Poll:: what is the reason we are losing these close games

[rambone 78]

Nothing is certain or easy with this team, 208.

Who gives two shits if we blow out Fordham? They've been horrible on the road.

They usually give us a hard time though.

We usually shoot about 45% from the line against them......

78, and that's fatal with this team. We have to have a big lead late to win games most of the time.

Especially with the refs in road games.

Anything that's close, that spells disaster.......

[NYGFan_Section208]

Nothing is certain or easy with this team, 208.

Who gives two shits if we blow out Fordham? They've been horrible on the road.

They usually give us a hard time though.

We usually shoot about 45% from the line against them......

78, and that's fatal with this team. We have to have a big lead late to win games most of the time.

Especially with the refs in road games.

Anything that's close, that spells disaster.......

Not implying anyone cares about the Fordham result....just opining about how I thought it would go, that's all.

[Seawrightspostgame]

The team isn't mentally tough enough to overcome adversity in a game on a consistent basis. Thats coaching mostly.

It is like the refs are playing for the other team. Any team could succumb to thinking they are playing a team and their refs but other teams get it done. Our team feeds into the refs. You see the energy and focus sapped right out of them after some calls.

I like Dan though.

[rambone 78]

We had better hope that it's a blowout.

Let teams hang around, for whatever reason, and like I said before, it's inviting disaster.

Even bad teams.

We're a pretty good team for 35 minutes or so.

We're the worst team in the league in the last 5 minutes.

There, I said it.......

[rodfromcranston]

I'm not going to get into the "What's wrong" issue.
I will say this. PRAY that Dan succeeds before too long.
Why?
Dooley and Thorr went "all in" on Dan. The idea was to rebuild the
program, but more importantly, bring in revenue.
They went further with subsequent extensions.
One of the reasons for firing CFL was the dwindling attendance,
and lack of NCAA dollars.
Dan came in with much fanfare and hype.
One of the false narratives that we all bought into was,
there would be an automatic pipeline to NJ and more particularly,
St. Anthony's.
We know that never happened.
Dan's first recruiting year brought shockingly good results.
We all figured, if that was his first year, imagine what he could
do once he got established.
Each subsequent class was OK, but not as good.
Don't forget, we almost landed Pollard, and Severe, who were also highly rated.
We seemed involved with everyone, and it had that
feeling as we did with Harrick, that anything was possible.
Dan did a great coaching job with a very limited roster in his first year.
It was X and four leftovers.
We were in so many games that we had no business being in.
The though was, imagine what he could do with better players.
Then came the over hyped transfers the following year.
Dan has admitted he contributed to that.
A disappointing season followed.
Last year seemed to be a breakthrough.
Lots of close losses, but enough wins to make it interesting.
Now we lose EC, and it looks like a long and lost season
ahead, barring some major reversal.
Talent enough to be in every game but one, but not enough
to win close games down the stretch.
Next year, three raw bigs a transfer guard who can't shoot,
and a promising combo guard.
EC coming off a year away from playing.
Still, a year where expectations will be great. Again.
So, back to my original thoughts.
IF Dan does not succeed, does anyone think
Dooley and Thorr will continue to be "all in"
on the program, or do what Muskrat did,
and play it safe the rest of the way, with a
vanilla hire?
Questions that any Rhody fan hopes never have
to be broached by our administration.
Only success by winning will put bodies in the seats at
the Ryan Center, and bring NCAA dollars to URI.
URI has kept their end of their bargain with Dan.
Will he deliver on his end?

[section(105)]

.....it is that pipeline type thing I was suggesting in starting the Recruits topic....I/we were expecting....

[hooptenharbor]

Hey guys, I recently wrote an article on this topic over at Hoop Ten Harbor, a blog covering Atlantic 10 basketball. I looked at some of the stats during the end of the games in these close losses. Check it out here: http://hooptenharbor.com/2016/01/23/clo ... is-season/

[rambone 78]

Agree with all you said Rod, except the vanilla hire if Dan gets fired down the road.

If Dan doesn't get it done, Dooley and Thorr will still try and hire a guy that will get it done.

Dan has the Hurley pedigree, but other than that, what had he done before coming here?

One good year at Wagner? Yeah, he rebuilt a program, and he's done that here. But the next level might be a little too much for him.

