The Skeleton of the URI Rams

I had the pleasure of trading emails with Paul Kenyon of The Providence Journal to get a read on the URI Rams, or the lack thereof. Paul has a lot of insight and knows his stuff when it comes to Northeastern sports. I encourage you all to check back with the Projo throughout the season to get updates on the Rams. Paul even had this to say about the BR, "If I remember correctly, I answered a few questions about URI last year for your site. The site is very well done, as good as any in the A-10." Always nice to get praise from other guys in the blogosphere. Without further ado, here is my Q&A with Paul Kenyon that raises more questions as a result:

PK: I have to tell you, I don't know if I have ever had less of a read on the team in the 20 years I've been covering them. So many things have happened since April that they've gone from looking very good to having definite questions. I try to explain it all here.... 

HB: The Rams lost about 26 points and 10 rebounds a game between Cothran and Ulmer, besides the obvious answer of Delroy James, who is going to step up and fill the void left by those two? 

PK: The team has been among the scoring leaders for the last several years and I expect that will continue. James will, indeed, be the man. He should be among the conference scoring leaders. Baron loves having a two-headed scoring threat, rather than just one. The guy who will be expected to move in as option 1A is Akeem Richmond. He set the A-10 freshman record for 3s last season and, with more playing time with Cothran gone, will be given every opportunity to score even more this time.

If you are looking for someone else to be a double-figure scorer, I'd go with Ben Eaves. He's a senior and Connecticut transfer who has had injury problems in the past. He's got big-time ability. If he can average 11 or 12, the Rams will be just fine offensively.

HB: I don't think I have fully recovered from the ridiculousness that was the URI 65-64 win at UD Arena last year. With that being said, the Rams will play host to the Flyers on Feb 9th about halfway through conference play. It would be too easy for me to ask who will win that game as it is a 50-50 shot, instead that will be the 23rd game of the season for the Rams, where do you see their W/L being at that point?

PK: Bad news for Flyer fans. Marquis Jones, who has beaten Dayton at the buzzer is still around. It is his last go round. He's a senior, so he has just one more chance to be a hero again against Dayton. By game 23, URI could have won anywhere from 12 to 17. I will go with 15-7 when the Flyers visit the Ryan Center. 

HB: Give me your assessment on how URI faired at the ever so irrelevant A-10 Media Day projections of fifth in the conference with Delroy James picking up 2nd team all conference honors?

PK: I was one of those who voted. I listed the Rams fifth, so I guess I can't argue with the way everyone else voted. The ballot asked you to vote for players from 15 to 1, with 15 being the best in the conference. I listed James as 11, meaning I think he will make the first team with Wright, Allen, Anderson and Saunders. I also listed Richmond (Akeem that is, not the Spiders) as the 15th pick, meaning I think he will make the third team.

HB: Coming off of 26 wins and a 9-7 finish in conference the Rams have added ANOTHER seven footer as well as two highly touted wingmen in Mabry and Lockridge, are Rams fans overly optimistic in expecting the same amount of wins this season?

PK: Here is where the bad news for URI comes up. The two touted wings you speak of will not play. Lockridge, who is more of a 3 than a 2, did not qualify. He is in school and should be ready to go next season.  Mabry, who is 6-5 and from North Carolina (as is Richmond) said he felt homesick after two weeks in school and left. The players tell me he had problems adjusting in summer school, too, and stayed in his room a lot. When he did play he looked like a keeper, a 2-3 who would be a four-year contributor. His loss hurts, especially since Jamal Wilson, who is the only other two guard on the team behind Richmond, broke his foot last week and is expected to be out 6-8 weeks. 

Nikola Malesevic, who barely played last winter as a freshman, will be expected to help out at the two spot even though he is a natural three. He can shoot but does not have the foot speed URI wants in its guards. The Rams have two freshmen who will suit play. The new big kid you refer to is Blake Vedder who is a legitimate 7-3. He is a lefty and is athletic and could be a steal. But that likely is two or three years away. He is barely over 200 pounds and badly needs to gain strength.

Levan Shengalia is a rugged 6-8 forward who will provide muscle but is not expected to play a lot right away. He could play more than expected, though, since Orion Outerbridge, a 6-9 junior who was expected to be one of the key guys, is out for the first semester. He meets NCAA requirements, but not Baron's, so he will miss the first 11 games. With no Mabry or Lockridge, with Wilson hurt and with Outerbridge to miss time, it is way too optimistic to think the team could win 26 games again.

HB: In a league that prides itself on undersized and underskilled big men, what impact do you see having a front court with the likes of Martell and Vedder, who are listed at 7'0 and 7'3 respectively?

