The New Version URI Rams Beats Wagner in “JUCO Bowl”

Wednesday, November 15, 2023

Jim Malachowski, Sports Columnist

 

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URI's Jeremy Foumena scored 16 PHOTO: GoLocal

A winning streak. Three wins in a row. URI pounded out a 69 to 53 victory over the Wagner Seahawks to begin the year at 3-0. Last year, the URI basketball team never won more than two games in a row. If they keep this up, students will start coming to the games.

URI started slowly. The score was tied 8-8 five minutes into the game. URI had already turned the ball over three times, and their leading scorer, Jaden House, was on the bench with two fouls. Six-man Brandon Weston was sidelined with an injury. The Rams were in a difficult situation. Archie Miller would have to dig deep into his coaching experience. Over the remainder of the half, Miller used more player combinations than I could keep track of. He went with a small lineup, playing four guards. This tactic did not last long as he quickly switched to a big lineup, inserting his three tallest players. For a stretch, he had his two point guards, Louis Kartright and Always Wright, in the game at the same time. Cam Estevez got more playing time than he has all year. Zek Montgomery knew he had to step up and recorded his first double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds. Aided by three buckets in a row by Jeremy Foumena, at the 10-minute mark, URI had the lead 20-14. 

 

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Wagner Cuts the Lead

From there, Wagner closed to within four points a couple of times, but URI pounded the ball inside as they had done in their first two victories. The half closed with URI leading by 11 at 37-26. Melvin Council, Jr. is Wagner’s best player and leading scorer. URI held him to 2 points in the first half. During their first possession of the second half, Wagner ran a play for Council to get him going. He took a feed off a backcut and drove to the hoop for an easy layup. The play worked, but the goal of getting him going did not. Council finished the game with only 8 points and was not a factor.  

Wagner played an aggressive game. They often employed a full-court press and were very active on offense. They moved the ball around quickly in their set offense, with players constantly moving, picking, and cutting. URI’s defense was up to the task and held them to 30% shooting. Wagner took 36 three-point shots, only hitting 10 for 36%. The other key for the game was rebounding. Wagner had secured 90 rebounds during its first two games. With a strategic focus, URI outrebounded Wagner 46 to 27. Controlling the boards limited Wagner’s chances to run and helped to stymie Council, who is particularly good in transition. When asked about shutting down Council, URI’s Montgomery said, “It was a focus of the “D” going into the game. We wanted him to see five people in front of him at all times.”

 

URI's Inside Game

URI’s dominance inside led to 48 points in the paint, which was 70% of their scoring. URI shot over 50% from the field for the third straight game, coming in at 52% against Wagner.

Two problem areas remain for URI. Their style of play and getting the ball inside results in a lot of trips to the foul line. In the three games this season, they have shot over 20 foul shots per game, shooting 26 against Wagner. They are just not making the shots. During this outing, they hit 13 foul shots for 58%, the highest percentage in a game this year. They were also ineffective in shooting three-point shots, hitting only 2 of 10 attempts.

All in all, it was a good night for Rhode Island. Foumena is developing nicely, having a solid game as the leading Ram scorer with 16 points and 7 rebounds. When asked about his performance, the Redshirt Freshman said, “I play with a lot of energy as I have waited a year. I play to destroy the other team and feel like I am in my element.”

House finished with 15 points. Montgomery had a double-double (13 points and 11 rebounds), and Kortright was the fourth player in double figures with 10 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists. URI had 16 assists and only 10 turnovers.

Only Tyje Kilton reached double figures for Wagner, with 10. Three players, Zaire Williams, Rahmir Moore, and Julian Brown, had 9 points.

 

"JUCO Bowl"

The game was not the “JUCO Bowl,” but four former junior college players had significant roles. Melvin Council, Jr., and Tyje Kelton are Wagner’s best players. They both began college careers at Monroe College, a junior college. Council leads the team in scoring, and Kelton, at 6’7”, is a banger who provides strength inside and leads the team in rebounds.

For Rhode Island, Tyson Brown from Florida Southwestern State started all three games this season. Always Wright came to URI from Northeast Oklahoma A&M and has provided a bright spark coming off the bench pushing the offense.  

People are sometimes surprised to learn junior colleges provide athletic scholarships. Brown, Wright, Council, and Kelton may have received athletic scholarships during their JUCO years. At the end of the 2023 season, Council was ranked by “JUCO Recruiting” as the 14th best JUCO player in the country, and Wright was 33rd. Brown and Kelton were not ranked in the top 100.

Junior college basketball was perceived as the Wild West in the past, with undisciplined players who did not bother playing defense. Things have changed, and basketball at the JUCO level has become more structured. Rosters are smaller, and JUCO players get significant playing time. They have adjusted to college life and managing a college athlete’s schedule. Players coming out of junior college are more mature student-athletes than high school recruits. They are also hungrier. Not getting into a four-year college out of high school results in a mission and mindset of having something to prove and an abbreviated time to do it. Coach Miller attests to this. When asked about JUCO players, he said, “They are hungry. They are grateful. They have a sense of urgency because they know they don’t have a four-year career.”

In 1980, the Community College of Rhode Island adopted its current name. It was previously known as Rhode Island Junior College. This name led to a brutal nickname. Friends who went there in the 1970s (yes, I am old) would say they were going to “Reject.“ There is some of this in the back of the mind of every junior college player. Due to academics, skill development, or even character, they didn’t qualify for a four-year institution. Junior colleges provide a chance to start over and an academic redemption. Students realize they need to take more responsibility for their lives. When they work through this and make it onto a major college roster, they sincerely appreciate where they are and their opportunities. Brown is an example of this. He plays with tenacity and a high motor. After his first game at URI, he expressed how much it meant to him. Brown responded when asked how he felt, “I was very excited for this moment. I have been waiting for this for a long time.”  

Wright also displays a more profound sense of where he is and how he got there. Coach Miller has said that Wright is “a coach’s dream when it comes to work ethic. He is a tremendous kid and a great worker.” Wright has his opportunity and is doing everything possible to make the most of it.

An interesting dynamic about recruiting junior college players is that they are generally less interested in Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) money than other recruits. You can sign them for less NIL money. High school players can be a little cocky, and many believe they will be playing in the NBA. They want it all, they want it now, and they want their NIL money.

A JUCO recruit’s priority is to play on the larger stage; NIL money is secondary. Oregon Coach Scott Monarch reportedly said he had only one recent recruit who did not ask about NIL money, and it was a JUCO player he was recruiting. URI and Wagner are happy to have their JUCO players on their rosters.

 

NEXT UP:

URI plays in the Hall of Fame Tip-Off Classic, which takes place on Saturday (11/18) and Sunday (11/19) at Mohegan Sun Arena. On Saturday, URI plays Northwestern University at 2:30. Sunday’s opponent and start time depend on the outcome of the Mississippi State and Washington State Games.

 

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