder and also put in twelve points. Wondering if URI would have beaten the Bonnies if Osunniyi was in that game.

Davidson won in in a romp over Fordham, 79-49.

Bonnie’s go to 9-3.
They have a relatively easy last 6 games as 4 games are on their home court
Dayton - Home
Richmond - Home
Duquesne - Home
LaSalle - Away
St Josephs - Home
Saint Louis - Away

093D8AAD-319B-4F9C-9434-DA1B7B9F3255.png

I get that 4 of their games are at home, but 4 are also against teams in the thick of it for the double bye. As usual in the Schmidt era, Bonnies will be a factor down the stretch one way or the other. If Osun stays healthy they could be a problem.

To give you an idea on Osunniyi impact,

St Bonaventure is (1-6) without Osunniyi, (16-2) with him
In A10 play They are (0-3) without, (9-0) with.

Their 3 losses in A10 without him were @VCU, @Dayton and home vs URI.
He is healthy now.

[PeterRamTime]

As long as Osunniyi keeps them in Q2 territory it's fine by me.

They have the looks of a bid stealer.

[steviep123]

As long as Osunniyi keeps them in Q2 territory it's fine by me.

They have the looks of a bid stealer.

As long as they don't still a bid or 2nd place from us, that's fine.

[PeterRamTime]

As long as Osunniyi keeps them in Q2 territory it's fine by me.

They have the looks of a bid stealer.

As long as they don't still a bid or 2nd place from us, that's fine.

Well if they steal a bid we will deserve it, because its going to take some emBARONSING stuff to happen for us to be in that position.

[steviep123]

As long as Osunniyi keeps them in Q2 territory it's fine by me.

They have the looks of a bid stealer.

As long as they don't still a bid or 2nd place from us, that's fine.

Well if they steal a bid we will deserve it, because its going to take some emBARONSING stuff to happen for us to be in that position.

Don't go there! LOL

[Obadiah]

In Wednesday action in the A-10:

George Mason at VCU, 7 PM. On ESPU.

Richmond at La Salle, 7 PM. On ESPN+.


In games involving URI OOC opponents:

#3 Kansas at #14 West Virginia, 7 PM. On ESPN+..

Alabama at #11 Auburn, 7 PM. On ESPN2.

Lamar at Nicholls, 8 PM.

Middle Tennessee at UAB, 8 PM. On ESPN+.

Providence at St. John's, 8:30 PM. On CBSSN.

[JimSidd]

I’m looking at the preview article in the ProJo of tonight’s PC - St John’s game. It lists Mustapha Heron as a St John’s key reserve and the write up includes the statement that he has disappointed this season. This is probably true, but I read yesterday he is out for the remainder of the season with an ankle injury and this is not referenced at all in the article. How do I, with a regular 9-5 office job know this and the Pro Jo does not? McNamara’s name is included at the bottom. Do your homework. The team you cover is literally playing them tonight. No call was made to the St John’s SID or a newspaper counterpart that covers St John’s? I just googled his name and the report is correct.

[ramster]

George Mason (2-8) giving VCU a scare up 40-35 with 13 minutes to go at VCU. VCU favored by 14 1/2.

[PeterRamTime]

VCU is BLOWING IT

[Rhody83]

Mason up 15 with 7:28 to go.

[ramster]

George Mason (2-8) giving VCU a scare up 40-35 with 13 minutes to go at VCU. VCU favored by 14 1/2.

George Mason now with a 14 unanswered point run on VCU with about 7 minutes to go.

Lunardi was on the broadcast about 15 minutes ago and said VCU has some holes on their resume - but this would be a gigantic hole if it stands

[rhodyruckus]

Damn, I wanted a strong finish by VCU in order to get our home victory to a potential Q1. They could really spiral with their next 2 games at Richmond then home vs Dayton.

[Taylor Swift]

I’m watching the UCONN @ SMU game. SMU is up by 4 at the under 5 minute mark and the crowd sounds like they’re at a church. I think the only cheering is from the spirit squad and the team.