PK: The big men will look impressive, but they are more complimentary players than stars. I must say, though, that Martell is one of the wild cards. He has been a surprise as it is, a late signee four years ago who was going to go to Division III. He has come a long way even though he has battled tendonitis through his career. He had surgery to alleviate the problems over the summer and says he feels fine. If he can make another jump, like to 10-12 points and 6-8 rebounds, he could be a major factor in making the Rams contenders again. Those who follow the Rams will be rooting for him. He's a finance major, a Dean's List student and a witty, witty kid to be around. I did a feature on him the other day. Here are some of his quotes:

On losing a summer internship at one of the major brokerage houses:

 ``The guy who I was going to work for told me he just couldn’t do it,’’ Martell related. ``It (the economy) is so bad that he said he had to take a 90 percent pay cut. He even had to let his assistant go. He couldn’t bring me in.’’

On Vedder, who will take his title away as tallest Ram:

``He’s a legitimate 7-3, I can tell you that,’’ Martell said. ``It’s actually great walking into a dining hall now. I can deflect all the attention to him when we walk in together. He’s been a pretty good wing man for me when we meet girls. He’s knows how to work it, just like I do.’’

``He’s just like I was when I got here. He’s a little bit skinny. He’s listed at 230. When I got here, I was about 208. He’s about that. He’s got to put on weight. He’s definitely a very talented player. He’s a lefty, he can shoot and he’s a smart kid. Like me, he’s got some work to do. If he was a finished product he wouldn’t be here.’’

On the team's chances for the season:

``I don’t think anyone can say that we’re not a tournament team. Again this year we continue to be an undervalued commodity,’’ Martell said. ``That’s fine with us. I love being the underdog.’’

HB: With a few matchups against BCS conference opponents, what would you say are the 2-3 must watch games this season?

PK: The Rams were 5-1 against BCS teams last season, the loss to North Carolina in the NIT semis. They play the first game of the season, Nov. 8, at Pitt in the Coaches Vs. Cancer Classic, visit Florida Jan. 3, host Boston College and play their annual game at Providence College.

HB: Best case/worst case scenario for this season?

PK:  Best case: Everyone gets healthy and eligible and the team fniishes in the top three in the A-10.  Worst case: Depth becomes an issue because of the injuries and eligibility issues and the team fades to .500.

Recon: University of Rhode Island

Baron controls all the action in Federal HillYour Dayton Flyers are officially in survival mode. With two losses in its first five conference games (should have been three losses if not for the patron saint of choke jobs, St. Duty of Duquesne), UD has a tough road to navigate. After tonight’s game with Rhody, UD travels to St. Bonnie (a tough road environment), hosts Xavier and Charlotte (two formidable challengers to the throne) and then travels to Saint Louis (a city that has given UD fits in the past). It’s hard to imagine that the Flyers run the table over the next five games, but that is essentially what they will have to do in order to remain in the at-large picture. With the common consensus holding that a 12-4 record would likely result in a bid, UD would need to close the season out on a 9-2 run. That sound you hear is Brian Gregory’s anus puckering.

How UD plays coming off the loss to St. Joe’s will tell how much fight is left in our basketball Flyers. Like my grandfather used to say, “You can measure someone’s character by how quickly they gather themselves after getting smacked in the mouth. The faster they get up, the more heart they have. Your grandma used to pick herself off the ground after just a few seconds, that’s when I knew I had me a keeper.” My grandfather was a wise soul.

Tonight’s tussle with Rhode Island will likely serve as a turning point in the season. A win gives UD a solid conference win, and a victory over a team with a top-20 RPI. A loss could see the Flyer’s season accidentally tumbling down the stairs like my grandma whenever dinner was cold. For a program that traces much of its strength in protecting the home court, a loss to Rhode Island will serve as a deafening distress call to the rest of the conference. A defeat would further increase the distance between Dayton and the upper-tier of the league (Xavier, Temple, Rhode Island, Charlotte, Richmond). If I could hype this game up any further I would, but I think you get the point -- a win would be a vital shot in the arm for the Flyers.

Before we dive face first into URI, there’s just one quick house cleaning item to discuss.

BG is…peculiar. There are two aspects to the DDN’s coverage of UD basketball that I find entertaining without fail.  Any nonsensical defense of Kurt Huelsman’s play and quotes from Chris Wright that indicate a general lack of English comprehension. Now, let’s add bizarre statements from Brian Gregory to that list. From the people’s paper, the head man’s reaction to the St. Joey loss:

“When you play like that, you don’t deserve to win,” UD coach Brian Gregory said. “It was a poorly coached game and a poorly played game... I’d have been more upset if we won the game because it would go against what we believe.”

Is anyone else having trouble understanding BG’s message here? If my appraisal is correct, Gregory is essentially saying that if the Flyers don’t follow the game plan, their preferred style of play, he would rather lose than win. Yes? Just when I think Gregory is ready for the big time, he comes out and says something inane like this. Could you imagine providing the press with this quote after a tough loss in the Big Ten? There would be “For Sale” signs and burning effigies on his lawn the next morning. Let’s revisit this quote if/when UD is one of the last teams held out of the field on Selection Sunday. You may have wings Brian Gregory, but you are not ready to fly…

Here is another gem from the Coach:

“Our defense was atrocious. We couldn’t guard the ball and we didn’t give any help. They turned it into a one-on-one game.”

