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Scouting Rhode Island at Xavier!!
By
Andy Mac Williams,
1/22/2010
URI often slips beneath the national radar, but this is an improving evolving elite program. Jim Baron is a master coach. Anybody who can take St Francis of Pa. and St Bonnies to postseason play has my undying respect. The Rams lost two vital players-coaches' son Jimmy Baron (unreal 3 pt shooter and competitor) and 6-9 Muskie killer Kaheem Searight, but they're apparently stronger (Top 30 RPI - 15-2 record, 3-1 in the A-10 - lone loss to Temple in OT - 6-1 on the road-only "L" at VCU). URI has signifigant wins over Oklahoma State, at Boston College and in their backyard rivalry with Providence.
The formula for Rhody success is constant. They play uptempo. They press. They trigger the open "3" even though the percentage is down without Baron. The Rams get to the FT line a bunch and make 73% of their freebies. Steals are a huge weapon.
Rhody has a two-headed point guard monster - Jr Marquis Jones and Soph Stevie Mejia (150 assists - just 53 turnovers combined). They find the shooters. 2G Keith Cothran is having a dynamite senior season (17PPG-4 Rebs).
Delroy James is a top flite forward (14PPG-6 Rebs). Lamonte Ulmer goes hard to both boards and scores inside (12PPG-8 Rebs). All three are seniors and 30 plus minute men.
JR.7 foot junior Wil Martel is finding his game (7p-6R). Top frosh Akeem Richmond is the long range shooter off the bench.
The Rams score 80PPG and allow 70. They feed off turnovers and steals and blocked shots. They play a high energy game.
X has never lost to URI at Cintas but URI is dangerous and capable. They play with Dayton's passion but shoot it better. X has the home court-more size inside-better depth and motivation to get back to playing stingy defense after allowing Temple to get any shot they wanted Wednesday in Philly (77-72 Temple win).
The Rams are what they are! An up tempo man-to-man good shooting group. The score won't be in the 50s.
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