[DC_Rams]

I just want to make myself feel better by reading VCU boards meltdown.

Will this be considered a bad loss for them?

[ramster]

A horrible loss since George Mason is only 2-8 and the game is at VCU

[RamStock]

The VCU loss is bad for URI. By far are two best resume wins were the VCU wins. It will probably effect our NET rankings more than a 14 PT road loss at Dayton

[DC_Rams]

I don’t understand why Rhoades doesn’t play Hyland a lot more. He’s been much better than Evans this season.

[DC_Rams]

The VCU loss is bad for URI. By far are two best resume wins were the VCU wins. It will probably effect our NET rankings more than a 14 PT road loss at Dayton

Dammit, I can never enjoy anything.

[DC_Rams]

Yikes; go read on the VCU board how the GMU game thread starts off.

[jaywin86]

VCU trying for the late comeback down 5 with 59 secs. left

[ramster]

I don’t understand why Rhoades doesn’t play Hyland a lot more. He’s been much better than Evans this season.

Evans went off the court about 5 minutes ago and his knee has a big ice bag taped around it. That’s why Hyland is seeing so much time.

[PeterRamTime]

Great comeback, but uh that sucks for VCU.

Not good for us.

[TruePoint]

Hyland is super talented but freshmen are going to do freshmen stuff. Down 4 with 16 seconds and he hoists up a 35 footer. You don’t need that even if you’re just down 3. Plenty of time to get something at the rim and extend the game.

Bad loss for VCU, and not good for us either.

[ramster]

72-67 George Mason with a huge upset at VCU to get their 3rd A10 Conference win. VCU with a nice comeback but two ugly 3 point shots were way off by Hyland in the last 15 seconds. VCU was favored by 14.5 points. Bad loss.

[RF1]

72-67 George Mason with a huge upset at VCU to get their 3rd A10 Conference win. VCU with a nice comeback but two ugly 3 point shots were way off by Hyland in the last 15 seconds. VCU was favored by 14.5 points. Bad loss.

This outcome gives two of URI's best wins less value.

Bad for the A-10 as well as this puts VCU on the wrong side of the bubble at this point in time.

[reef]

This loss by VCU is kind of like our home loss to Fordham a couple years ago ???

[ramster]

Not a good night for URI

VCU represented not 1 but 2 of our best wins of the season but they go down at home to (2-8) GMU

Alabama losing to Auburn in OT

Kansas wins by 9 at West Virginia

PC losing by 9 with 3 minutes left in the first half at St Johns where PC is favored by 1.5

[PeterRamTime]

This loss by VCU is kind of like our home loss to Fordham a couple years ago ???

Nah I dont think George Mason is as bad as that Fordham team and VCU isn't as good as that Rhody team.

If they dont make the dance it could be the beginning of the end for Mike Rhoades.

[section(105)]

This loss by VCU is kind of like our home loss to Fordham a couple years ago ???

Nah I dont think George Mason is as bad as that Fordham team and VCU isn't as good as that Rhody team.

If they dont make the dance it could be the beginning of the end for Mike Rhoades.

........I think the beginning of the end is underway.......

[bigappleram]

While it makes ours wins look less impressive it will not change the away Q1 win which is what matters most. Need to preserve that and try to get 1 more vs UD. Handle our biz finish in 2nd I think the committee will be predetermined to give the 8th/9th ranked NET conf 2 bids, the 3rd will have to be earned.

[Rhody83]

VCU’s next three games - at Richmond, Dayton and at SLU

[SmartyBarrett]

Thankfully URI has put themselves in a position where they don't need to scoreboard watch and beg for help from other teams. Sure a VCU win or a WVU win or a Bama win would be nice, but it won't make-or-break their season.

[Rhody83]

W. Virginia held Kansas to 58 points and still lost by 9. They only scored 19 points in the second half.

[bkoeppen]

Marcus Evans decline year on year is mind blowing