Dayton's Boss HoggReally, you thought the defense was atrocious? St. Joseph’s shot 39.6% from the field, got out-rebounded by 13, and were held nine points below their season average. The defense was just fine, the type of D that will result in a win nine times out of ten in this conference. It was the offense that was “atrocious.” UD scored just 59 points a game against the Hawks, sixteen points below SJU’s points-allowed average (75 ppg). You know what else was atrocious? Not calling a timeout when you have one on the books in order to set up a play at the end of the game.  

Don’t expect any clarification as to why a timeout wasn’t called at the end of the SJU game. The question will never be asked and BG certainly won’t volunteer an explanation. Doug Harris and the rest of the Dayton Daily News reporters need the University of Dayton more than the U of D needs the DDN. The newspaper is essentially a state-run body at this point. Brian Gregory could run over a Haitian immigrant, while blind drunk and getting a blowie from an underage Malaysian boy and it would more than likely be covered up. That’s one of the advantages of being the top dog in a small mill town (I tell people that Dayton is a small mill town in order to placate their impressions of small town Amurika). Gregory, to his credit, is well aware that deflection is the best tool to satiate the masses. As a corporate defense attorney my advice is always simple and straightforward, “Deny until you die.” I think BG would be a very agreeable client.

With that being said, I present the Rhode Island Rams for your review.

Overview.A win in tonight’s game is imperative for both teams. The loser moves to 3-3 in conference, with its at-large possibilities effectively vanquished. URI comes into the game with an impressive 15-3 record (8-2 over the last ten games), with wins over Providence, Boston College and Oklahoma State. The Rams’ two conference losses came at the hands of Temple, a 68-64 defeat, and an eleven point loss to Jordan Crawford’s Musketeers over the weekend. The Rams have a very un-UD-like road record, going 6-2 on the season. Depending how things shake out the rest of the season, this could be a de facto elimination game, as this is the only time these two teams meet this season (I’m already penciling in Temple and Xavier on the B.R. bracket, and it’s hard to imagine more than three teams making it from the A-10 come March). Joey Lunardi sure seems to think so:

In an interview on ESPN.com, Lunardi said: “A big game this week, Dayton hosting Rhode Island. That’s an early bubble game. The loser of that will probably drop out of the bracket next week.”

Now I feel confident in my opinion. Having Joe Lunardi on your side is like walking into a VFW hall with an elderly Asian man in a head lock, you earn respect without saying a word.

Meet and Greet. The good news for the rest of the Atlantic Ten is that this Ram team will be severely depleted at the close of business this year. Jim Baron must feel like the manager of Menudo when those Latin lads start sprouting ball fuzz; he knows he will be forced to turn the whole group over the next season. Led by a triumvirate of seniors, the Rams only go about eight or nine deep.  The seniors account for approximately 55% of the Rams’ points, 50% of the rebounding, 55% of the shot attempts and get the fattest buds whenever there is a smoke circle -- which knowing URI, is often.

URI's black Jon ScheyerThe Rams are led by 6’4” guard Keith Cothran, who is following a breakout junior season with an impressive final year in Kingston. Averaging 16.4 points per game, Cothran is equally adept at driving to the basket or hitting shots from outside, connecting on 46% of his shots from the floor. Cothran is a shoot-first, shrug, and then shoot again off-guard, he will only pass in the most necessary of circumstances. A big part of his game is doing work on the glass, as he is grabbing around four rebounds a game.

Cothran’s selfishness is acceptable, as point-guard Marquis Jones is the leading assist man in the Atlantic Ten (4.8 apg). Jones protects the basketball like a cop hiding seized money in a crawl space, bringing a Jon Scheyer-esque assists-to-turnover ratio of 3.3:1 to the table (Scheyer’s ratio is actually 3.7:1, which is phenomenal when you consider that he is playing out of position with little help on the inside. This is the last time anything complementary will be said about anyone or anything associated with Duke University). Jones, like his counterpart London Warren, shies away from shooting the ball. Most of his field goal attempts will come from three-point territory when left unaccompanied on the perimeter. He shoots out of sheer embarrassment and necessity.  

Rhode Island’s frontcourt is led by senior forwards Delroy James and Lamonte Ullmer. James has a vastly improved game, as he came into URI with little outside touch and now has a consistent 10-15 foot jumper in his offensive stash (yes Flyer fans, it’s possible to develop a jumper in college). James is scoring around fourteen points a contest and pulling down six rebounds as well. James’ 44% shooting percentage is skewed by his 30% shooting from behind the arc (DJ hoisted seven threes in the Rams’ loss to Xavier over the weekend, not connecting on a single attempt—he’s URI’s Paul Willie). Ullmer leads the team in minutes played (30.6 mpg) and rebounds (7.6 rpg), registering four double-doubles on the year. Ullmer is not the threat from the outside, opting to do his damage within five feet (aka the Flyght Zone). Key to URI’s attack is the foul-shooting ability of both their starting forwards, as James and Ullmer are shooting a collective 75% from the stripe.

