Rams Are as Ready as They’ll Ever Be
KINGSTON, R.I. – It often goes unsaid when looking at a team’s potential before the season, but sometimes it gets plenty of mention after a season if a team fails to meet its potential. About the only time it gets any mention before the season is if a team had problems with it the season before.
“The first key is staying healthy,” Jim Baron said when asked what he figures the keys will be to Rhode Island’s season.
The Rams’ head coach is not an idle witness to mentioning health. As a much-anticipated season begins, the Rams will start with top returning scorer Dawan Robinson out with a foot injury and projected starting point guard Jon Lucky also among the walking wounded. Lucky could play in their season opener, while Robinson is likely out until at least December. Jamaal Wise, arguably their most improved player last year, is also out indefinitely.
Where Rhode Island will be strong is the frontcourt, as they aren’t lacking for bodies, healthy or not. Senior Scott Hazleton has one last chance to live up to his billing coming into college, and will likely do most of that at small forward. Senior Marcel Momplaisir and junior Terrance Mack figure to be among the key players as well, along with inconsistent big man Jon Clark. Sophomore J.R. Moore is a live body who can give them good minutes as well. Junior college transfer Alex Davis and freshman Will Daniels will see minutes at forward as well, likely on the wing and especially while Wise is out.
The injuries on the perimeter mean adjustments early, especially since the Rams don’t return a lot of proven shooters in the first place.
“We’ve had to make a couple of adjustments because of the injuries,” Momplaisir said after Saturday’s game, in which he and Mack both made a three-pointer. “We thought we had it all set during the preseason, but now we have a new identity losing Dawan (Robinson) and Jamaal (Wise). I think we’re set now – everybody knows what their role is, everybody understands what Baron wants, and a couple of people have to step up and take roles that they normally wouldn’t have with Dawan and Jamaal out.”
While the effect on the offensive end goes without saying, Mack noted the impact on defense.
“We have to try to limit the teams to less points so that it will take a little bit of pressure off of us to score more points.”
Baron is big on intangibles like senior leadership and the way a team plays, so it’s no surprise that he sees those as keys for this team and especially early on.
“To make good decisions and good judgment is going to be important for this basketball team,” he said. “We have to do a lot of things as a team to really evolve.”
Lucky could be a real difference-maker for this team. The young freshman is an unselfish floor leader with great size for the point, allowing Robinson to play shooting guard when he returns, and the Rams would have a team with good overall size on the floor.
The Rams have won with things like rebounding, scrappy play, clutch plays, and just good old-fashioned basketball under Baron. It makes sense because he’s an old school coach. This year’s team looks like it will be no different, especially in the early going as they adjust to players out with injuries. The Rams could be a contender in the Atlantic 10 this year, with their veteran core and the continuity of the program.
After their win in the NIT last year, Mack said something he surely still feels now.
“When you look back at a team winning 20 games, it says for next year we’re ready for business.”
The 2004-05 season is here, and the Rams are ready for business.
