Takeaways from URI at Saint Bonaventure
After URI's disappointing 77-74 defeat at Saint Bonaventure, these are the key takeaways.
1. Where was the kill shot?
When URI went up by 67-61 with only seven minutes left in the second half and everyone watching the game expected them to end the game swiftly, they never answered the call. Fresh off of taking the sizable lead, they turned the ball over on an ill-advised pass attempt from Stanford Robinson to E.C. Matthews and Courtney Stockard got a breakaway dunk off of it. From that point, they never put the Bonnies away for good.
2. Andre Berry only played 13 minutes.
The big man only played 13 minutes even though he paced the offense at the beginning of the game and he scored all seven of his points less than three minutes into the game. By the end of the game, Dan Hurley's team needed Berry's offensive production.
3. Cyril Langevine cost URI the game late.
After tremendous performances at VCU and vs. Davidson, Langevine made one too many boneheaded plays at the Reilly Center for my liking. First of all, he stood idly by and watched LaDarien Griffin put his own missed layup back up to cur URI's lead to 72-71 with 1:50 left in the game. Next, with 56 seconds left and URI still up by one, Langevine fouled Griffin after not securing an offensive rebound. The reach-in foul was obviously not intentional or called out by the URI coaching staff on the sidelines. Then, with 38.8 seconds remaining, he missed a big opportunity at an and-one layup that looked relatively simple, considering the circumstances. Finally, in his biggest mistake of the night, he completely left Griffin wide open in the paint with 20.5 seconds left and Saint Bonaventure took the lead over for good after Griffin's dunk. Considering that both teams were coming out of a timeout, it is inexcusable to lose track of an opposing player like that.
4. LaDarien Griffin and Courtney Stockard exposed URI's weaknesses against dominant frontcourts.
Griffin was flying all over the place, while racking up 14 points, eight rebounds, three blocks, and affecting many more shots. Meanwhile, Stockard scored effectively and efficiently, putting up 13 points on 4 of 8 shooting from the field. Going into the 2018 NCAA tournament, my fear for the Rams against teams with dominant frontcourts is still very prevalent and justified.
5. Saint Bonaventure grabbed way too many offensive rebounds because of URI's laziness.
I don't care if the box score reflected it or not but the game film certainly showed that Mark Schmidt's team was able to grab all of the important offensive rebounds they wanted to due to their tenacity to attack the basketball when it came off of the cylinder. Conversely, URI players were often staring at the basketball or at the teammates instead of moving furiously to grab the basketball. The lack of hustle and desire to grab defensive rebounds by the Rams tonight was embarrassing to watch. For example, with 1:50 remaining in the game and the Bonnies trailing by three points, LaDarien Griffin out-hustled four Rams for an offensive rebound off of his OWN SHOT. Also, with 14.3 seconds left in the game, Matt Mobley completely outworked and outmuscled E.C. Matthews on a rebound that pretty much sealed the game for the Bonnies. Going forward, I better never see such a lackadaisical effort from URI, when it comes to rebounding the basketball on both ends of the court.
6. I hate to say it but Saint Bonaventure deserved the win more on February 16, 2018.
This must be a lesson to Dan Hurley's basketball team for the rest of the 2017-2018 season. I strongly dislike the Saint Bonaventure men's basketball team and fan base as much as the next Rhode Island fan but an individual must acknowledge when they have lost to a better man (on the night). The Bonnies legitimately hustled and fought harder than the Rams did on this Friday night.
