Rhode Island picked up two wins this week and scored 90-plus points in its first three games for the first time in program history.
The Rams squared off against two New England programs this week: the College of the Holy Cross Crusaders and the Franklin Pierce University Ravens. Rhode Island took down the Crusaders, 91-77, and followed that up with a 105-73 thumping of the Ravens.
Even after starting their season 3-0 and outscoring their opponents by a combined total of 84 points, URI head coach Archie Miller feels his team needs to be better in certain areas of the game.
“We’re a little kid team on the boards, we can’t play with the big boys on the glass,” Miller said about his getting outrebounded by Holy Cross. “We’re not a good rebounding team right now. We don’t rebound worth a damn.”
Holy Cross outrebounded the Rams 35-30, including 11 offensive rebounds to the Rams’ four. In the first half alone, the Rams gave up 24 rebounds while only securing 14. This led to Holy Cross scoring 10 second-chance points to Rhode Island’s six. That difference was enough to put the Crusaders up 44-40 at the end of the first half.
In the second half, the Rams went small, taking fifth-year center Javonte Brown off the floor in favor of the smaller and faster fourth-year forward Drissa Traore. According to Miller, this gave his team a better chance at defending the 3-point shot, another area the Rams have struggled against in these two wins.
In both games, the Rams allowed their opponents to hit at least 45% of their 3-point shots in the first half. The Rams adjusted at halftime and those percentages dove to below average in the second half.
“I think some of their [Holy Cross] 3s in the first was just a complete and total breakdown in special situations,” Miller said. “Rebounding hurt us, I assume they got at least three off of second fan outs and kick outs.”
Miller felt the same about his team’s ability to defend the 3-point shot in their game against the Division II Ravens.
“To give up 12 of 28 from 3, I’m not sure I should be happy about anything to be honest with you,” Miller said. “Moving forward, we won’t be able to get away with much more of the lack of extra effort, especially guarding the [3-point] line.”
Miller’s team wasn’t all doom and gloom after these two wins. In the win against Holy Cross, fourth-year David Green scored 25 points while making three shots from behind the arc and going a perfect 6 of 6 at the charity stripe.
“I was just focused on getting the win, and I just want to win games,” Green said. “I want to be a senior leader. That’s my main focus, and the scoring comes with it, but the next night, it might not.”
That next night, it was fourth-year Jaden House who led the Rams offensively. He finished the Franklin Pierce game with 21 points, four rebounds and three 3-pointers. House came off the bench, a role that Miller believes can help him thrive and potentially earn first-team all-conference honors.
“To his credit, he’s not pouting right now, he’s doing what we’re asking him to do,” Miller said. “He’s a good player, and even though he’s not starting right now, at the end of the day, if he pouts, if he doesn’t handle it right, then we don’t win tonight because we needed everyone.”
House had 14 second-half points against Holy Cross, going a perfect 4 for 4 at the free-throw line. House also converted two and-1 plays that sparked an offensive onslaught from the Rams as they mounted a 42-13 run over 14 minutes in the second half.
Rhode Island has a chance to start this season 4-0 for the first time since the 2016-17 season. That opportunity will come when the Rams take on Lafayette College at 7 p.m. ET Wednesday in the Thomas M. Ryan Center. The game will be broadcasted on ESPN+.