Will Martell, a true seven footer, will start in the middle for Rhody. With a dearth of 84-inchers around the country, there is a rather simple explanation as to why Martell ended up at URI (I’ll let you do the mental gymnastics). Nevertheless, Martell’s overall contributions to the Ram attack are anything but negative. In twenty-two minutes a game, Martell is scoring 6.6 points and snatching 5.3 rebounds per game. Additionally, he is shooting a robust 56% from the floor and 70% from the foul-line. Throw in a block and half a game and I would gladly trade Huelsman and Big Dog Searcy for Martell. I’m bullish on Josh Benson, so he’s off the trading block.

Kingston's freak of natureIn O’Brien’s preseason interview with Paul Kenyon of the Providence Journal, shooting-guard Akeem Richmond was slated as the freshman most likely to make an impact in year one. That prediction has come to fruition, as Richmond is seeing plenty of action for the Rams (sixteen minutes a game to be precise. URI’s other freshmen, Ryan Brooks and Nikola Malesevic, have barely left the bench this season). Richmond is Rhody’s best three-point shooter (38%) and scores eight points per outing. Whereas Marquis Jones acts as URI’s calming factor, Richmond plays with the type of reckless abandon that only a Flyer fan could appreciate. With more turnovers than assists, Richmond’s erratic play is typical of a freshman trying to learn the ropes. It will be interesting to see what type of defenses Brian Gregory throws at the Rhode Island offense when Marquis Jones is outside the Arena catching a smoke.

Stevie Mejia (didn’t he play for DePaul?) and Orion Outerbridge are two Bostonians that should see significant playing time off the pine. Mejia, a loveable scamp who stands at just 5’9”, does a decent Marquis Jones impression when he is in the game. Like Jones, Mejia cherishes the ball as if it was his first born, and comes into tonight’s tilt with a 2.4:1 assist-to-turnover ratio. Not a threat to hit anything from outside (38%-25%-84%), Mejia averages just 3.8 points per game.  Outerbridge, a 6’9” sophomore, is enjoying an industrious season. How does seven points, three boards and a block in seventeen minutes sound? Don’t lie, production like that from a Dayton big man would probably lead to Hall-of-Fame enshrinement.

Numbers Game. The essence of statistics is not to make simple things complicated, but to make complicated things simple. 

		PPG	FG%	FT%	3P%	RPG	ORPG	DRPG	APG	TPG	SPG	BPG	FPG
	URI	78.6	46.3	72.6	31.7	35.8	12.8	22.9	15.2	12.4	8.7	5.3	16.8
	UD	69.5	43.7	66.6	32.4	38.6	12.5	25.6	14.9	14.7	6.2	3.4	20.1
	URI Opponents	70.6	45.2	63.8	33.9	36.2	12.9	23.3	13.7	16.2	4.9	2.0	19.0
	UD Opponents	62.1	40.4	65.7	33.3	32.4	9.6	22.8	11.4	15.2	5.9	3.2	19.0

Alysha Castonguay = URI 1, UD 0.Rhode Island does a lot of things better than most teams in the conference. They lead the A-10 in scoring (78.6 ppg), are second in field-goal percentage (46.3%), second in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.25:1), and third in free-throw percentage (72.6%). However, as good as the Rams are on offense, they are equally deficient on the defensive end. URI is ninth in the league in scoring defense (70.6 ppg), dead last in the conference in defensive field-goal percentage (45.2%), and tenth in rebounding (32.5 rpg). The formula for the Rams is simple, score over 70 points and they win (Rams are 15-1 in games scoring 70+). Score less than 70, the Rams likely crawl from the Arena with a loss (0-2 in games scoring less than 70). The onus will be on UD’s defense to bring home the victory.

Prediction:This is a tough call. UD's current home winning-streak is a reminder of just how difficult it is for opponents to come into the Arena and leave with a victory. I'm not sure what we are in store for tonight. My gut tells me that it will be a tight game throughout, but I wouldn't be surprised if either side wins handily either.

I do know this, as easy as it was to predict that Chris Wright would have a field day with SJU, I can't see him getting as many easy looks as he did against Rhode Island's frontcourt. URI's forwards are athletic and will make Kountry Chris work on the defensive end as well. I'd still expect Wright to have a decent game, let's say 12 points and 9 rebounds. In addition, there is no way Chris Johnson comes out as flat as he did against St. Joe's. CJ gets back on track, scoring 17 and inhaling 11 boards.

I'm going to revert to last year's theme, which is to say the Flyers win when they absolutely have to. They took down St. Joseph's and Xavier at home when a loss could have been disastrous, and they got past Richmond in the A-10 tournament when a loss probably meant the Flyers were NIT-bound. So...Flyers win. 71-68 UD, Rob Lowery hitting big free throws to seal the deal. Jim Baron is just glad to get back to Rhode Island, where he can get a decent plate of veal scaloppine. 

