Game #20 - @ St. Joe - Wednesday, Jan. 22, 7pm

Unread post by **ATPTourFan** » 10 years ago

Wow, X hits a 3 to bring Rams within 3 with under 10 seconds left. Rhody enjoyed two straight FT misses by the Hawks.

Unread post by **ATPTourFan** » 10 years ago

While Rhody will likely lose this one, Dayon is getting spanked at the Arena by VCU in front of 13000 fans.

URI_05 · Unread post by **URI_05** » 10 years ago

Crappy way to lose, but they played hard till the end. This one is really on the refs in the 2nd half.

bigappleram · Unread post by **bigappleram** » 10 years ago

I dont think the refs beat us tonight. We didn't have enough horses in this race. Needed Biruta on floor for 30 plus minutes to have a shot. It's a miracle we hung in it until the end. That is progress.

X killed us with TOs but has been the case a lot lately, came thru in other ways with 8 boards and 3 steals. also played great defense. same for TJ. EC looked like a freshman tonight. It happens. He didnt take 1 perimeter shot, he has to use that to open up the defense for his drives, they sagged and swatted on him all game.

Iggy1979 · Unread post by **Iggy1979** » 10 years ago

The refs were horrible, although it might not hav mattered. Add more good players over the next couple of year ps and leave SJ in the rear view mirror. Even Martelli knows that's going to happen

URI_05 · Unread post by **URI_05** » 10 years ago

bigappleram wrote:I dont think the refs beat us tonight.

When URI was up 6, they called 6 tacky fouls in a row, all on us. That's what turned the game around. They missed a ton of foul shots and still made more than we attempted.

Unread post by **ATPTourFan** » 10 years ago

Fellow Ram fans, please consider taking a look at the latest financial status report for KeaneyBlue.com.

Thank you!

RAM67 · Unread post by **RAM67** » 10 years ago

I thought Butler played well when he was in, but he got hooked, and never got an opportunity to use his shooting skills.

Unread post by **ATPTourFan** » 10 years ago

Really like how Butler can hit a three ice cold from off the bench. Great skill to have.

RAM67 · Unread post by **RAM67** » 10 years ago

Can't hone it without playing time.

Rhody22 · Unread post by **Rhody22** » 10 years ago

I think the refs had a big part in the outcome. Most of the stats were similar except St. Joe's won blocks 9-2, we won the boards 40-30 and we out fouled them 28-15! That have them 38 attempts from the CHARITY stripe which was almost as many as they took from the field (43)!

rambone 78 · Unread post by **rambone 78** » 10 years ago

They are getting closer and closer.

Hanging with some good teams.

Can definitely say now, they are better than last year.

Just need a couple more pieces. May those pieces start arriving next season.

Wish X could play another year. As for EC, shoot the 3 once in a while.

We get good enough, even the refs won't be able to take games away from us.

NJRhodyFan · Unread post by **NJRhodyFan** » 10 years ago

URI_05 wrote:
bigappleram wrote:I dont think the refs beat us tonight.
When URI was up 6, they called 6 tacky fouls in a row, all on us. That's what turned the game around. They missed a ton of foul shots and still made more than we attempted.

Couldn't agree more. When we finally got the lead and had some momentum going, the refs made sure it was short-lived. St. Joe's had 38 FT attempts to URI's 15! That's a huge variance and without question cost us the game.

Rhody22 · Unread post by **Rhody22** » 10 years ago

I would like to see Butler getting more time to see if he can hit some threes.

rambone 78 · Unread post by **rambone 78** » 10 years ago

38 to 15 is normal for us playing at St Joes.

It always happens. Would like to see the opposite when they play us here.

Yeah right.

But no question, even without homer refs, we would have won this game if it were here.

NJRhodyFan · Unread post by **NJRhodyFan** » 10 years ago

Until Martelli is gone for good, St. Joe's will continue to be a very corrupt place to play for opposing teams. The one-sided officiating tonight was almost laughable. I'll rarely use that as an excuse for why we lost a game, but tonight it was glaring.

rambone 78 · Unread post by **rambone 78** » 10 years ago

The A10 needs to look into getting better refs for their games. It's hurting the product.

