An Attendee's Reaction to URI's First Round Press Conference
From the perspective of the players, they repeated the basics of what we have all heard since Sunday's huge championship win over VCU. The Rams from Kingston, RI have constantly reiterated the fact that they accomplished their 2 pre-season goals, making the NCAA tournament and winning the Atlantic 10 tournament. With that said, this team is looking for more and they know full well that they are capable of making a Cinderella-like run. Given the Rams' Top-25 ranking before the season began, I am calling them a "Dark Cinderella", a mix between a "dark horse" and a "Cinderella". In addition, E.C. Matthews and Hassan Martin talked about how their team is finally hitting on all cylinders and the team's confidence. Confidence can carry any contender a long way in March. Furthermore, I was happy about the way that Martin and Iverson spoke about how they plan on combating Justin Patton. The hardest challenge that URI will have on Friday afternoon is defending Patton and pushing him off the block, in my opinion.
Next, Dan Hurley came right into the press conference, cheerful as ever and laughing about his idea that he was the only one in the room. I have never seen Coach Hurley so happy, although he has good reason to be. You know things are going well for your basketball program when you're laughing about how they haven't been to the NCAA tournament in almost 20 years. I can imagine that all of the news reporters and media must have been surprised and almost scared by how much Hurley was laughing before a single question was asked. Starting off, URI's head coach mentioned the team's eight road/neutral court victories over the course of their season. All eight of those victories will be important because being a "home court hero" means nothing when it comes to the NCAA tournament. Just ask Syracuse (sorry, too early?). I think that this team's experience from beating Cincinnati at Mohegan Sun can go a long way in their preparation for this one.
Ten minutes of hearing Dan Hurley speak to the media in this press conference and it is hard for a Rhode Island basketball fan not to know who the victor will be on Friday afternoon. Above all else, my happiest moment of watching the 24 minute and 57 second-long press conference is that unlike some other teams in the Big Dance, the Rams DID NOT give their game strategy away. With Bobby Hurley, Lamar Odom, and Cuttino Mobley all expected to be in attendance at 4:30 pm tomorrow, it is time for URI to put on a show.
These four Rhode Island Rams (below) are ready to continue doing what they have done for the past eight games - take care of business. #DarkCinderella
