The 2016-2017 Rhode Island Rams MBB Superlatives
Best overall player: Hassan Martin - 13.6 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 1.4 APG, 0.7 SPG, 2.4 BPG, 59.4% FG, 65.8% FT, and 25% 3PT. The State Island native had a ridiculous shooting percentage from the field, while averaging double-digit points, picking up nearly 7 rebounds per game, and getting at least 2 blocks per game.
Best offensive player: E.C. Matthews - 14.9 PPG, 1.4 APG, 42.7% FG, 72.7% FT, and 33.7% 3PT.
Best defensive player: Hassan Martin - When you win your second straight conference defensive player of the year award, you are an elite defender (and obviously, the best on your team).
Most clutch offensive player: Jared Terrell - (As will be written about in my feature on him) Rhode Island's starting shooting guard hit clutch shots in some of the biggest games of the season, whether his team won or not. In the biggest Rhode Island victories over Cincinnati, VCU (twice), and Creighton, Terrell scored well into double-digit figures on all four occasions.
Most clutch defensive player: Stanford Robinson/Hassan Martin - URI's #13 was outstanding and saved URI’s at-large chances on multiple occasions. With the game tied at 62-62 on senior night, it was Robinson’s block that sent the game to overtime. Overall, Rhode Island’s sixth man had 2 game-changing blocks within the team's last regular season game. In addition, Robinson got the game-winning steal in the Atlantic 10 championship game with URI leading 68-63 and 25.7 seconds left in the game. At the same time, Hassan Martin continued to show that he owned the paint on the defensive side by continuing his streak of continuous blocks in some major moments of his own.
Best reserve: Stanford Robinson/Cyril Langevine - As expected, Stanford Robinson gave Dan Hurley's a true sixth man off the bench and another defensive stopper. Meanwhile, Cyril Langevine proved himself to be a force on the interior and a big reason why the Rams will be able to contend for years to come.
Most surprising player: Jeff Dowtin/Cyril Langevine - At the time of his recruitment, Jeff Dowtin was expected to come into his freshman year and learn under the teachings of Jarvis Garrett. After Garrett suffered through ulcerative colitis, Dowtin stepped forward and lead his team to victory more than once from the starting point guard position. On the other hand, the race to be a frontcourt reserve between Cyril Langevine, Andre Berry, Michael Layssard, and Michael Tertsea was a tight race in the summer before this season began. After differentiating himself from the pack, Langevine used his hustle and grittiness to become an invaluable reserve off the bench.
Most surprising performance: Stanford Robinson scored 21 points on 10-12 FG in just 22 minutes of play against the Oregon Ducks in the second round of the NCAA tournament.
Most disappointing player: Nicola Akele - This is a technicality because someone needed to be picked as the most disappointing player. Akele's "disappointing" season has absolutely nothing to do with any of his statistical production. The issue with the Italian native is that in one too many games, including in the pivotal game against Oregon, he got outmuscled in his entire playing time and he could not stack up with the physicality of his opposition.
Most disappointing performance: E.C. Matthews @ Providence - Scoring 9 point on 3-13 shooting from the field and 1-8 from beyond the arc was a main reason for URI losing the Ocean State rivalry again, 63-60.
Best block: Hassan Martin vs. Saint Bonaventure in the Atlantic 10 quarterfinals - If you did not get to see the play live, Martin blocked a Bonnies layup and literally caught the basketball on its way down.
Best dunk: E.C. Matthews vs. Davidson on Senior Night - I would hope that everyone saw this thunderous dunk already but if you were fortunate enough to see it, here is the Twitter link: https://twitter.com/SInow/status/838198409580412928
Best shot: E.C. Matthews three-point shot on the right baseline of the Mohegan Sun Arena vs. Cincinnati that gave the Rams their best win of their season.
Win that meant more in the long-term than the short-term: The 76-71 comeback victory over #24 Cincinnati at Mohegan Sun on November 19, 2016, prepared this team for major neutral court games in the Atlantic 10 tournament and the NCAA tournament.
Loss that meant more in the long-term than the short-term: Losing to Fordham at home, 53-43, on February 15, 2017 - After this loss that appeared to cripple the team's at-large chances, the Rhode Island Rams won 9 straight games, including the A-10 championship game and their first-round game in the NCAA tournament.
Best upset win: Winning the Atlantic 10 championship against VCU, 70-63 - The Rhode Island Rams won their first Atlantic 10 championship since 1999 and earned themselves an automatic bid into the 2017 NCAA tournament.
Best comeback victory: The Rams rallied back and defeated Davidson in overtime, 73-70, on URI's senior night.
Best handles: Stanford Robinson - His dribbling moves are insane and he can break down almost any defender in the country. (i.e. against Oregon)
Best bench celebration: Will Leviton did push-ups in URI's second round game of the NCAA tournament after Stanford Robinson broke Casey Benson's ankles, spun off Dylan Ennis, and then hit the mid-range jumper. (As seen in the video posted above)
Biggest "Hurley moment": Dan Hurely picked up a technical foul on a coaching box violation in the Atlantic 10 championship game, reducing the Rhode Island lead to 54-49 with 8:04 remaining in the game.
This Rams team earned themselves quite the number of trophies and superlatives, in my eyes.