So, we hired a guy with a big name and a lot of promises, but very little track record.

So it might not work out. Next time, they bring in a guy who's a proven winner, probably from a level slightly below ours.

Forget the big name. Get someone who has had results.

At least the program should be left in good shape for the next coach.

[Shinze88]

Agree with all you said Rod, except the vanilla hire if Dan gets fired down the road.

If Dan doesn't get it done, Dooley and Thorr will still try and hire a guy that will get it done.

Dan has the Hurley pedigree, but other than that, what had he done before coming here?

One good year at Wagner? Yeah, he rebuilt a program, and he's done that here. But the next level might be a little too much for him.

So, we hired a guy with a big name and a lot of promises, but very little track record.

So it might not work out. Next time, they bring in a guy who's a proven winner, probably from a level slightly below ours.

Forget the big name. Get someone who has had results.

At least the program should be left in good shape for the next coach.

wow, just wow ... a post talking about our next coach, some of the posters on this board need to get a grip and a clue.

[RIFan]

I did not read all the posts, so please forgive me if this redundant. I think this is all between their ears...this team is mentally weak...we have seen this pattern for two seasons...crappy FT shooting, and crapping their shorts in close games. Both of these are mental issues...If these games were 35 min long we'd only have about 3 losses (they seem to be able to hold on to the lead about that long). I'm not sure about the talent, they obviously can play as well, if not better than the competition for 30+ min a game. But, I am beginning to think that these guys are not living up their recruiting hype/rankings.

Maybe Dan is the problem...he certainly is not currently the solution. Why do we only have 7 guys who really play in his 4th year? I know EC got hurt, we have one transfer, and Iffy left, but face it, Iffy was not a loss. So even if EC was here, we would only play 8....what the hell happened to the other players? Why such a drop off?

[RhodeIslandRams]

I'm in the C camp. (obviously it's a mixture of a few letters)

Problem is, it may not be fixable with the current group. Just as we would often get recruits that would be amazing except for one flaw in their game, sometimes in my opinion that one flaw can be the 'clutch/confidence' gene.

Name the guys that had that, there are many. Even TJ had it, right?

Was Tom Brady the most athletic guy in the NFL? No. But who do you want with the ball late in the game?

Not sure even EC is that guy. We need two of them to dance often. Maybe one of our young guys has it.

[hrstrat57]

Agree with all you said Rod, except the vanilla hire if Dan gets fired down the road.

If Dan doesn't get it done, Dooley and Thorr will still try and hire a guy that will get it done.

Dan has the Hurley pedigree, but other than that, what had he done before coming here?

One good year at Wagner? Yeah, he rebuilt a program, and he's done that here. But the next level might be a little too much for him.

So, we hired a guy with a big name and a lot of promises, but very little track record.

So it might not work out. Next time, they bring in a guy who's a proven winner, probably from a level slightly below ours.

Forget the big name. Get someone who has had results.

At least the program should be left in good shape for the next coach.

Agree with Bone78 tho Rod makes a strong post - most of the post I prefer not to say out loud but I am thinking every bit of it.....

Too much invested in hoops to turn back, admin will roll the dice one more time if this doesn't work out. Tho I worry that Smith Hill will start to whine about the money being spent on the URI hoops program if we can't back up the dough spent with national results. After all we know which hoops program Smith Hill is loyal to.

Not saying I still don't think it will still work out but recent game results are as troubling as anything I have seen in a long time. Losing a 3pm game at GW after holding an 18 point lead is devastating regardless of the officiating. Should have been an easy cruise to a nice win.

Attack the bucket and score the ball!

(oh no did I just say that?)

[RAM67]

I know we've lost a lot of games late, but I look at the loss of EC, not for last minute dramatics, but the entire game, including spacing during and at the end of games.

[rambone 78]

We should not be that dependent on one player being out.

A good one yes, a great one well not yet at least.

Too many guys that shit the bed in close games.

A coach that doesn't seem to have any answers.

And it's not getting better either.

This year might be the most frustrating year I've ever seen.

It's not just about losing. It's the way we lose, over and over.

I think we've all worn this out. Can't change anything, anyway.

[brady1]

Doombone, you're saying the same thing over and over and over and over and over again. YOU REALLY NEED A LIFE DOOMBONE DOOMBONE DOOMBONE DOOMBONE!

