Richmond at Rhode Island: TV Schedule, Preview, and Prediction
By Ryan Shepard
The Rhode Island faithful will get a chance to show their Rams some love in time for Valentine’s Day as they return home to take on the Richmond Spiders.
Date and time: 8:30 p.m. EST on Feb. 13
Network: CBS Sports Network
Arena: Ryan Center (Kingston, RI)
How has Rhode Island been playing as of late?
In one word, they’re on fire! The Rhode Island Rams may be in contention with St. Mary’s for the hottest team in college basketball right now that no one is paying attention to. The squad out of Kingston has lost only one game since Dec. 1 and is yet to lose to a team that is not currently ranked in the top-25. Led by senior guard, Jared Terrell, the Rams are undefeated in conference play and have won their last five games by an average of 10 points per game. Heading into their match-up with the Spiders, the Rams shouldn’t be weary but should remain focused as they have faced scares from UMass and Duquesne in the past two weeks.
How has Richmond been playing?
After starting the season 3-13, the Richmond Spiders have found their groove within the Atlantic 10 Conference. The squad has six out of their last eight contests while scoring seven points more per game than their season average and winning its first three road games of the season. Despite coming off of an eight-point loss to St. Bonaventure, expect the Spiders to come out playing with a much-improved confidence from their earlier season play.
Key matchup to watch
This Tuesday night matchup will feature a battle between two of the most dynamic guards in college basketball. The Spiders are led by the Richmond hometown kid, Nick Sherod. In his last five outings, the Virginia native has averaged 22.8 points per game to go alongside nearly nine rebounds and two assists per game. Last time out, Sherod and forward Grant Golden combined for 50 points in the team’s loss to St. Bonaventure.
On the other side of the court, the Spiders will have to deal with one of the best guards in the Atlantic 10. Rhode Island Rams’ senior Jared Terrell is one of the most consistent players in the conference and the leader of this team. Averaging 17.5 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game, Terrell’s output has been great all year long. Look for Sherod and Terrell to go back and forth in an effort to lead their teams to victory.
Player to Watch
Redshirt freshman Grant Golden is one of the best stories in college basketball this year for Richmond. After collapsing and undergoing a cardiac procedure last winter, Golden has worked his way back to basketball and has been a stellar addition to this Richmond team. In his last five games, Golden is averaging 19 points and 7.9 rebounds per game. This past Saturday, Golden was two points shy of tying his career-high and Richmond fans are excited about what Golden can become as a scorer and rebounder in the near future.