Takeaways from URI at Davidson
After URI's tragic 63-61 loss at Davidson, here are some key takeaways (that hurt me to write).
1. I didn't know that URI reverted back to the way that recent URI teams under Dan Hurley tried to close out games.
It doesn't matter how big a team is leading, the number one way to choke a lead is to play to not lose. A winning team must always play to win with a winning mentality. The Rams tried to coast through the finish line and use the expiring game clock as their mechanism to do so. To be clear, I don't fault Jared Terrell's steal attempt on Davidson's game-winning layup because he would have been heralded as the hero of the game if he did pull the steal off. Like many others, I have a problem with the fact that Terrell and E.C. Matthews missed the front end of three 1-and-1's in the final minute of the game. Each of the three free throw trips would have iced the game for URI. Also, the Ram's defensive rotation when they defended while playing four on five (a common practice drill) was pretty weak and I have no idea why Cyril Langevine would even put himself in a position where a foul could be called.
2. What was E.C. Matthews doing in the final few minutes of game time (and during other parts of the game)?
One of URI's fifth-year seniors made damaging mistakes in the final two minutes or so of the game that helped to give the game away. With 1:25 left in the game and his team leading by six, E.C. Matthews had an ugly traveling violation. Then, with 0:41 left in the game and the Rams still up by six, he missed the front end of his free throws when his team was in the bonus, which would have iced the game. 25 more seconds passed in the game and Matthews' unnecessary foul on Kellan Grady helped Davidson cut the deficit to 61-60 with 16 seconds remaining. Overall, Matthews shot a woeful 3-9 from the field (0-5 3PT), turned the ball over four times, and had three idiotic fouls (to put it nicely). If you want to know how much faith some Rhody fans have in #0 right now, just go read through some of this week's mean tweets about Rhody MBB.
3. Cyril Langevine was one of the lone bright spots (before his foul on Davidson's last score).
Besides his unnecessary foul on the final go-ahead score by Davidson, #10 of Rhode Island provided an integral boost off of the bench. In 25 minutes off of the pine, Langevine put up 11 points (5-6 FG) and 11 rebounds, while fouling just once.
4. Free throw shooting continues to be an Achilles heel for Dan Hurley's team.
A team that shoots 45.5% (5-11) from the free throw line is not bound to win many meaningful games. Everyone on Dan Hurley's team needs to do whatever they each need to do in order to become twice as proficient as they are at shooting free throws currently. Besides the three crippling misses late in the game at the charity stripe by Terrell and Matthews, the free throw line woes have never seemed to stop.
5. Daron "Fatts" Russell has hit a freshman wall.
In his past three games, Rhody's freshman sensation has been atrocious while shooting from the field. As a result of these performances, he has not shot above 14.3% in his last three contests. More specifically, he shot one of seven vs. Dayton, one of ten vs. Saint Joe's, and one of eight at Davidson. YIKES! At some point soon, URI needs the Fatts that carried them to a win over PC to return.
I rather not say anything else because I do not know how nice I can be after the choke that I witnessed. I tried to be nice and not say anything after URI embarrassed themselves on their own Senior Night vs. Saint Joseph's but then they proceeded to do this. According to Twitter, I am far from the last one that is angry about this Rhody loss and I am not even close to being the angriest. Let's all hope for the best going forward. Postseason play is up next for Rhody MBB.
