Rhode Island vs. Seton Hall: 2020-21 college basketball game preview, TV schedule
The Seton Hall Pirates sail up to Kingston to take on the Rhode Island Rams for their first game at the Ryan Center this season.
TV schedule: Wednesday, December 2nd, 7:00 pm ET. CBSSN
Arena: Ryan Center in Kingston, Rhode Island
Although the Ryan Center will be empty on Wednesday night, Rhode Island fans are going to have to bring the ruckus safely from home. Rhode Island is scheduled to play Seton Hall on CBS Sports Network at 7:00 p.m. ET.
Rhode Island will have an opportunity to steal a non-conference game away from a talented Big East program on their home court.
The Rams have an essentially new team this year after adding eight new players this offseason but, they will be led behind a returning star in Fatts Russell. In four games played, Russell has averaged 16.7 points and four assists per game. Russell has already served as a mentor to these young players new to the program.
We can also expect to see minutes from guards Ishmael Leggett, freshman, Jeremy Sheppard, transfer from East Carolina University, and Jalen Carey, transfer from Syracuse University. Sheppard has averaged 13.3 points and shot 60 percent from the field and nearly 50 percent from the three-point range. Jalen Carey has averaged 9.3 points and also shot 60 percent from the field so far.
We should see minutes from big men Jermaine Harris, Antwan Walker, and Makhi and Makhel Mitchell as well. Walker has played exceptionally well so far, averaging 10.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, and shooting 61.1 percent from the field. If the big men can stay out of foul trouble, they should succeed on both ends of the ball when they matchup against Seton Hall.
Seton Hall is definitely a different team this season. Last season was one of the most successful seasons Seton Hall basketball has seen under coach Kevin Willard. Although they have been one of the most talented teams in the Big East as of recent, they will have to make some changes after losing three senior starters.
During the offseason, the Pirates added transfers Bryce Aiken and Takal Molson. Seton Hall lost Aiken for at least two weeks after spraining his right ankle in a loss at Louisville.
With these significant losses, the Pirates have to look for other scoring options to contribute. Two players who standout are junior Jared Rhoden and senior Sandro Mamukelashvili.
Rhoden will fill a big scoring void left by Myles Powell. Last season, he averaged 9.1 points and 6.4 rebounds per game. Rhoden has a bigger role this season for Seton Hall which will likely mean an increase in his stat line.
Mamukelashvili missed ten games mid-season last year but, averaged 11.9 points, 6 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game. The 6-foot-11 forward is a focal point to this offense and will bring intensity on both sides of the ball.
Takal Molson should be a threat off the bench for the Pirates. He played a huge role for Canisius before transferring to Seton Hall.
The Pirates are a deep enough team to pull off a win like this. If their big men, Ike Obiagu and Sandro Mamukelashvili, can stay out of foul trouble they should succeed. They have a strong frontcourt with lots of scoring potential.
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The last time these two teams met was in 2017 at the Barclays Center for the Preseason NIT Tournament. Rhode Island would defeat No. 20 Seton Hall by a score of 75-74. It’s great to see these two teams meet again as this will be a game not to miss.