An Interrogatory With: Rhode Island

We searched far and wide for someone knowledgeable of the Rhode Island Rams basketball program.  Sure enough, we found ourselves a real, live, credentialed journalist named Paul Kenyon.  Paul covers sports for The Providence Journal and knows the Rams intimately (he's seen Jim Baron shirtless).  He was kind enough to take some time from his busy schedule and entertain some of our juvenile questions.

BR: Nearly all early season prognosticators had Rhody pegged for the bottom half of the A-10, yet halfway through the season they've only suffered 3 losses with nary a bad loss in sight (@VCU, Temple, and @Xavier).  While they do have some some nice victories (OK State, middling BC and a mediocre Providence squad), they've also failed to capture the mid-major white whale, the marquee win that'll have Jay Bilas wax poetic on their tournament potential.  Will they be exposed in conference, or do you believe them to be legit?

PK: As to URI, the ocean theme fits nicely in the Ocean State. But there are no whales off Narragansett Beach near the URI campus. And there have not been any whales on their schedule, either. You can't catch a whale if there are none around.

I was among the many who picked URI in the second division of the A-10 this season. I expected them to drop back a level or two. The elusive marquee victory.But the team has earned its 15-3 record.   The Rams have played much better than expected, in large part because  they have played their best in the clutch. They have been in 10 games decided in single digits and won eight. Good foul shooting in the clutch has been huge for them. Their pressure defense has been effective, for the most part.

Still, they are a shooter short. If they had anyone remotely like Jimmy Baron, they would be a major threat. Freshman Akeem Richmond has been a big help in that respect, but the lack of consistent 3-point shooting will hurt them before the season is over.  That said, I like their chances for a top four A-10 finish. After Tuesday night, the schedule turns in their favor. I don't think an 11-5 A-10 record is out of the question at all. If I was being asked to pick a conference mark for the Rams right now, 11-5 would be my guess.

BR: Jim Baron's got a sagging mantle of hardware (4 A-10 Coach of the Year awards), but yearly his teams are written off.  Each year he plugs in another player or two and he keeps churning out the wins.  Why does the national media gravitate to the Martelli's and Brian Gregory's of the world when the mustachioed Baron clearly has the chops?  Why is there such little buzz about him each offseason?  And will he please just leave URI already?

PK: Part of Jim Baron's problem getting recognition is that he does not seek it.

He is atypical as college coaches go. He is not at all a self promoter. He prefers to be at practice working with his players. He's the most hands-on head coach, at a practice, I've ever worked with. He prefers working with his players to being at press conferences. He is not as articulate as some coaches, to the point where he openly says, "Please clean up my Brooklynese when you put it in the paper.''

The other thing that keeps his name on a lower level is that for all his A-10 success, including his four A-10 Coach-of-the-Year Awards, he has never won an NCAA Tournament game. At URI, he has yet to get the Rams into the NCAA Tournament.

A couple weeks ago, one of the New York papers had speculation about what would happen if St. John's and Rutgers needed new coaches. Baron's name was mentioned in both cases. But I think his lack of public relations image would hurt him in a big market. His second son, Billy, will join the team next season and the chances are strong that he will be coached for all four years at URI by his father.

BR: Out go Jimmy Baron and Kahiem Seawright and, just as sure as the sun rising in the East, Keith Cothran and Delroy James step up their games.  Two years ago it was Will Daniels and Parfait Bitee.  Is it the system the Coach Baron employs that allow him to utilize his players like Legos?

PK: No, it's definitely not the system. He has changed the system several times, which is one of his strengths. Instead of telling kids they have to play his way, he sees what his players can do besCoach Baron's charges.t and adapts to them.  He has played a fast-paced, pressing system for three years now because of guys like Cothran, James and Ulmer.

Those three all arrived at URI as great athletes but not great basketball players. Like Daniels and Seawright and so many others, they have gotten better every year under Baron.

 

Some URI fans question Baron's in-game strategy decisions. But no one can question how much his players improve when they are on his team. Cothran, James and Ulmer were support players last season and in the previous two years. This time around, all three have made huge strides. Cothran is having an all-conference season. He couldn't shoot from 10 feet when he arrived in Kingston. Now he is making threes as well as driving to the hoop. Ulmer was just a leaper. Now he has a nice mid-range game, is stronger and a better rebounder, and a terrific defensive player. James was wild and out of control. He still is at times, but he is getting much more consistent with each passing week. He is as versatile a player as there is in the conference. He is a senior academically but has another year of basketball eligibility. If he returns, he will be a big-time star next winter.

BR: While scanning the Rhode Island roster I noticed a peculiarity.  Nearly every player on the roster, save transfers, has spent a year at a prep school.  Does Baron request players attend a year of prep school or does he recruit prep schools more heavily than traditional high schools.  More importantly, is he on the payroll of the New England Preparatory School Athletic Council?

PK: I guess it's a regional thing. In the Northeast, it is simply taken for granted that kids go to prep school. Most of the D-I rosters are like URI's.

