The star of Rhode Island’s season to this point has been 6-foot-4 senior Tyler Cochran, who enters Saturday’s road showdown at Providence as the nation’s leader in steals per game at 3.8.
The Spark Rhode Island Has Been Waiting For
His defensive activity has made him one of the most impactful guards in college basketball during the opening month.
A Season Built on Relentless Disruption
Cochran opened the year on November 3 with four steals in a win over Stetson. His best performance came on November 11 when he posted 16 points and nine steals in an 80-57 victory over Stonehill. He has recorded at least one steal in every game this season, anchoring a Rhode Island defense that leans heavily on his anticipation and toughness.
Rhode Island’s Road Ahead
Following the matchup with Providence, the Rams will take on McNeese State, Canisius and Northeastern to close out nonconference play. Atlantic 10 action begins on New Year’s Eve with a home game against Loyola Chicago.
Archie Miller’s Push for Progress
Archie Miller is now in his fourth season as Rhode Island’s head coach, carrying a 46-57 overall record. His tenure began with a difficult 9-22 campaign, and the Rams have yet to finish higher than tenth in the conference since his arrival. With Cochran and a more experienced roster, Miller hopes this season finally brings the upward turn the program has been waiting for.
A Veteran with a Deep College Journey
This is Cochran’s sixth college season. He began his career at Northern Illinois, appearing in 43 games with 12 starts across two seasons. He then spent a year at Ball State, starting 29 games and averaging 11.6 points. His next stop was Toledo, where he started 27 of 41 games across two seasons, contributing 14.4 points and 1.9 steals per game last year.
Now at Rhode Island, he is just under 15 points per game while producing a remarkable 3.8 steals. He is also averaging 6.4 rebounds, including a season high 10 boards in a recent 66-56 win over Brown. His all-around play has included flashes of facilitation as well, such as a four assist outing earlier this season against Temple.
Rhode Island’s Hopes Ride on Cochran’s Edge
Suppose the Rams are going to make noise in the Atlantic 10 and enter the NCAA Tournament conversation. In that case, they will need Cochran to continue driving the team with his energy and experience. Rhode Island has been inconsistent, with a loss to Towson but a strong win over Yale, and Miller will rely heavily on his sixth-year guard in the critical weeks ahead.