If the A10 wants to be big time, they need good refs. They have some, but too many like these idiots tonight.

rodfromcranston · Unread post by **rodfromcranston** » 10 years ago

Well, a winnable game, that we didn't win. Same old song.
Nobody played well!
Biruta just kills this team with silly fouls. That moving pick one was
ridiculous. He has to play at least 30 minutes for this team to win games.
X was so sloppy with the ball, it was amazing. 6 turnovers.
He was the only one who did much on offense.
TJ is not a PG.
I love Martin, but I wish one time, he'd finish on a play where he gets fouled.
You know he's going to miss at least one free throw.
Matthews had FIVE shots blocked! 2-12 shooting. He did have 7 rebounds.
Reischel was alright, but he can't guard the post, as he was forced to do when
Biruta and Martin were in foul trouble.
Bulter got his one 3 on his only shot.
Just frustrating to watch this team play offense.
They held St.Joe's to 14.3% from 3, but we only shot 18% from 3, and
38% for the game.
We played a good first half, and looked good doing so.
Nine points in the first 13 minutes of the second half, killed us.
As usual at Hawk Hill, an unreal difference in free throws, 10-15 for us, and 21-38 for them.
Guess where they won the game? We never get this kind of margin at The Ryan Center.

bigappleram · Unread post by **bigappleram** » 10 years ago

They got a lot of fouls by playing more aggressively than us on the offensive end. They were pounding the ball on the blocks and going to the rim on us, something we cannot do when Gil isn't in the game. C'mon, they had 9 blocks, 5-6 dunks, Roberts was a man, they were the aggressor...a lot of that is what drew the fouls. Maybe there was 1-2 EC or X drives where they got bumped and didn't get a call but I didnt see a bunch of fouls not called for us, nor a great deal of ones called against us that weren't fouls. Just looking at the raw numbers outside of how the game played makes no sense.

Despite being short handed inside, the kids played with huge effort tonight, no complaints.

RhodyRams12 · Unread post by **RhodyRams12** » 10 years ago

Even though they didn't get the win I am pleased with their overall performance,
yeah there was some dumb turnovers in transition but that is expected with a young
team.
Also it's nice to see Jarelle come out and have another solid game. I would have liked
to see him shoot a couple more of the open threes he had.
Butler came in and gave some productive minutes on both offense and defense, would
like to see more of him.
Once again, Gil can't stay in the game.
I thought EC got fouled multiple times and they were not called which seemed to frustrate him.
Overall, I am proud of the way they played and you can definitely see improvement with this
team but would have been nice to get the win but almost impossible when the refs were calling
the game the way they did tonight.

BCRhody03 · Unread post by **BCRhody03** » 10 years ago

Love the fight they showed at the end. Didn't see anyone mention Hassan's HUGE putback dunk in the last minute. The St Joes announcer said he hasn't seen a visiting player get up that high in a long time. anyway somebody could throw that clip up on YouTube?

section(105) · Unread post by **section(105)** » 10 years ago

The refs calls do not make the difference in games like these; team talent, or lack there of, over comes the refs calls.....we are at a point where the level and and depth of players leaves us on the outs again for moving up in the A-10 for this year......maybe now, we are what the A-10 record says we....sky not falling, but.......

rodfromcranston · Unread post by **rodfromcranston** » 10 years ago

Rieschel was 0-4 from 3. That was enough shooting for him.
Points in the paint were a killer, as they are in almost every game we lose.
These was no improvement in those first 13 minutes of the 2nd half, where we scored
NINE whole points and threw the ball all over the place.
We scored 57 points. Nuff said.
They need to put a 40 minute game, where Biruta plays at least 30 minutes.
We have no PG play. You don't win without it.

rambone 78 · Unread post by **rambone 78** » 10 years ago

Next year, with the expected improvement from Iffy, and the addition of Watson, should change the dynamic of our inside game, both on offense and defense.

Biruta, with a lot more help, should be able to stay in the game longer, as long as he learns to use his body instead of his hands on defense.

Hassan will learn to finish on offense. Big time.

EC and JR will be better also. I'm unhappy we lost tonight of course, but I can see where we're going to be a lot better in a lot of areas, compared to this year.

The one glaring loss will be X. Got to make up his production somehow. He's our only outside threat except when EC is on.

Add that PG and SG, and another big, and we are golden. Seriously.

rodfromcranston · Unread post by **rodfromcranston** » 10 years ago

Yup, we're going to clone Silk Owens, Tommy Garrick and Kenny Green,
and put them on next years team.
X will be missed, more than some will admit.
He's still the guy who wants to ball in the clutch.

Obadiah · Unread post by **Obadiah** » 10 years ago

Tough loss as the Rams' inexperience and shaky confidence came into play for another loss. URI has now played 3 road games, all losses, and all marked by significant scoring droughts.

