Ocean Center, Daytona Beach, FL
Saturday, November 20, 2021
7:30PM
Media
TV: N/A?
Online: FloHoops
Radio: 101.5 FM (B101) or Tune In Radio App
Previews:
Tulsa Fan Forum
The University of Rhode Island leaves the comfy confines of the Ryan Center (3-0 at home) for a quick 3 game stretch down in sunny Florida. Rhody starts off facing Tulsa in the Sunshine Slam this coming Saturday evening in Daytona Beach, Florida. Tulsa, out of the American Athletic Conference, are led by 8th year head coach Frank Haith. Tulsa returns only 1 starter from the team that beat #5 Houston last year. On the court, the Golden Hurricanes are led by senior forward Jeriah Horne & sophomore guard Sam Griffin. Both are averaging 20 & 17 respectively while each playing 32+ minutes per contest. This is Horne’s second stint with Tulsa as he started in Nebraska, played in Tulsa for 2 years, went to Colorado last season & is now back in Tulsa for his 5th collegiate year. I am not sure what to make of this Golden Hurricane team. Tulsa had a nice win at home against Oregon State where they were slight home underdogs but they also had a terrible loss at home against Air Force where they were big favorites. They were preseason picked to finish 7th in their conference (out of 11 teams) but please keep in mind that they have finished higher than their preseason place in seven of eight seasons in The American. Little known fact, up until about a year or two ago, The American Conference headquarters were (for some reason??) located in Providence before moving to Irving, TX. This will be Rhody’s toughest match of this early season as they will probably come in as 1- or 2-point underdogs. Once again turnovers will be the name of the game as URI averages almost 17 per contest while conversely Tulsa averages only 11.7. I know they like his energy off the bench, but I wonder if Walker will get the start in this one to go up against Jeriah Horne as his speed will be better suited than one of the Mitchell’s covering him? But then again, Makhel is second in the league in blocked shots with 5 a game, so WTF do I know? The way I see it, Tulsa doesn’t do anything great (besides maybe protecting the ball), but they also don’t anything poorly. Like URI, they are a middle of the road team. Which ever team can get up for a sparsely attended neutral site game will probably be the victor. This game could come down to free throw shooting, much like the last time they played in November of 2000. Tulsa made 12 of 14 free throws in the final 3:50 of the last game. URI only shot 56.3% from the line that game. I foresee a reversal of fortune as I think Rhody’s guards will come through in the clutch leading the Rams to a comeback victory, 74-70. Go Rhody!
Opponent
Record:
2-1, 0-0 in the American
Last season: 11-12, 7-9 in the American
Rankings (URI):
NCAA NET: 127 (112)*
RPI: 266 (85)
KenPom: 146 (90)
BPI: 69 (107)
Sagarin: 122 (95)
* Denotes last season
Leaders:
Points – Jeriah Horne 20.0 (Sr., F)
Rebounds – Jeriah Horne 8.0 (Sr., F)
Assists – Keyshawn Embery-Simpson 2.3 (Jr., G) (0.7 TO per game)
Historical
Series: 0-2
H: 0-1, A: 0-1, N: 0-0
Most Recent Matchup: 11/22/2000 89-80 L at Tulsa
Most Recent Win Streak: 2 – Tulsa
Match-up Predictor: 41.6 Chance of URI Winning