NCAA Basketball: Rhode Island, Marrow top mid-major performers
By Logan Butts
Week 13 saw several top mid-major squads challenged. Which NCAA Basketball teams came away unscathed and which teams faltered?
Best Performance, Team – Rhode Island Rams
The Rams have been on a tear lately. Rhode Island has won eight games in a row, knocking off fellow bubble squads Richmond and VCU in the process. On Friday, they beat VCU (the other Rams in the Atlantic 10) handily, 87-75, to sweep the season series.
Rhode Island had a balanced attack at home in the win, led by star junior guard Fatts Russell. Russell scored 30 points, hit an outstanding 16 of his 18 free throws, grabbed four rebounds, dished out a team-best five assists, and swiped three steals.
Tyrese Martin (18), Jeff Dowtin (17), and Cyril Langevine ( 11) all also chipped in a double-digit scoring night to secure the win. The Rams now only trail Dayton in A10 play, separating themselves by two games in the loss column from the Saint Louis, Duquesne, Richmond, VCU, and Saint Bonaventure traffic jam.
It’s becoming more and more of a possibility that the A10 lands four teams in the NCAA Tournament (more on that later), and at this point, Rhode Island might be the clear second choice in that group. They still have both of their dates with Dayton circled on the calendar, though. That pair of games will go a long way toward telling us if Rhode Island really is as good as they have looked for weeks now.