GW. Lost 69-56, 19-2 scoring drought over the first 11 minutes of game.

La Salle. Lost 72-62. With a lead of 18-15 and 5+ minutes left in first half, URI is outscored 17-2 in a span of 3 minutes.

St. Josephs. Lost 61-57. Leading 37-31 with 14+ minutes left in game, URI is outscored 17-2 in a seven minute time frame.

Sooner or later this will turn around!

rambone 78 · Unread post by **rambone 78** » 10 years ago

Rod, I know what you mean. It seems like a lot to ask for I know.

But we're close. We have some of the pieces now, to be an NCAA team in a year or two.

We just need the piece that ties it all together. The biggest one of all.

rodfromcranston · Unread post by **rodfromcranston** » 10 years ago

Lebron James? Kevin Durant?

rambone 78 · Unread post by **rambone 78** » 10 years ago

Oscar Robertson.

Well currently, Chris Paul would do.

Billyboy78 · Unread post by **Billyboy78** » 10 years ago

Speaking of depth up front, didn't Aaman tweet a week or 10 days ago that he was ready to go? Somebody posted it. I think it was an instagram.

rambone 78 · Unread post by **rambone 78** » 10 years ago

Has he been practicing? Or even cleared to practice?

If not, he's a long way from game action.

Is Watson practicing yet? Might help Iffy some the rest of this season if he is.

Seawrightspostgame · Unread post by **Seawrightspostgame** » 10 years ago

Definitely going to miss Munfords size and ability to score. Won't miss his turnovers and lack of ability to pass. If someone is open in the key he won't see them. We have had this problem for years. Big difference between passing the ball out 25 feet from the basket versus passing the ball to a position and space that can threaten a defense. Still I love it when X has it going.

We need consistent competitors and efficient players. When guys are competing they focus and don't turn the ball over because they understand a TO is idiotic.

Thought we would pull it off tonight, tough season for all of Rhody.

twisted3829 · Unread post by **twisted3829** » 10 years ago

Aaman is cleared to practice, doesn't mean he is game ready or in game shape

ace · Unread post by **ace** » 10 years ago

It was interesting taking in the game with some St. Joe's people- mixed views on Martelli, pretty consistently thought the refs were questionable. They were also curious about where the rest of Rhody's frontcourt was (recovering and Michigan being the answers, of course). It's not everyone's style but accepting the roster as it is is making the season enjoyable again for me.

rodfromcranston · Unread post by **rodfromcranston** » 10 years ago

Yup, X can't pass. Only had a team season high, 8 assists in his last game.
He's second on the team in assists, and leads in steals.

ramfan85 · Unread post by **ramfan85** » 10 years ago

I can't remember a team that is as thin (numbers) as we are up front. Gil gets 2 fouls and it's pretty much over. Add to that the problems at the point guard position. How the hell are we staying so close with decent teams?
Maybe someday we'll have full roster.

rodfromcranston · Unread post by **rodfromcranston** » 10 years ago

PC seems to be doing pretty well with their short roster.

ace · Unread post by **ace** » 10 years ago

Sometimes experience can mask lack of depth.

ramfan85 · Unread post by **ramfan85** » 10 years ago

PC has a great guard and their bigs who don't sit for half of the game.
Being the best free throw shooting team in the country doesn't hurt, either.

Ram Stampede!!! · Unread post by **Ram Stampede!!!** » 10 years ago

Must...get...Aaman back. Gasp!

Well we are headed in the right direction. The good news is...WE PLAY THEM AGAIN AT HOME IN A COUPLE WEEKS! #TheGeorgeMasonEffect #loveThatHomeCookin

rodfromcranston · Unread post by **rodfromcranston** » 10 years ago

Just what is it you expect Aaman to accomplish?
He's a decent backup, who is also foul prone.
He gives us another body and five fouls, which can help,
but I don't view him as a difference maker.
I think there have been a few times, when this team is better defensively,
when Martin is in the middle.
Aaman subbing for Biruta keeps Martin outside the middle.

Rhodyfan22 · Unread post by **Rhodyfan22** » 10 years ago

Had the pleasure of sitting right behind the URI bench tonight..

Great game. Great effort. Alot better then last years trip to Hagan Arena...

TJ did a great job on Galloway. But Galloway did a even better job on X tonight.

If JR could shoot just a little bit. He was wide open on 4 three point attempts, one where it was 37-31 URI at the time. Putting them up 40-31 would of been huge. He missed, Joes came down and scored. Then went on a 18-4 run.

