Ryan Center, Kingston, RI
Wednesday, January 3, 2024
7:00PM
Media
TV: N/A
Online: ESPN +
Radio: Tune In Radio
App: Varsity Network
Live Stats: Stat Broadcast
Previews
Saint Joseph’s Fan Forum
Happy 2024!! The Rams are hoping that the new year will bring some new success. After losing five in a row, Rhody closed out 2023 with a home win against Northeastern. A big part of that win was transfer David Green who was finally eligible & healthy enough to play. Ram fans couldn’t have asked for a bigger coming out party from Green who scored 15 points on just 6 of 10 shooting. Throw in very solid games from both House & Cam as well as Fuch’s double double, the Rams were able to put an end to a painful losing streak.
2024 now brings conference play as University of Rhode Island will open up at home against Saint Joseph’s. The Hawks who were picked 5th in the A10 preseason polls, come in with a 10-3 record. They already have two quad 1 wins on the season, including a double digit win at a then ranked Villanova. Their only quad 1 loss came in overtime at Kentucky. Preseason All-Conference First Team guard Erik Reynolds is leading the Hawks in scoring at 17 points per game. He has scored in double-digits every game this season & he has the most three points made on the team as well. Although they start 2 forwards, the Hawks play primarily with a 4-guard lineup. The other three starting guards on this team as well as the sixth man guard off the bench are all averaging 11 points per game. Sophomore forward Rasheer Fleming is averaging 11.9 points per game & a team high 7.2 rebounds per game. Cameron Brown, Preseason All-Conference Third Team guard is averaging 11.8 points per game. The remaining two guards averaging 11 per game are Lynn Greer III & Xzayvier Brown.
The Rams shook up the starting lineup last game & it seemed to work. Cam slid into the starting lineup over Kortright. Kortright still saw most of the minutes as Always started each half but played sparingly after that. And obviously Green was a big spark coming off the bench. The Rams probably played their most complete game of the season & easily their best play since the second half of the Yale game. The Rams will be tested Wednesday night. The Hawks like to shoot the three ball & unfortunately the Rams are 300+ in three-point percentage defense (while Saint Joseph’s is 55th in the country). It seems like Rhody will give up a wide open three on many possessions, many times to the other team’s best player. That can’t happen on Wednesday if they expect to get the win. No one on Rhody has more than 15 made threes while there are 4 players on the Hawks who have 15 or more. Of their 4 players, all but Fleming are shooting it at 40% or higher. Cam is the only one on the Rams who is shooting it at that clip. I think the Hawks will just be too much for the Rams Wednesday night. My prediction, Saint Joseph’s 75 – URI 66. Happy New Year & Go Rhody!!
Opponent
Record:
10-3, 0-0 in the A10
16-17, 8-10 in the A10 (Last Season)
Rankings (URI):
NCAA NET: 54 (235)
RPI: 87 (203)
KenPom: 72 (225)
BPI: 65 (237)
Barttovik: 58 (189)
Leaders:
Points – Erik Reynolds II 17.1 (Jr., G)
Rebounds – Rasheer Fleming 7.2 (Soph., F)
Assists – Lynn Greer III 4.5 (Jr., F) (2.4 TO per game)
Historical
Series: 50-59
H: 28-23, A: 20-33, N: 2-3
Most Recent Matchup: 2/1/23 64-50 L at Saint Joseph’s
Most Recent Win Streak: 2 – Saint Joseph’s
Match-up Predictor: 22.6% Chance of URI Winning