Busting Brackets
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Rhode Island Basketball: Rhody Rams ready to return to Big Dance

By Carmine Carcieri

Nov 27, 2014; Kissimmee, FL, USA; Rhode Island Rams head coach Dan Hurley talks with guard E.C. Matthews (0) against the Kansas Jayhawks during the first half at HP Field house at Wide World of Sports Complex. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 27, 2014; Kissimmee, FL, USA; Rhode Island Rams head coach Dan Hurley talks with guard E.C. Matthews (0) against the Kansas Jayhawks during the first half at HP Field house at Wide World of Sports Complex. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 11, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Rhode Island Rams guard E.C. Matthews (0) dribbles past Saint Joseph’s Hawks forward DeAndre Bembry (43) in the final seconds during the second half at Hagan Arena. The Hawks defeated the Rams, 65-64. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 11, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Rhode Island Rams guard E.C. Matthews (0) dribbles past Saint Joseph’s Hawks forward DeAndre Bembry (43) in the final seconds during the second half at Hagan Arena. The Hawks defeated the Rams, 65-64. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports /

How do the Rams deal with the high expectations?

Rhode Island is not exactly a powerhouse in the Atlantic 10. Sure, they will be a terrific roster this year, but they haven’t made the Big Dance since the end of the 20th century and have yet to deal with high expectations similar to what they will have to cope with this year.

Rhode Island will likely be ranked in the AP top-25 to begin the season (if they aren’t, they will be right on the cusp) and will be favored to finish in the top three in the A10.

While it’s always better to have experts picking you to be one of the better teams in the nation, a certain amount of pressure is certainly going to kick in.

The Rams have more experience than most teams in their conference and some powerful veterans, but who on their roster has played in the NCAA Tournament, the grandest stage of all?

Kuran Iverson was on the Memphis Tigers in 2013-14 when they made the second round. However, he played three minutes in two games, and his time on the court came in garbage time against Virginia.

Stanford Robinson played in the Big Dance with Indiana in 2014-15. He played 16 minutes and scored six points, and the Hoosiers were eliminated in the first round.

The Rams, as a team, obviously shouldn’t be worried about March right now – they have to get their first as evident by last year’s injury bug. But isn’t the goal to make a run in the tournament and capitalize on their loaded amount of talent? Isn’t the goal to win a conference title?

Not having any true “experience” in the postseason or in a conference title race is a major concern.

The NIT is a completely different atmosphere than the NCAA Tournament. Competing for a conference title is a whole different playing field than competing and upsetting Dayton on the road with nothing to play for late last season.

Next: How long does it take for Matthews to get fully healthy?

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