Anyone who excels in the interscholastic leagues in any of the Northeast states finds himself being wooed by the preps. There is a very, very strong network of prep schools throughout New England, schools that supply many Division I prospects every year. Kids are told that the interscholastic leagues are so weak they will not improve enough if they stay there. So they go to the preps, where they can play year round and get the D-I scholarships.

 

Baron did it with both his kids. Billy Baron graduated from Bishop Hendricken, the high school power in Rhode Island, and is now at Worcester Academy for a post-grad year where he is averaging about 25 a game. Jimmy Baron did the same thing. Many others do not wait until they graduate from high school to go prep. They go as 9th, 10th and 11th graders, as well.

BR: Jimmy Baron and his conference record for three-pointers made has thankfully graduated.  But to my great disdain I see that an even younger spawn of Sir Baron seems to be matriculating to Kingston next season.  How does young Billy's game compare to Jimmy's at this stage of his career?  Was it Papa Jim's intention to give B.B. the most sinister sounding name possible?  Are there anymore lil' Barons on the horizon?

PK: Billy Baron's situation has been an interesting one.. Everyone assumed he would go to URI. But it almost did not  happen.

 

As great as Jimmy Baron's career was, he talked openly in his senior year about how there were struggles involved in playing for his father. He felt - and I can vouch for - that his father pushedStart your hate now.  him harder than everyone else. Rather than favoritism for his son, Jim Baron is so straight laced that he went in the other direction and pushed his son more than anyone else. It was only last year, when Jimmy talked about it, that the two got it out in the open and the two made peace with each other.

 

Because of what he went through, Jimmy told his brother he might be better off going somewhere else. Billy visited and was offered by Rutgers. He visited Davidson when URI played at Duke. This summer, Notre Dame, Vanderbilt and Stanford, among others, recruited him when they saw him playing AAU ball and were told he was not sure about going to URI. Only in November did Billy decide to stay with his dad.

 

Billy is very different, both personally and on the court, than Jimmy. Where Jimmy is as conservative as his father off the court, Billy has more of the little-brother syndrome. He's looser, more outgoing, funnier and a bit wilder. Billy is an inch or two shorter than Jimmy. He is a better athlete, a better handler. He can be a combo guard and play the point, which his brother never did. He is a good shooter, but has a long way to go to get into his brother's class in that area. Jimmy truly is a special shooter. 

 

And no, there are no more on the way. Jim and Cindy had only the two sons.

What fun we've had.  We chatted up an old friend, talked a little whaling, learned a bit about URI (more from Blackburn tomorrow), and even introduced someone likely to haunt the next four years of your lives.  Billy Baron.  I don't think I can speak that name without ruefully shaking a fist in the air.  And I don't even know him yet.  Here's to hoping we take it out on his Pops tomorrow night.

The Atlantic 10 Rodeo

Welcome back to The Atlantic 10 Rodeo.  As with every Monday, we will review the news throughout the past week, the week’s top performers, and also take a look at what to watch during the upcoming week.  Let’s get it started:

News

Temple Continues Their Dominance

• Temple welcomed Xavier into Philly on Wednesday for a showdown of A-10 unbeatens.  Led by Ryan Brooks’ 22 points on 7-12 shooting, the Owls shot lights out (59.2%) to down the Muskies 77-72.  The win solidified Temple as the ONE team to beat in the A-10 as they improve to 17-3 (5-0).  If Brooks can continue to produce like he did against X, he could give Crawford (18 points, 6-16) a run for his money for my personal A-10 POY vote.

Dayton Gets Upended at SJU

• There’s only one thing to say about this game: FUCK.

Xavier Bounces Back

• With a short turnaround between Temple and URI, the Muskies were able to bounce back and maintain their spot behind Temple in conference standings.  Paced by Jordan Crawford’s first career double-double (21 points, 12 boards), the Muskies were able to secure the 72-61 W.  This game was home to the worst stat line of the week:
  • Kenny Frease, XU
    • 11 min, 1-2 FG, 0-2 FT, 0 REB, 0 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 5 PF
    • Foul out in 11 minutes of action, almost as good as Bob Fiehly.

Top Performers

Jordan Crawford- XU vs. URI

• The aforementioned first career double-double for Crawford came in the form of 21 points and 12 reb.  This stat line looks like a Chris Johnson-esque game for a guard.  Now if only we can get CJ to not disappear as much as Crawford, we’ll be in good shape.  Crawford will need to continue to have games like this in order to stay atop the Harry Baujan POY standings.

Chris Wright- UD vs. SJU

• The only player to make the trip out to Philly was Wright.  Without the help of his teammates, CW was able to put up a career best 28 points on 12-20 shooting.  Finally we got a glimpse of the CW that is projected to be a first round NBA draft pick.  Now if we could get a few more UD players to show up this could be a force to be reckoned with.  If not, we UD fans are going to have a long February. 

Chris Braswell- Charlotte vs. La Salle

• The freshman big man was one of 3 49er players (Braswell, Spears, Green) to score 20+ points on Saturday to slip by LaSalle 84-82.  Braswell finished with 21 points and 13 boards, while going a perfect 9-9 from the charity strip.  This performance puts Braswell on the verge of averaging a double-double on the season with 9.9 PPG and 9.2 RPG.

