Players That Have Dominated Rhody MBB This Season and How They Were Able to Do So
Over the course of the 2017-2018 season, Rhody MBB has had a fair number of struggles against some players. I highlighted the players that had huge success against the Rams and how they were able to perform in the way that they did.
Jordan Caroline - Caroline had 28 points (7-13 FG and 14-17 FT), 12 rebounds, three assists, and one steal. The Wolf Pack's wing used three offensive rebounds to score buckets that kept the momentum on the side of the home team. The leading scorer of the night used his physicality and aggressiveness to get to the free throw line for seventeen free throws. In the same game, his teammate Caleb Martin added in 24 points (5-10 FG and 12-13 FT), including a three-point dagger at the very end of the game, with the shot clock winding down to zero seconds. Nevada kept attacking the basket and shot 44 free throws by the end of the night.
Myles Powell - Powell had 21 points, five rebounds, two assists, two steals, and a block against URI at the NIT Season Tip-Off tournament. The majority of Powell's points came from long distance, as he made five out of seven three-point jump shots that he attempted. While the concentration of the Rams defense was on Seton Hall's Angel Delgado, Khadeen Carrington, and Desi Rodriguez, Powell continually freed himself on the perimeter.
Isaiah Wilkins - Dominique Wilkin's stepson had a big 19 points (7-9 FG and 5-6 FT) and six rebounds in a 70-55 victory, where the Virginia Cavaliers controlled the majority of the game. Wilkins continued to expose Rhody's defensive flaws in the paint when they used their four-guard lineups. Stanford Robinson tried his best but he could not find many solutions to stop the Virginia big man on the low block.
Grant Riller - Riller had 21 points (8-15 FG and 4-5 FT), two rebounds, one assist, and three steals at URI. Charleston's guard led the charge in the Cougars' near upset of the Rams in the Ryan Center. He scored most of his baskets from drives to the hoop or from the free throw line.
Josh Cunningham - Cunningham had 32 points (13-18 FG and 6-6 FT) ,12 rebounds, two assists, and two blocks. After getting Andre Berry and Cyril Langevine into foul trouble, Dayton's star big man continued to dominate inside against Nicola Akele.
Luwane Pipkins (only the URI at UMass game) - In a game where the Minutemen were only using six scholarship players, Pipkins had 27 points (8-14 FG and 8-9 FT), three rebounds, four assists, and two steals. Besides the three jumpers that he landed from deep, Massachusetts' #2 frequently drove the lane and got to the free throw line, where he was highly efficient.
Matt Mobley (only the URI at Saint Bonaventure game) - Mobley had 26 points (8-17 FG and 5-7 FT), nine rebounds, and one assist. Beyond his role as a scorer, the two guard from Worcester, MA came up with an uncharacteristic nine boards that were huge in pushing his team over the top. It is rare in college basketball to see shooting guards that grab nearly double-digit rebounds in a game. From the perimeter, Matt Mobley poured in five three-pointers that mostly came from NBA range.
B.J. Johnson - Johnson had 29 points (9-22 FG and 9-10 FT), 23 rebounds, and one assist. B.J. Johnson's stat line spoke for itself in my takeaways from the URI at La Salle game. La Salle's main star used his athleticism to maneuver his way through Dan Hurley's defense.
James Demery - Demery had 21 points (10-15 FG and 0-1 FT), seven rebounds, three assists, and three steals during Rhody MBB's 2018 Senior Night. The Hawks' #25 did all of his damage while penetrating the lane, besides a single three-pointer. In his team's 30-point onslaught of Rhode Island, he unleashed two hellacious dunks that caused the entire Saint Joe's bench to stand up and applaud. Also, his teammate Taylor Funk scored 17 points (5-5 FG and 4-4 FT) without missing a single shot.
As the calendar moves through March, Rhody MBB will have the opportunity to rectify their past mistakes.
