KeaneyBlue - The URI Basketball Forum

March 1-5
Chase Fieldhouse
Wilmington Delaware

URI Game 1: 5pm Friday
URI Game 2 Semifinals: 1:30pm Saturday
URI Game 3 Championship: 12 noon Sunday

Tournament kicked off today
1st game 12-seed Dayton defeated 13-seed VCU

Updated bracket with yesterday's results.

This week we had Stone Freeman and Bill Koch on the podcast to talk about Rhody WBB's successes this year and to preview the tourney.

Listen below:

5-seed Richmond defeats 12-seed Dayton to meet 4-seed Fordham

9-seed George Mason defeats 8-seed LaSalle to meet 1-seed UMASS

7-seed George Washington defeats 10-seed Duquesne to meet 2-seed URI

6-seed St Joseph's defeats 11-seed Davidson to meet 3-seed St Louis

GW beat Duquesne 71-68.
URI plays GW tomorrow at 5;00 PM.

URI plays 7-seed George Washington today at 5pm

The winner plays the winner of 3-seed St Louis and 6-seed St Joseph's

St Louis is interesting and challenging. After starting A10 Conference play 2-5 the Billikens have won 9 of last 10 games to nab the 3-seed.

We're 68 in the NET rankings going into today's game, George Washington is 148

Do any of the local taverns have ESPN+?

UMass down by 5 after the 1st quarter.

UMass up 26-25 at the half

30-29 UMass.

Kind of helps my theory that if you turn the game into a Defensive Rock Fight with UMass you have a much better chance than trying to outrun they offensively

And in theory we have a defense that can do it, which is why we had been fairly successful against them until the last game

George Mason has a tenacious Defense, but unlike URI, they have no three point shooters at all. so when they get behind by 5 or so, it's a slow grind for them to claw back, basically pounding it down low.

If UMass plays like this against Fordham, it will be Fordham in the finals. Fordham has the Defense and the Offense to take advantage of the Defense. Much like URI.

41-41

Quickly turned into 46-41, advantage UMass

UMass broke the game open and pulled out of reach.

Give me the URI announcers 1000x over these ESPN+ announcers at the women's tournament.

Last year we were the 2-seed and lost to the 7-seed St Joseph's in the 1st game we played. St Joseph's was led by Freshmen.
Opponent - St Joseph's
Record:
11-16, 7-8 in the A-10

Last March 2022 Rankings St Joseph's (URI):
NCAA NET: 168 (55)
RPI: 149 (29)

We lost to Dayton at home losing 1st place. Then lost to St Joseph's in A10 Tournament and then to Quinnipiac at the Ryan Center in the NIT 1st game.

Tammi said before this season they were devastated by the loss to Dayton. Their goal last season was to win the A10 and the A10 Tournament. A lot of pressure on all. Tammi said they got tired.

Tammi and Staff went to work. This year Tammi said she wanted all to have fun and enjoy the season. Less pressure.
She brought in more 3P shooting, more quality depth. Megan Shoniker said they wanted to improve the teams shooting and depth.

This year's team now has quality with the ability to go 11 deep or more. 3P shooting has improved and the depth of 3P shooters is strong. FT shooting has improved. Defense has improved. This team passes the ball efficiently, skillfully and unselfishly.

Great job by the Coaching Staff and the players to get to this point in Wilmington in March 2023. GO RHODY!!

Fordham is out.

Emma Squires must still be hurt. She tweaked her ankle last game. Dutat starting.

Need much better point guard play. Way too much dribbling.

Lok is killing it. 14 points at the half. Lady Rams up 7 at the half 33-26.

Magassa strong half with 8, Phillips with 7. LFG Ladies!

We are seeing the importance of getting Magassa going and why Tammi played her so much when she came back from injury even though she was so rusty.

I wish Magassa and Toure could play together.

GWU doing great job of defending against the 3. We're only 1-6.

No score for either team in first 3 minutes of second half.

We got some foul trouble here.

Magassa with her 4th foul just 5:06 in the 3rd.

PeteRI wrote: ↑1 year ago Magassa with her 4th foul just 5:06 in the 3rd.

I believe all 4 have been offensive fouls?

Lady Rams with a Man Rams- like assists to turnover ratio of 4 to 11.

Billyboy78 wrote: ↑1 year ago

PeteRI wrote: ↑1 year ago Magassa with her 4th foul just 5:06 in the 3rd.

I believe all 4 have been offensive fouls?

Could be. She can use some help to cut down on that.

Sophie with 12 points in 12 minutes.

Rhody up 10 after 3 - 49-39. LFG Ladies!

PeteRI wrote: ↑1 year ago Sophie with 12 points in 12 minutes.

As much as I like Dolly, I think Sophie should be starting now. Our best shooter.

GW flopping alllllll over the court lol

Tammi said before the season began that Dutat would be a rebounding powerhouse. She wasn't wrong.

Sophie with the dagger!

PeteRI wrote: ↑1 year ago Tammi said before the season began that Dutat would be a rebounding powerhouse. She wasn't wrong.

She's done a great job, 8 points and 7 rebounds and leads the team in minutes played.

Billyboy78 wrote: ↑1 year ago

PeteRI wrote: ↑1 year ago Sophie with 12 points in 12 minutes.

As much as I like Dolly, I think Sophie should be starting now. Our best shooter.

The problem with Dolly is she is so closely guarded by teams now.

URI with its biggest lead of 15 points with 6:20 left.

We're getting hot at the best time. Well done Ladies!

GWU cuts lead in half with 2:28 left - 58-51.

58-54 on a GWU 3 with 1:45 left.

wow, 4 pt. game.

So many mental mistakes. I'm surprised they play like this given their record.

13-0 GWU run.

Maya with 2 big free throws. Then she follows it up with an offensive foul. 62-56 with 57.3 to go. Then Sophie with a huge steal.