Rodney Green- La Salle vs. Charlotte

• There is not too much more that Green could have done to help the Explorers upset Charlotte.  Green finished the game with 32 points, 5 boards, and 5 assists.  The senior guard shot just under 50% for the game on 12-25 shooting including 3-5 from beyond the arc.  Look for Green to continue to score in bunches as he averages 44% from the field and 15 FGA per game.

Ryan Brooks- Temple vs. Xavier

• Guard play has been the driving force for the Owls this season with 39.5 PPG coming from Brooks and Juan Fernandez.  Brooks did not shy away from improving his 16 PPG average by dropping 22 points on Xavier to keep Temple unbeaten in conference play.  Brooks shot 58% from the field, hit 8 of 9 freebies, and yanked down 7 boards.  Watch out Crawford, Brooks is comin’ for ya.

Andrew Nicholson- St. Bonaventure vs. UMass & Duquesne

• Normally the Bonnies do not draw too much attention, and well that’s because they’re not very good.  They do have something good going in the form of their 6’9 sophomore, Nicholson.  He is averaging 16.7 PPG and 7.8 RPG.  This week Nicholson not only had 1 top performance, but 2 in eerily similar games.  In a 70-69 win over Umass, Nicholson notched 26 points and 7 boards on 55% shooting.  3 days later in a 70-69 loss to Duquesne, Nicholson recorded 29 points and 7 boards on 58% shooting.  It will be interesting to see how Kaptain Kurt matches up with Nicholson in the post come Saturday night.

Looking Forward to This Week

1/26- URI @ UD

• If Chris Wright is the only Flyer to show up to this game, you can bet that the nation’s second longest home winning streak will come to a close.  The loser of this game risks falling to .500 in conference play and will put them in an outside looking in position.  Look for a high scoring affair as both teams average above 70 PPG.

1/27- Temple @ Charlotte

• The Owls look to remain undefeated in conference play as they travel to North Carolina to face off with the 49ers.  With a victory, Charlotte could move into a tie atop the A-10 at 5-1.  Look for a showdown between Brooks and Spears, 2 players who are capable of putting up 30.

1/30- SLU @ Richmond

• With both squads tied for 4th in conference standings this is likely to be a quality game.  Despite having 6 losses on the year, Richmond boasts a 9-1 home record.  A loss here will give either team their 7th on the year with roughly 10 to play, something that neither team can afford if they want to be dancing come March.

As always, be sure to check back next Monday for another installment of The Atlantic 10 Rodeo.

University of Rhode Island: North (and East) of New York City

I was on a road trip down to Washington, D.C. a few weeks ago with some friends when one of them asked, "When do we pass Rhode Island?"  For the next twenty minutes a vicious debate broke out between the members of the car over whether Rhode Island was north or south of New York City.  As Lincoln and Douglas spun like dreidels in their graves (Happy Yom Kippur!), I enlightened my friend, who is a middle school teacher, that Rhode Island was in fact north of NYC and we would not be passing it enroute to DC.  In the end he finally admitted defeat, but he had that same look in his eye that Germany had in 1920.  He was beaten this time, but he would be back.

Jim Baron Sr., the white hair on top says wisdom, the brown mustace says vigor!The Rams of Rhode Island finished last season with similar fashion.  In a dog fight for their integrity, they exceeded expectations and lasted a lot longer than we predicted.  The NCAA Tournament is what they wanted, the NIT is what they got.  As we look ahead, gone is Jimmy Barron Jr., a true warlord from three point range and the team's leader, as well as Kahiem Seawright, whom Dayton fans will remember spitting in the face of Kurt Huelsman's intangibles last season.  In are some interesting freshmen and the unleashing of Mr. Delroy James into a full time starting slot.  Coach Jim Baron Sr. has taken mediocre talent to the promised land before, but will he have enough to eclipse last seasons NIT appearence?

Joining us today to shower us with actual insight is a real, professional writer.  I don't know why he agreed to be interviewed by a low level amateur, but I assume he already regrets it.  Mr. Paul Kenyon is a writer for the Providence Journal and follows the Rams so closely he's often mistaken for one of Jim Baron's kids.  Mr. Kenyon's going to be walking us through the tempered expectations that come with the 2009-10 Rhode Island Rams, the nightclub industry's influence on Jim Baron's contract, and URI's new squeky clean reputation.
 
O'B: At this time last year URI was expected to be prepared to roll over during A10 play and instead, URI made a valiant run at an at large bid to the NCAA Tournament last year, only to fall short and finish tied for second in the A-14 regular season.  The Rams have won 63 games in the past three years but have yet to make it to the Big Dance.  Is anything short of NCAA Tournament berth this season going to be considered a failure?
 
