The Providence Friars and the URI Rams will face off in their annual rivalry game. Which team will add a signature non-conference win to their resume?
TV listing: Saturday, Dec. 2, 5:00 p.m ET, CBSSN
Arena: The Ryan Center, Kingston, RI
The URI Rams have lost seven straight games to the Providence Friars, their in-state rival, but they will have a great opportunity to end their losing streak on Saturday (Dec 2). This is URI’s best team in years and they have proven themselves against quality competition even without star guard EC Matthews. The Rams already grabbed a signature win away from home by defeating Seton Hall at the Barclays Center.
The Rams are led by a pair of senior guards, Jared Terrell and Stanford Robinson, who are excellent two-way players. Both guards have a history of raising their performances for big games as Robinson had a breakout 2017 NCAA Tournament and Terrell hit a game-winner in the aforementioned win over Seton Hall. Terrell has averaged 19.0ppg while Robinson has put up 10.3ppg.
Terrell and Robinson are also key cogs in URI’s aggressive man-to-man defense as both players are physical, active, and can guard multiple positions. They are joined by a trio of point guards (Jeff Dowtin, Fatts Russell, and Jarvis Garrett) who can also contribute both offensively and defensively. URI has a very small lineup but makes up for their lack of size with ball pressure and aggressiveness defensively.
Providence, on the other hand, has great size on the perimeter with their long, versatile, and athletic wings. Alpha Diallo and Jalen Lindsey are both 6’7’’ and their length makes life difficult for opposing guards. Diallo thrives posting up smaller guards and is an excellent rebounder, while Lindsey is the best defender and three-point shooter on the team.
Rodney Bullock will also have a major height advantage at the PF position over Terrell and Robinson. Bullock is a versatile 6’8’’ forward who can score inside and out and is Providence’s leading scorer at 15.0ppg. He should take advantage of URI’s small lineup by posting up one of their four guards. This could mean more minutes for URI forwards Nikola Akele and Ryan Preston who have the length to match up with Bullock.
While Bullock should be a major factor, Kyron Cartwright is Providence’s best player. Cartwright is one of the best point guards in the country and excels at finding open teammates. He can also score in a variety of ways using his speed to get into the lane and pull up or with his improved three point jumper. Providence has shot the three ball extremely well this season which will create for spacing and driving lanes for Cartwright to attack the basket.
The most interesting battle between the two teams will be at the center position. Providence’s center duo of Kalif Young and Nate Watson have really struggled on the defensive glass, but URI’s best rebounder, Cyril Langevine, has struggled with foul trouble and injuries. Langevine just returned after missing three games but is averaging 10.7 fouls per 40 minutes which is an astronomically high number.
URI has gotten major contributions from center Andre Berry who has averaged 10.2ppg with his soft touch around the basket and they will need him to make a major impact in this game. Berry will have a much easier time defensively since Providence center Emmitt Holt is out for the season with an abdominal injury. Holt is a tough assignment for opposing centers because he can step away and shoot the three with ease.
Related Story: How does Emmitt Holt's injury affect the Friars?
Do not be surprised if both teams go small with Bullock and Preston at the five for Providence and URI respectively. The Friars have a more dynamic and versatile offensive lineup with Bullock at the five and it could lead to more minutes for guards Makai Ashton-Langford and Maliek White as both players have shown flashes this season. Ashton-Langford can get to the rim at ease while White is more of a 3 and D combo guard.
This game could become very guard-oriented since both teams have played three-guard lineups regularly, but Providence’s length will be a major problem for URI. Diallo and Lindsey can stay in front of quicker guards defensively and use their size to score over them offensively. The Friars are an abysmal rebounding team, but URI lacks the size to take advantage of that weakness. The Providence-URI rivalry always leads to a competitive game and this round should be no different.
Prediction: Providence 68 URI 67