Selection Sunday 2017: Potential Opponents for Rhode Island
With URI, having just won the Atlantic 10 championship and securing an automatic bid into the NCAA tournament, it is time to start pondering Selection Sunday. At 5:30 pm on CBS, Selection Sunday will announce URI into the field of 68 and reveal their opponent in the first round of the tournament. Currently, most projections have URI as a #10 or #11 seed. Therefore, I will list their potential opponents in the first round (likely a #6 or #7 seed) and my short thoughts on the matchup between the two teams. Once their opponent has been revealed, I will preview their entire first round matchup of the NCAA tournament.
Potential opponents include (but are not limited to):
Wisconsin: If URI plays as hot as they have in the Atlantic 10 tournament, they can beat the Badgers. They have the guards to beat the Badgers in the backcourt but their bigs would have their hands full with Nigel Hayes and Ethan Happ.
Michigan: No team in the country is as hot as the Wolverines right now. After a complete disaster with their airplane getting to the Big 10 tournament, they just won the whole thing. Rhode Island may be a hot team right now but I prefer that they do not play the Wolverines in the first round. Let them cool off first.
Minnesota: The Golden Gophers may be coached by the legendary Rick Pitino’s son but this team is nowhere near on the level of the Louisville Cardinals. I would be content to have Minnesota be URI’s first round opponent.
Saint Mary's: Dayton fell to the Gaels, 61-57, at UD Arena early in the nonconference part of the schedule so take that as you may. However, playing out of the West Coast conference, I think that they have been tested even less than URI has. Saint Mary’s reminds me a lot of the Belmont team that URI had no trouble with this season.
Maryland: Without E.C. Matthews, the Rams got destroyed by the Maryland Terrapins last season in the Cancun challenge. I doubt that the veteran players on the Rams forgot about that and I know the Maryland fan base HATES Dan Hurley after some extracurricular activities in the handshake line in Cancun. This would be a fun one to watch and Maryland has been laboring lately. I like this matchup.
Virginia Tech: The Hokies played well in the ACC but their only good road victory was at Michigan. After watching them play at home and lose to Notre Dame, I am a non-believer in Buzz Williams’ team. URI will be more than okay with having VT be their first-round opponent.
Northwestern: Northwestern has never been to the NCAA tournament and Rhode Island has not been to the tournament since 1999. I am not a big believer of what the Wildcats can produce in the Big Dance. The Rams probably want to have Northwestern on the top of their wish list of potential opponents.
Miami (Fl.): Jim Larranaga coaches his Hurricanes very well and they run a fluid offense, that is led by Davon Reed and Ja’Quan Newton. Due to the way that the ‘Canes like to push the tempo and run up-and-down the court, I think Rhody matches up well with Miami (Fl.).
Creighton: Ever since Mo Watson’s season-ending injury, the Bluejays have had 0 sense of direction. They are still a capable team since they have Maurice Foster and Justin Patton but this team is at the top of the list for ideal first round opponents for the Rhode Island Rams.
