Atlantic 10 Basketball: Who will capture the 2016-17 conference title?

Feb 27, 2016; Dayton, OH, USA; Rhode Island Rams head coach Dan Hurley (C) talks with his team during a stoppage in play against the Dayton Flyers in the second half at the University of Dayton Arena. The Rams won 75-66. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /

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Mar 14, 2015; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Rhode Island Rams guard E.C. Matthews (0) drives up to the net during the second half against the Dayton Flyers in the semifinals of the Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament at Barclays Center. Dayton Flyers won 56-52. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Rhode Island Rams

2015-16 record: 17-15 overall, 9-9 in Atlantic 10

Head coach: Dan Hurley

Key returning players: E.C. Matthews, Jared Terrell, Jarvis Garrett, Hassan Martin, Kuran Iverson, Christion Thompson, Andre Berry, Nicola Akele

Newcomers: Three-star C Mike Layssard Jr., three-star PG Jeff Dowtin, three-star C Michael Tertsea, three-star PF Cyril Langevine, Indiana transfer G Stanford Robinson

Rhode Island was dealt a brutal hand in 2015-16. In a season that was expected to result in their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1999, the Rams lost their best player, E.C. Matthews, to a season ending ACL tear in the first game of the year and also lost Jarvis Garrett, Hassan Martin and Kuran Iverson to injuries throughout the course of the year.

The good news for Dan Hurley and company is that everyone is back, including Matthews, who has been cleared to play. Jared Terrell should be one of the top scorers on the team, Garrett matured with Matthews out for one season, Martin has recovered from his knee injury and Iverson is a versatile piece who is perfect as the fourth option.

Add in role players Stanford Robinson, Christion Thompson, Andre Berry, Nicola Akele and four freshman, and the Rams have a deep team with a plethora of talent.

Their experience in big games is limited and they will need to prove that they can stay healthy, but Rhody’s ceiling is clearly very high.

Most importantly, this team is hungry to secure that berth to the Big Dance.

Expect Rhode Island to win the Atlantic 10, be a top-25 team for the majority of the season and go dancing in March. From there, it will be up to Matthews and company to play their A-game if they want to advance in college basketball’s grand event.

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