Rhode Island Team Report

GETTING INSIDE

It’s not how you start, but how you finish.

The Rhode Island Rams are well aware. In 2007-08, the team burst out to a 19-3 record and broke into the Top 25. But, a finishing record of 2-9 led to a disappointing 21-12 record and no NCAA Tournament berth.

In 2009, Rhode Island got off to a 16-7 start and finished second in the Atlantic 10 with an 11-5 record. However, slim defeats to Xavier and Massachusetts seemed to be the most likely culprits that again kept the Rams from securing a bid to the Big Dance, the big goal that Rhode Island hasn’t accomplished since 1999.

So what did the Rams do during the offseason to try to shake things up?

“Six a.m. workouts,” said forward Delroy James. “That’s something we never did before. Getting up early, getting our job done so we could go to class and then head back to the gym in the afternoon.”

Junior Will Martell, one of three true 7-foot centers in the Atlantic-10, said the early morning workouts were more than a show of solidarity.

“It was tough, but getting up that early,” said Martell, the Rams’ main returning post player on the roster. “But, as a team, it was very good for us as a whole. I think those couple of weeks will really pay off this season.”

The Rams must replace nearly 40 percent of their scoring. Along with the senior James, Rhode Island will look to Keith Cothran. The 6-foot-4 senior guard was among the league’s most improved players, averaging career highs in scoring (13.2) and steals (1.7) and ranked second on the team with 34 three-pointers.

Waking up early is one thing. Finishing late is another. And the Rams will need their seniors to keep the ship steady down the stretch in which four of Rhode Island’s final six games will be on the road.

NOTES, QUOTES

• Coach Jim Baron has four years left on his deal, but last season’s A-10 Coach of the Year approached the university during the summer about an extension, stating it was important to demonstrate stability to prospects. Baron has done a solid job with the Rams, but has yet to produce an NCAA Tournament berth in eight seasons. He is still waiting for the extension as Rams fans wait for that elusive ticket to the Big Dance.

• The Rams graduated one of the best shooters in A-10 and school history, Jimmy Baron, the coach’s son. Baron and fellow senior Kahiem Seawright combined for nearly 40 percent of the team’s 79.3 points a game in coach Jim Baron’s high-tempo offense. Those are points the Rams will have to make up this season.

• G Keith Cothran, F Delroy James and F Lamonte Evans, all seniors, are trying not to leave school with a rather dubious distinction. The Rams have won 63 games over the past three seasons, the most victories by a single class in Rhode Island history. They don’t want to top 80 career wins, yet never play in the NCAA Tournament. They hope to change that this season.

Last Year:   23-11 overall, 11-5 in the A-10.

Head Coach:   Jim Baron (career 337-320); 9th year at Rhode Island (131-118).

Quote To Note:   “Bobby Knight is the one who said it best. He said that ultimately it comes down to winning games. That’s the way I feel. I think that’s the way it should be.”—Coach Jim Baron on what it takes to earn an NCAA Tournament berth.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

Scouting The Newcomers:   Forward Ryan Brooks and guard Akeem Richmond are the only newcomers to the Rams. Richmond , a 6-foot-1, 180-pounder, fits the Rams’ running style. He averaged 29.2 points his senior season at Southern Lee High School in Samford, N.C. Brooks, a 6-foot-8, 210-pounder could vie for time on the front line.

Key Early-season Games:   It’s not exactly Murderer’s Row, three-game run at Davidson (Nov. 28), at Virginia Commonwealth (Dec. 2) and at home against Providence (Dec. 5) will be challenging. A road game at Boston College (Dec. 13) and then a televised matchup against Oklahoma State at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Connecticut highlight the preseason schedule.

Program Direction:   The Rams have been on the cusp of the NCAA Tournament in consecutive seasons, including racking up 23 wins last season, only to be disappointed. The head coach is asking for an extension that hasn’t come and some faithful are getting weary of waiting for an NCAA bid. The Rams’ time might have passed. With nearly 40 percent of their scoring gone, the Rams could fall back into the A-10 pack.

Probable Starting Lineup:   G Keith Cothran, G Marquis Jones, F Delroy James, F Lamonte Ulmer, C Will Martell.

Roster Report:  

• G Marquis Jones had 135 assists a year ago, which ranked as the second-highest total by a Rhode Island sophomore in program history.

• F Delroy James provided a spark off the bench for Rhode Island as a junior, averaging 9.9 points and 6.1 rebounds in just 23.9 minutes per game.

The Brooklyn, N.Y., native started the first nine games before coming off the bench and ranked second on the team in offensive rebounds (79) and fourth in steals (32) and scored at least 20 points on two occasions. James is the first-ever URI player to be earn the A-10 Sixth Man of the Year honor. James will likely move into the starting lineup for his final season.

• G Stevie Mejia might be the most overlooked player on the Rams team. The 5-foot-9, 175-pound point guard averaged just 2.5 points a game last season, but he played in all 34 games, averaging 13.4 minutes and a couple steals, while limiting his turnovers. The sophomore could play his way into valuable playing time.