Rhode Island Basketball: Are the Rams for real this season?

Going undefeated in the A-10 doesn’t scream national title contender, but it’s certainly a feat Dan Hurley wants to accomplish with Rhode Island basketball.

After beating Richmond to move to 21-3 (13-0) on the season, the No. 16 Rhode Island Rams are starting to turn some heads in college basketball. Head coach Dan Hurley’s squad is slated for its best finish during his six-year tenure and his Rams are building off of last season’s Atlantic 10 Tournament Championship and second-round NCAA Tournament exit.

Jared Terrell and E.C. Matthews set the tone for the Rams with their scoring, averaging 17.5 and 13.5 points per game, respectively. Five other players chip in at least 5 points per game as well, balancing the attack of a Rams’ offense that averages 77 points per game.

Senior point guard Jarvis Garrett comes off the bench for Hurley now but has started 74 career games as a Ram. He started all 31 games as a sophomore while averaging career-highs in points (12.5), assists (4.7), rebounds (3.7), steals (1.1) and minutes (34.3) per game. As a junior, Garrett started 16 of 27 games, resulting in an obvious dip in production; his scoring average had never been lower (6.0 points per game).

It takes a certain type of player to shuffle in and out of the starting lineup over the course of a career – especially with Garrett’s production as a young player – but he’s accepted his role for the good of the team, and it’s starting to pay off in the win-loss column. “I’m the type of player – I’m for the team. So whatever my team needs, I do whatever they ask me to do,” said a confident Garrett following a win earlier in the month.

And that sort of attitude rubs off on teammates, especially when the team is winning. Take a look at the fast break in the video below. The Rams’ offense goes the length of the court, but the ball doesn’t touch the ground once. And everybody got in on the action!

Next: Where is Rhode Island in our latest Bracketology?

Five seniors, one junior, and two sophomores make up the eight Rams that head coach Dan Hurley rolls out on a regular basis. They have plenty of experience with seniors Andrew Berry, Garrett, Matthews, Terrell, and Stanford Robinson, but just enough youth with sophomores Jeff Dowtin and Cyril Langevine. Also, let’s not forget the Italian-born junior Nicole Akele, who just oozes potential but hasn’t put it all together since arriving from the IMG Prep Academy.

These are the types of teams that march into the NCAA Tournament and mess everyone’s bracket up. So when it comes time to fill one out, don’t forget about the Rams from Rhode Island!