PK: No, I don’t think so because expectations will be lower.  Even with 23 wins, there was disappointment in some quarters last year because it was a veteran team.  While many were surprised the team did well, those closely associated with the club knew it would be better than a ninth place team, which is where it was picked.  This year is different. Baron and Kahiem Seawright were the leaders on and off the court.  There is talent, but it does not look to be as clean a fit as last year’s squad was.  This team looks to be a middle of the pack A-10 team, not a title contender.
 
O'B: Jimmy Barron Jr. has taken more hours of sleep away from me than my credit score.  Suffice is to say, that he will not be missed by the Flyer Faithful, though I’m sure his presence will be greatly missed from behind the arc in Kingston.  Who will Coach Barron turn to this season to shoot from three point range and stretch the defense?  Will anyone on URI’s roster be able to strike the same fear in the opposition?
 
PK: With Baron gone, 3-point shooting becomes a major issue.  The Rams likely will be weak in that area.  Keith Cothran came on nicely last year as a complement to Baron.  He will have to carry the load this year, even though his strength is taking it to the basket.  The point guards, Marquis Jones and Stevie Mejia are both only average 3-point shooters, at best.  Delroy James will have to help although he is a slasher, not a shooter.  The wild card is forward Ben Eaves.  He can shoot, but they also will need him inside so he likely will be limited in his time behind the arc.
  
O'B: Coach Baron has put together a solid recruiting class with prep forward Ryan Brooks and combo guard Akeem Richmond.  Can we expect any production from them this season?  If so what kind of impact could they make?
 
PK: Richmond will be given a chance to help because the back court is thin.  Brooks likely will have to bide his time since the frontcourt is deeper.  Baron’s practice as a coach is to bring freshmen along slowly, so I would not look for a big impact from those two.  Since the team has two scholarships available, it would not be a surprise to see a late addition, especially an international player.
 
O'B: Delroy James is coming off a successful year in which he was named the 6th Man of the Year and now he will be getting more time to shine in his senior year as a full time starter.  How is URI planning on using him and what has he been doing to try to limit his inconsistent play? Delroy James is Josh Benson's nightmare fuel.
 
PK: From where I sit, James is the key player.  He will have to step up as the team leader.  Like his three brothers before him, he has tons of talent. He can do a little of everything, including rebound and play defense.  But, as you mention, he was inconsistent last year.  If the team is going to be good, James needs to be strong every night.
 
O'B: Rhode Island basketball has a very colorful history.  The years of Lamar Odom, Jim Harrick, and Zach Marbury gave the program a lot of success, only to ensure they paid the price later.  Rhode Island is now back on stable footing, and they were able to rebound quickly.  What was the turning point in changing URI from toxic program to a successful one?  What lessons were learned and applied by the athletic department to ensure compliance in the future?
 
PK: The URI administration knew it was taking a gamble with Jim Harrick.  It won by reaching the Elite Eight, but lost when it was put on sanctions.  Because of the problems, the school went with someone with a squeaky clean reputation.  That is Jim Baron.  He tires URI fans at times because he speaks so often about requiring his players to be good student-athletes.  But he is serious about it.  He runs a clean program filled with kids who are good to work with. 
 
O'B: Your colleague Kevin McNamara wrote an article in June about Coach Barron’s contract situation that I found interesting.  Barron is currently the highest paid public employee in the state of Rhode Island and is due for a new contract and pay increase, especially if he is successful again this season.  Do you think that Coach Barron could be looking to exit for a higher profile program, especially if the state decides that in a time of financial turmoil it may not be worth spending three quarters of a million dollars on a basketball coach?  Also I found it intriguing that Coach Barron gets a percentage of gate receipts for home games.  Is this simply an incentive-driven consideration or does Barron have a shady past as a nefarious club promoter that we don't know about?
 
PK: Kevin did that story for our paper, The Providence Journal, this summer.  The talks of a possible contract extension were very brief.  The school said it simply did not have any money available. Nothing was done. With reports now about terrible financial problems in Rhode Island the chances of an extension are all but out the window for now.  Giving Baron part of the gate receipts is simply a way for the school to make his salary competitive without digging into its own budget.  I like the word nefarious.  But if there is one guy it does not apply to it is Jim Baron.  Since URI has not made the NCAA Tournament under Baron and since that is not likely to happen this year, either, I think his chances of moving up to a bigger, higher paying school are very unlikely. 
 
O'B: What are you predictions for this coming season?  How will the team finish the year?  Is there any hope to be a perennial A10 contender or will URI fans have to wait until the prophesied coming of Jimmy Barron the Third?
 
PK: The team has backed off its non-conference schedule.  It will not be strong.  I would not be  surprised to see the team win 9 or 10 non-conference games. I would be surprised to see the team win that many in the A-14, although it is a funny schedule.  Lots of good teams, like Dayton, on the road, with the weaker teams at home. It could mean a season close to .500 in the conference.  The program is in solid shape, but not great condition.  It will be fine for the foreseeable future, but being a perennial contender might be too much to ask.  I think the people at URI would love to see Jimmy Baron Jr. come back some day as coach…..