URI at Saint Bonaventure Preview - Time to Add to the Rams' Resume
Personally, I like how much hype that the Saint Bonaventure Bonnies have going into tonight's game. When many people thought that the Bonnies would challenge for the Atlantic 10 title, they came out cold to start the season, losing at home to a mediocre Niagara team. After respectable performances in the majority of their remaining non-conference games, they fell flat on their face to start Atlantic 10 play. A team that is predicted to finish at the very top of the conference is not supposed to start out 2-4 against inferior Atlantic 10 competition. Since that awful start, Mark Schmidt's team has won seven straight conference games in a row. Given that none of those wins have come against Davidson, VCU, or (obviously) URI, I am not putting too much stock into them. Recently, the Rams and the Bonnies both defeated the Richmond Spiders at home. Without E.C. Matthews, the Rams destroyed the Spiders, 85-67. On the other hand, the Bonnies used their full squad to edge out the Spiders, 97-88. Consequently, when URI defeats Saint Bonaventure in Olean, NY, they can show just how far behind the rest of the Atlantic 10 is this season.
Like in past games between these two teams, Jaylen Adams may be able to get his on the offensive side of the ball. However, I am still uber-confident that Matt Mobley will underperform against Dan Hurley's team again. Time and time again, I have never seen Mobley live up to his billing when he plays against Rhode Island. While Courtney Stockard is a clear X-factor for the Bonnies, it is Jaylen Adams' backcourt mate that could be viewed as the team's second most important player. In their first meeting of the 2017-2018 season, Mobley's positive stat line mostly came in stretches when it was clear that the Rams were going to win the game. If Saint Bonaventure's shooting guard steps up and plays an excellent game tonight, then they can give the Rams a run for their money. Conversely, if Mobley underperforms again, then URI could have an easier time than some college basketball fans are anticipating. As of today, the Rams have a 52% probability of pulling the road win out, according to Ken Pomeroy.
In the minds of Saint Bonaventure fans, they need to pray that E.C. Matthews does not play because of the left knee bruise that he suffered vs. Richmond. Make no bones about it, this game is a win that Saint Bonaventure DESPERATELY needs. Their NCAA tournament resume is not super impressive. The Bonnies have notable wins against Buffalo, Vermont, Syracuse, Maryland, and Northeastern. Buffalo, Vermont, and Northeastern could all make it into March Madness through each of their conference's automatic bids. Syracuse can be looked at as a bubble team currently but Maryland is not even in the conversation currently. On the flip side, they have losses against Dayton, Niagara, and Saint Joseph's that would be looked at as bad losses by the selection committee.
Saint Bonaventure helped out Rhode Island's resume once already when they lost (87-73) at the Ryan Center on January 13, 2018. As of now, a road win for URI in the Reilly Center will translate to a Quadrant 1 win. A college basketball team can never have too many quality wins on their tournament resume. With Selection Sunday rapidly approaching, the Rhode Island Rams have their best opportunity at their biggest road win in Atlantic 10 play tonight.
Whether they play with E.C. Matthews or not, the Rhode Island Rams still look to be on track to move to 14-0 in Atlantic 10 play.
