Rhode Island vs Loyola Chicago: 2022-23 college basketball game preview, TV schedule
The bottom two teams in the Atlantic 10 face off in Rhode Island and Loyola Chicago. Who will get some momentum entering the conference tournament?
TV schedule: Wednesday, March 1, 9:00 pm ET. CBS Sports Network
Arena: Joseph J. Gentile Arena, Chicago, Illinois
While this season has not been ideal for the Loyola Chicago Ramblers or the Rhode Island Rams, who sit in the last two spots of the Atlantic 10, they’ll each look for an opportunity to get a win in the final week before the conference tournament in Brooklyn. While both programs are expected to play on day one of the tournament, this game is important because it may determine the seeding of the bracket, which is soon to be released.
The Rams enter Wednesday’s contest on a seven-game losing streak and have yet to earn a true road win this season. Their last victory in a building not named the Ryan Center dates back to November 23rd when Rhode Island took down Illinois State in the Cayman Islands Classic.
The Rams will be leaning on lone senior, Malik Martin, who is averaging 41 minutes and 19 points over the last two games. The 6-foot-6 guard is averaging 8.1 points, 6.4 rebounds, and shooting 41.2 percent on the year.
A major challenge for the Rhode Island Rams is their lack of experience compared to the rest of the conference.
“We don’t have a lot of guys who have been in these situations in February but, you’re never going to know how to do it until you do it,” Coach Miller on the team’s inexperience and the confidence they’ll have to play with down the stretch. #GoRhody #AttitudeIsEverything
— Adam Bernstein (@AdamBernstein18) February 27, 2023
The Rams’ roster includes eleven underclassmen, which is something that Coach Archie Miller and his staff will look forward to over the next two to three years.
It’s been a rough adjustment from the Missouri Valley Conference to the Atlantic 10 for Coach Drew Valentine and the Loyola Chicago Ramblers. They are currently on a three-game losing streak, and their last win came on February 14th at UMass.
The Ramblers are led by junior forward Philip Alston, who is averaging 14.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, and shooting 47.3 percent this season. Last time out, he had a team-high 15 points in the 81-62 loss against Saint Louis. Loyola Chicago will look for him to make an immediate impact on Wednesday.
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It will be interesting to see how this game plays out, as neither side presents a significant advantage over the other. While this matchup isn’t the most anticipated in mid-major basketball, it will feature two well-coached programs that look to be contenders in the Atlantic 10 in the near future.