Defense Will be the Key For the Rams
SOUTH KINGSTON, R.I. – If the 2008-09 season for Rhode Island is to be better than the prior one, “defense” can’t be a dirty word. The Rams realize this, not only from last season, but also from their first exhibition game in which they rolled over Concordia by a score of 123-84.
Last season started out for the Rams much like it did for the conference as a whole. By the time the new year rolled around, there was plenty of talk about the NCAA Tournament and the reality of being nationally ranked. The Rams were 14-1 when they opened conference play at Dayton in January.
But all along, there was one problem: the Rams couldn’t stop anyone. Only two teams in the conference allowed more points, but no one allowed more in Atlantic 10 games than the Rams, as conference opponents scored 79 points per night and shot nearly 46 percent from the field.
The season already looked like one that might fall well short of its early promise, but a late three-game homestand where the Rams lost all three sealed their fate as a team that would only reach the NCAA Tournament with an automatic bid. While a three-game sweep against the likes of Xavier, UMass and Saint Joseph’s was unlikely, a 2-1 showing might have kept them in a position where an at-large bid was possible. And as if that wasn’t enough, the season ended with a heart-breaking loss to Creighton in the NIT.
This season’s team has a similar look in terms of how they will play. The Rams are still going to run, run and run some more, and they certainly have the athletes to do it. This team is built to play at a breakneck pace, and if they create turnovers, they’re sure to get plenty of transition baskets. Add in the three-point shooting of senior Jimmy Baron to athletes like juniors Keith Cothran, Lamonte Ulmer and Delroy James, and you have a dangerous offense.
“We have athleticism that we’ve never had here, we have depth,” said head coach Jim Baron. “We’ve added on to what we started two years ago.”
The key, of course, will be stopping people, and they’re aware of that. Defense has been stressed tremendously since the start of practice, and Baron has had good defensive teams before, so it’s not like he hasn’t built a good defensive team before.
“We know we can score,” said James, “but defense comes first. You can’t win a game without playing defense.”
Said Jim Baron: “We have to defend and we have to stop people to become the basketball team I think we can become by Atlantic 10 play.”
James looks much more comfortable on the floor now and could be primed to break out. The lefty athlete has always had the athleticism and scoring tools to be a star in this system, but academic issues have held him back his first two years. He’s taken care of things better, and can see and feel the difference.
“It’s different,” he reflected. “First year, that was unexpected, and last year, me being an idiot, that happened. But this year, I’m more relaxed, doing what I came here to do – play basketball and get my academics up.”
The point guard spot is a microcosm of the entire team: they have the bodies, but the picture of who plays and how many minutes isn’t clear. Sophomore Marquis Jones is a solid defender whose offense is improved, while freshman Stevie Mejia can score more and keeps working to get better. Jones might appear to have an edge for the starting spot right now, but Mejia will get plenty of minutes.
Inside, there are, again, a few capable bodies but not a clear picture, save for Kaheim Seawright starting at one spot. The senior was second in the conference in rebounding and is a force inside while running the floor better than most power forwards. Alongside him could be Jason Francis, who has a big body but runs well for his size, or they could go smaller with just him and James up front. Sophomore Will Martell has an improved body and should be ready to contribute more, while Connecticut transfer Ben Eaves has a live body.
The aforementioned guards will also get help from freshman Jamal Wilson, a versatile wing who can play bigger and knows how to win. Another freshman, Orion Outerbridge, is long and athletic and should see some minutes up front, although he has to get stronger.
This season, the Atlantic 10 doesn’t look as strong at the top as last season, but it won’t be any less daunting as a whole. The conference appears to have better depth, so there will be more land mines to navigate. While the Rams may arguably have as much talent as anyone and as many pieces, that alone won’t get them into contention. Nor, for that matter, will putting up 90 points regularly, as last season showed that they can’t just out-score teams.
