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Rhode Island Basketball: 2019-20 season review for the Rams

By Jacob Matteson

DAYTON, OH - FEBRUARY 11: Fatts Russell #1 of the Rhode Island Rams talks to head coach David Cox during a game against the Dayton Flyers at UD Arena on February 11, 2020 in Dayton, Ohio. Dayton defeated Rhode Island 81-67. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
DAYTON, OH - FEBRUARY 11: Fatts Russell #1 of the Rhode Island Rams talks to head coach David Cox during a game against the Dayton Flyers at UD Arena on February 11, 2020 in Dayton, Ohio. Dayton defeated Rhode Island 81-67. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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Every year Rhode Island fans experience enormous highs and some murky lows and 2019-20 was no different.  From season-defining wins to late-season heartache, the Rams ran the gambit of emotions.

The Ryan Center can be a wonderful place to experience a game when the energy is right.  At no points in the season was this more evident than when Rhode Island surged to an early-season victory in a rare SEC meeting with Alabama.  Fatts and Dowtin combined for 43 points on 58% shooting.

Roughly a month later, the Ryan Center was once again overflowing as the dastardly Providence College Friars came to town.  17 points and 16 rebounds from Cyril Langevine and 24 points and 8 assists from Fatts Russell were punctuated by Mekhi Long’s 9 points, 7 rebounds, 4 steals, and 2 blocks.  The Rams delivered and then some on what is always the biggest night of the season.

For conference play, and probably the final true high of the season, was when the Rams capped a season sweep of the VCU Rams.  Rhode Island won the second outing by 12 points, but it never felt that close.  The Rhody starters combined for 83 points on 55% shooting from the field.  Fatts Russell added punctuation to his comeback tour with 30 points.  Yet, in a poetic juxtaposition, this game was also a sign of things yet to come as the Rams bench provided a combined four points and nine rebounds among three scholarship players.

Going forward, the Rams closed out the season 5-4.  After a loss to Dayton, the Rams season began to hang in the balance when they lost to an underachieving Davidsons quad in overtime.  The follow up was a 2 point win over Fordham and it seemed the tank hit empty.

When March 1st rolled around, the Rams hosted Saint Louis and lost 82-72.  In what might have been their poorest performance in relation to the winnability of the game, there was no doubt that the Rams had to go the distance if they wanted to rejoice on Selection Sunday.

A strong band of brothers at just 8 scholarships deep had finally caught up with them.  After a hot start, their legs began to wobble while the rest of the Atlantic 10 gained steam.

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