A Bare Baron Era
After becoming head coach in 2001, there were lofty expectations for Jim Baron and his oncoming staff. If Baron was able to coach a St. Bonaventure team to a NCAA tournament appearance, surely, he would be able to remake his magic in Kingston, right? Wrong. With a disappointing 8-20 finish to the 2001 season, Rhode Island basketball fans were surely disappointed by the record but excited by the future prospects of what the capabilities of Baron could produce. Unfortunately, no one within the 401-area code ever saw those hopes come to fruition.
The theme of Jim Baron's time in Kingston was "so close, yet so far away". Even after the acquisition of 3 A10 Coach of the Year awards while with the Rhode Island Program, Jim Baron appeared to be cursed to never make the NCAAs. Even with the tremendous play of his own sharpshooting son, Jimmy Baron and the post play of Delroy James, Rhode Island basketball could only be placed into the NIT numerous times while under Baron's lead.
Despite all of the disappointment, the University of Rhode Island still gave Jim Baron a contract extension because of the mutual feeling between the 2 parties that this basketball program was destined to make the Big Dance. Unfortunately, following a horrific 7-24 record in 2011-2012, the university relieved Baron of his duties. At this point, Rhode Islanders everywhere had to wonder, will URI ever make another NCAA tournament?