The calls in the 2nd half were absurd. Joes getting all the calls, as you would expect as the home team.

Gil looked really good. At times he really blew by Roberts and Hahil K of St Joes. Ashame, what I would do to see this team win in Philly just once.

Saw losses at St Joes, and Lasalle this year. Last year at Temple and St Joes. The year before that at Lasalle. The year before that at Temple and in Ac vs Richmond. Last win I saw was in the NIT Final 4 era vs Drexel.

A nice quote by Hurley on the bench during the game

one after Martelli was on the court in the first half ripping a ref

"When I do that shit, I get ripped."

Very True

luke · Unread post by **luke** » 10 years ago

Well, I thought they played better than I thought they would. I expected the officials to be as they were. Several times Munford and Mathews were bumped hard on drives which should have been foul calls without question. Same problem every game, only X can hit a jump shot with any regularity. They played very sound and tough defense which kept them in the game. i think we will see that the rest of the season which will give them the opportunity to beat Duqusne, Fordham twice, St. Joes at home, Dayton and St. Bonnies. Don't see them winning either against UMASS or at Dayton or against VCU, might beat Richmond. The way Dayton is playing right now, they are very beatable. But they have got to shut down their offense because URI cannot score enough to keep up. I think we are going to see many dogfights the rest of the way that can only be won by sheer desire and effort. can't win any pretty games with a poor jump shooting team. Good luck guys.

rodfromcranston · Unread post by **rodfromcranston** » 10 years ago

The Bonnies? At Olean?
Not happening. Bona is good this year.
They're big and fast. They beat Lasalle
handily last night. They lead UMass all the way
at Amherst. Not beating Richmond there, either.
Maybe five wins, IF we can win Saturday.

rambone 78 · Unread post by **rambone 78** » 10 years ago

EC's shooting has been way off lately.

Need him to start scoring again, to have any chance.

Maybe he's hitting the freshmen wall, so to speak. Especially playing so much.

We need both a PG and SG [not counting X] who actually can shoot. And right now, we don't have a 3 who can make a jump shot either.

Unread post by **ATPTourFan** » 10 years ago

Rhodyfan22 wrote: A nice quote by Hurley on the bench during the game, one after Martelli was on the court in the first half ripping a ref...

"When I do that shit, I get ripped."

Very True

When Martelli leaves, what does St. Joe's have to offer to recruits? Their gym is really just that, a very overpriced Gym with almost all bench seating, no video board, and barely any other amenities. Martelli IS St. Joeseph's basketball. Won't be good for the A10 when he's out of there. I suppose it's all about who they bring in to replace him, but it's a tough job.

Rose Hill is a better basketball facility.

ace · Unread post by **ace** » 10 years ago

rambone 78 wrote:EC's shooting has been way off lately.

Need him to start scoring again, to have any chance.

Maybe he's hitting the freshmen wall, so to speak. Especially playing so much.

Maybe, but he also has to work on diversifying his offensive game a bit- not uncommon for a first year player. I have no doubt that he will, but he's getting easier to defend at this point now that teams have been able to scout him.

CTRamfan · Unread post by **CTRamfan** » 10 years ago

Time to stay positive.

The A10 is deep with talent and good teams. It will take more to be a top tier team than it would have 10 or 15 years ago.
I see the effort, but we lack the depth.......no secret. We have some A10 level players, we just need more of them.

I cannot criticize any of the players, they are playing with the hand dealt them.
I cannot criticize the coaches. I am sure they know what they need.

rambone 78 · Unread post by **rambone 78** » 10 years ago

Good points, CTfan.

At least we are playing hard, and playing good defense for the most part now.

Gonebarongone · Unread post by **Gonebarongone** » 10 years ago

rodfromcranston wrote:Yup, we're going to clone Silk Owens, Tommy Garrick and Kenny Green,
and put them on next years team.
X will be missed, more than some will admit.
He's still the guy who wants to ball in the clutch.

Sure, it is nice that somebody wants it. And, we will miss his D. But, this team will be better on offense next year, if simply because we are subtracting his contributions to the equation. I don't expect you to agree with this. We don't view offense the same way. And, that is fine. But, there is zero doubt (in my mind) that when you allocate his wildly inefficient 15 shots per game to the rest of the roster next year, it can't help but improve the offense. Last year, it was "Wait until next year! He'll be different with the transfers helping!". It's not different. It's actually worse.