Teams That Have Improved Greatly AFTER Playing Rhode Island MBB in Past Seasons

Feb 2, 2018
2 min read

It is crazy to think about the teams that Rhode Island MBB has played within the past three seasons (2015-2018) that have improved immensely, after they no longer have the Rams on their schedule.

The Culprits:

Houston - 16-5 overall, 6-3 in the AAC (2017-2018 season)

21-11 overall, 12-6 in the AAC (2016-2017 season) - The second season that they played URI in.

22-10 overall, 12-6 in the AAC (2015-2016 season) - The first season that they played URI in.

TCU - 16-6 overall, 4-5 in the Big 12 (2017-2018 season)

12-21 overall, 2-16 in the Big 12 (2015-2016 season) - The season that they played URI in.

Old Dominion - 16-4 overall, 7-1 in Conference USA (2017-2018 season)

19-12 overall, 12-6 in Conference USA (2016-2017 season) - The second season that they played URI in.

25-13 overall, 12-6 in Conference USA (2015-2016 season) - The first season that they played URI in.

Rider - 16-7 overall, 9-2 in the MAAC (2017-2018 season)

13-20 overall, 8-12 in the MAAC (2015-2016 season) - The season that they played URI in.

William & Mary - 15-7 overall, 8-3 in the CAA (2017-2018 season)

17-14 overall, 10-8 in the CAA (2016-2017 season) - The season that they played URI in.

Within the past three seasons for Rhode Island men's basketball, they had their fair share of success against the five teams listed but those particular wins did not hold as much weight as they would in today's world of college basketball. Unlike in the two seasons that they held a home-and-home series with the Rams, the Houston Cougars are projected to get into the NCAA tournament. Even with the season-ending injury to lead guard Jaylen Fischer, TCU is expected to easily get into the NCAA tournament. Old Dominion is a force in Conference USA this season and they could very well win their conference tournament. Additionally, Rider and William & Mary could both easily be looked at as the favorites in their respective conferences to secure automatic bids into the NCAA tournament.

Crazily enough, TCU and Rider both already have more total wins in the currently unfinished season than they did in the seasons that they each crossed paths with Rhode Island. Meanwhile, Houston, Old Dominion, and William & Mary are all on pace to have better overall winning percentages by this season's end than they did in any of the seasons that each of the teams played Dan Hurley's team.

College basketball is quite the sport, changing at a moment's notice on a year-to-year basis.