GO RHODY!
GO RHODY!
GO RHODY!
GO RHODY!

[rambone 78]

Yes I am. And so are others.

And, so are YOU!!!!!

[brady1]

Doombone,

I am a Hurley supporter I'm excited about next year. I believe our roster is stacked and we will easily make the DANCE! As I've told you before the powers that be in the URI Administration and almost all of the BIG MONEY Donors that have the administrations ear pretty much feel the same way. With that said I have no problem saying Dan can improve his X's and O's as can any good coach that's never won an NCAA BIG DANCE game.

Now really my friend addiction to a silly internet bulletin board is a sad things. Go out, watch a good movie or do anything besides posting on this silly board incessantly with a negative slant you're wasting your life.

GO RHODY!

[steveystuds06]

EC was coming in fresh with 2 years under his belt a vetern player not a young player with loads of potential anymore.. Players with more experience usually do improve with finishing games. I have hope that EC will improve in that area as our main guy..He is a special player and person.

Our incoming class could be Hurleys best since EC and Hass. Everyone wanted bigs and what did he do? Bring in 3 that on paper all could be very good. If the next couple years are the same I'll start to lose faith but right now we are VERY lucky to have Hurley.

[rambone 78]

Like I said Brady, I have my doubts but I will still hope for the best next season.

I'm not giving up on Dan or the team by any means, yet.

[Shinze88]

Like I said Brady, I have my doubts but I will still hope for the best next season.

I'm not giving up on Dan or the team by any means, yet.

Really? you have you're doubts, would have never known that, you're outlook on everything URI is so upbeat and positive.. keep on bringing the doom post after post.

[rambone 78]

Will do. I wouldn't want to disappoint you.

[TruePoint]

I like Brady

[rambone 78]

Which Brady? Our Brady, or Tom?

I know you like both, TP.

[Victorino]

i Vote for option D , Hurley always acting like Chucky from the horror movie on the sidelines , has got all the officials against us, and this has resulted in many of our losses. It seems to me the officials target Hassan, as he's our best player.

[ATPTourFan]

Added poll. Go back and vote if you haven't already done so.

BTW, adding polls is easy. When you create a new thread, just scroll down to the bottom of the page before clicking Submit and you'll see the Poll config area.

[Gonebarongone]

The answer is that we are being outcoached. The common theme. Since DH took over, Rhody has routinely and continually lost close games against teams that were as good or better. Beating Brown or the like does not really count. Sure, there have been a handful of nice ones sprinkled in there over four years but the endgame is practically Groundhog's Day. Whether it was X or X/EC or EC or JG this year, there have been talented guards. What hasn't changed is the puckering up by the staff at the end of games where everything just dies. The reality is that there is talent enough to win here without EC and that hat tip goes to DH. There is a defense here that is good enough to win. That hat tip goes to DH. But, if we are talking specifically about end games, it's the gross/impotent offense that hasn't changed one bit. Where is the 90% of the playbook that hasn't been installed? Was that pure BS? Good teams/coaches know exactly what is coming.

[ramster]

Wait.......nobody picked the referee conspiracy?

[rambone 78]

There is a consensus growing.....

Rod, Bressler, myself, Ramulous, RR, GBG, and some others can't be wrong.

The arrow is starting to point to one person, and that's not any of the players [including EC].

[ElmCityRhody]

Add a FT shooting coach and suddenly the close games are won

It's that simple

As Walt Clyde Frazier said the other night.. FTs are about concentration and confidence

[ElmCityRhody]

Here ya go Hassan, here you go JG, Here you go JT.. Here you go KI..

You can thank me later:)

[rambone 78]

I've theorized that maybe our shooting woes late in games are caused by fatigue, due to lack of depth, and playing aggressive man defense all game, instead of saving some energy playing some zone.

That's physical AND mental fatigue. They have no legs left late in games.

Dan also really pushes these guys in practice, so much so they might not have much left in the games themselves.

Might need to back off a little as the season progresses. Just a thought......

We'll see if having more depth next season will solve some of these issues.

[rambone 78]

Watching a 70 yr. old make FT's.....making it look easy.... blocks everything else out...even with eyes closed.....

Harrick used to challenge his players at the FT line....he beat then regularly.