Why is it Good that Rhode Island MBB is NOT a Preseason Favorite?
This is an assortment of reasons why I am happy that the University of Rhode Island men's basketball team is not considered a preseason favorite (a top 25 team) for the 2017-2018 season:
1. They will not lose in embarrassing performances vs. La Salle and vs. lowly Fordham at the Ryan Center, like they did last season.
2. They will not lose to PC AGAIN. I am sick of hearing from Friar fans about wins in the Ocean State rivalry game when their team allowed one of the 10 biggest comeback wins in NCAA tournament history (a 17-point second half lead).
3. They will have nothing to "protect". Rather than protecting a Top 25 ranking that holds no value in the grand scheme of things, the team can go out and play loose.
4. They will hang up more banners in the Ryan Center by playing like they did at the end of the 2016-2017 season, in which they won the Atlantic 10 tournament and progressed into the Round of 32 of March Madness.
5. They can catch power conference teams sleeping throughout the upcoming season. I hope that Alabama takes the Rams lightly when they arrive to Tuscaloosa. Also, potential NCAA tournament opponents may play like how Oregon played for the majority of their second-round game in the 2017 NCAA tournament.
Assuming that this basketball team plays the season with a chip on their shoulder and without added pressure from preseason hype, we will be seeing less of these reactions from their head coach:
