In Week 6 of the Associated Press top 25 men’s basketball poll last year, the Rhode Island Rams found themselves receiving votes to be nationally ranked.
This was two days after the Rams defeated in-state rival Providence College at home, and a week after Rhody took down the eventual Ivy League champions, Yale.
The Rams fell to Brown on the road in their next matchup, and after finishing with an 11-1 non-conference record, Rhode Island only secured seven Atlantic 10 Conference wins and one road victory.
The season that once called for fanfare ended in heartbreak, as despite finishing 10th in the A-10, Rhody fell in the first round of the conference tournament, 88-71, to No. 15 Fordham – the first time in conference history that a 15 seed won a tournament game.
With graduation and transfers, Rhode Island is without 96.4% of its scoring production, 84.5% of its rebounds and 96.5% of its playmaking. A seemingly familiar trend for the Rhody faithful, as after Miller’s first season, he replaced 87.1% of Rhode Island’s scoring production, and the Rams went on to improve by three wins the following year.
Miller has had to overhaul teams before, and that will be the case in 2025-26. Losing the likes of Sebastian Thomas, Jaden House, David Green and Javonte Brown to graduation is a tough break for Miller. Departures from the transfer portal include fourth-year guard Jamarques Lawrence (Nebraska), third-year guard Cam Estevez (Fairfield), third-year forward David Fuchs (San Francisco) and third-year guard Always Wright.
At first glance, the incoming transfer class for the Rams appears to be strong. Graduate guards Myles Corey and RJ Johnson are equipped to fulfill Miller’s usual “true” point guard spot. Fifth-years Alex Crawford and Mo Sow are primed to fill the void David Green left behind as a pure scorer. Sixth-year guard Tyler Cochran may naturally fall into a leadership role, as he’s already expressed his main goal this season.
“I didn’t come here to waste time,” Cochran told URI Athletics. “I haven’t been to the NCAA Tournament in my career, and that is one of my biggest goals. With this roster and getting myself healthy, we have the chance to do exactly that. I’m excited for that chance.”
Rhode Island marks Cochran’s fifth stop, as he began his collegiate basketball career in 2019 at Northern Illinois, before playing one year at Ball State, followed by two years at Toledo and then a year at Minnesota.
The team also added fourth-year guard and former conference foe Jonah Hinton from St. Bonaventure, who will likely provide valuable minutes off the bench. Hinton scored a team-high 18 points against Rhode Island last season in a 68-64 loss to the Rams.
Among returners, fifth-year senior Drissa Traore played consistent minutes and started in two games last season. Expect him to step in where he’s needed. Second-year Jaymien Aponte also returns, but given the crowded guard room, expect him to remain in the queue for playing time.
The question for Rhode Island will be a question that many college basketball programs face: Can an entirely new team put together a championship-worthy season?
This upcoming season will mark Miller’s fourth year of his initial five-year contract with URI. Since coming to the Ocean State, his Rams have gone 39-55 overall, 0-3 in A-10 Tournament games and 1-2 against Providence.
Rhode Island will continue its offseason workouts and conditioning, as it gears up to make a run to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2018.
