Game 12: GMU (6-5 / 2-3) vs Rhode Island (6-7 / 3-3) on Saturday, January 16, at 2PM.

Rhode Island is currently 6 - 7 on the season and 3 - 3 in A10 play.

History: Including tournament play DP is 1 - 4 against the Rams.

Wins: USF, San Francisco, Seton Hall, St. Bonaventure, St. Joe’s, VCU
Losses: Arizona St., Boston College, Wisconsin, Western Kentucky, Davidson, Richmond, UMass

Schedule: https://gorhody.com/sports/mens-basketball/schedule
Roster: https://gorhody.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster?path=mbball
Stats: https://gorhody.com/documents/2021/1/13//2020_21_Combined.pdf?id=3699

Rhode Island is led by 5’11” Fatts Russell (15.2 ppg), 6’1” Jeremy Sheppard (10.2 ppg) and 6’7” Antwan Walker (8.2 ppg & 6.5 reb). Five other guys have started two or more games so their starting lineup has changed from game to game. Eight other guys average between 4.5 and 8.0 ppg. 6’10” Maryland transfer Makhel Mitchell had a career high 23 points on Wednesday in an overtime loss to UMass and may be emerging as a strong post player.

Rhode Island averages 74.1 points per game while giving up 71.9. The Rams shoot 46.0% from the floor and 33.5% from 3. Opponents are shooting 40.4% from the field and 31.4% from 3. The Rams shoot 67.3% from the free throw line. They have out rebounded opponents to the tune of 2.2 boards per game.

The game is on NBCSN.

My prediction: The Rams were picked 6th in A10 preseason polls and have played a solid OOC schedule including two teams that are ranked in the top 20 so their won/loss record is not necessarily indicative of how good they can be. We play with more confidence as a result of the blowout win over LaSalle but fall in a close one. Rams 71 - Patriots 68.

Discuss.

Us 77
Them 75
OT

Tyler "Durden" Kolek returns home with a chip on his shoulder due to the Rams not recruiting him more aggressively. He breaks Dre Smith's school record by going 11-11 from behind the arc despite 15 allotted fans screaming, "Cover the white guy!!!"

He ends up with 40 points in a 2-point Mason victory but opts to forego postgame interviews, choosing instead to bang two Rhode Island cheerleaders (consensually, of course) on his way out of town. BET's sister network WET secures the script to the movie with the tentative title, "The Rhody That Got Away."

@gmujim92 alright Jim. You said URI would SUCK this year. I said they would be better than Mason. Let's see who is least sucky up in Rhode Island this weekend. I have Rhode Island by 8. Fatts is struggling a bit this year but I still don't think we have a guard that isn't a turnstile on defense that can keep up with him. Their bigs foul a ton.... get them in foul trouble like we did Moore in the first half vs Lasalle

I’m honestly amazed at how well Cox is doing with a basically new team and no offseason. I think they’re gonna wax us.

I use your game threads to see when the next game is on. If you put the channel name in the title, you'd never see another reply from me lol

Like most outside the top 3 in the league this year -- URI is a very beatable team. Haven't watched too many of their games, but what I did catch during VCU they looked pretty solid. Whether we are able to keep it close will come down to whether we get Dr. Jekyll or Mr. Hyde from Fatts, because our guards really struggle to stay in front of their man, and he will absolutely settle for an open mid range shot. Whether or not he heats up on those shots will determine if we lose by 18 or by 5. URI 71 Mason 66.

Me wonders if we will give Russell any particular defensive attention or if we'll just kind of pretend he's like the rest of them like we did with Crutcher and then just act surprised when we lose

Could go either way but I think we would all agree no chance Larranaga beats U of L this weekend

Game Day!

How very fitting that Jennifer Anniston is wearing a big L on her uniform.

Same starting five as last two games: Kolek, Greene, Miller, AJ, Oduro

Just heard the “practices had been good leading up to Lasalle” quote from Paulsen.

This is easily the best I've seen this team play, considering both ends.

Mitchell looks like shit. Surprised at that.

100% picking up right where we left off. Looks like the guys needed the tune up game that Norfolk State should have been. Everyone seems to have a little more pep in their step.

Honestly, all things considered this is as good a start as we could have hoped for. Our half court offense can’t stall like that, but the defense has kept us where we need to be in the TO department. Need to stick someone in Fatts pocket though.

Love Greg, but get him out of the game.