URI Men’s Basketball Decimates Assumption University 96-54 - Scores 50 of Their 96 Points on Layups

Thursday, November 02, 2023

Jim Malachowski, Sports Columnist

 

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URI Coach Archie Miller PHOTO: GoLocal

Wednesday night was the first look at the newest version of the University of Rhode Island men's basketball team against a team with a different uniform. Remember, the Rams are the team that has 11 new players.

The warm-up was against Assumption University, NCAA Division II program. It was an exhibition game before the season opener on Monday, November 6, 2023, against Central Connecticut State University at the Ryan Center at 7:00 PM.

The Rams ran all over the lesser D-II squad, ran over them, and dunked over them.

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The final score was URI 96, Assumption 54. In this 42-point victory, the Rams scored more than half their points on layups.

Division II schools can produce big-time athletes such as Scottie Pippen (Central Arkansas University), Ben Wallace (Virginia Union University), Dennis Rodman (Northeastern Oklahoma State University), Jack Sikma (Illinois Wesleyan University) and Manute Bol (Bridgeport University).  In general, however, Division I basketball players are bigger, stronger, and faster than Division II players.  These games are designated exhibitions and do not count on either school’s record.  Division II schools rarely put up a competitive game in these matches. 

Still, a stunning upset is possible, such as Division II Pace University’s win last Sunday over Rick Pitino and St. John’s from the Big East.

According to URI athletic officials, Assumption got paid $2,500 by URI to come to Rhode Island to play.  

 

New Rams

These new Rams would not let the Assumption Greyhounds create any momentum or generate any thoughts that they could capture a victory.  URI went up 15 to 6 in the first five minutes and never looked back.  URI was bigger, stronger, and faster than its opponent.  The Assumption guards were as tall, but the URI guards were quicker.  Assumption did not have a player who could cover URI guard Jaden House.  The big difference was in the frontcourt.  The team from the hills of Worcester brought five interior players with them.  None were taller than 6’8”, and they did not have a “Center” listed on their roster.  They started three guards, and their two starting backline players were only 6’ 8” and 6’ 6”.  The most telling visual was when the players were lined up at the foul line.  Many Assumption players looked to be a head shorter than the URI player they were matched up against.  In baseball, when the opposing pitcher is weak or struggling, the hitters race to get to the bat rack.  On this night, the big men from the flatlands of Kingston were lined up at the scorer’s table, begging to get into the game.  URI had their way scoring inside. They scored an astounding 66 points in the paint, which was 69% of their total points.   Of these points in the paint, 50 of them, which is 52% of their scoring, were from layups.

With 11 new players, there has been a lot of curiosity about who would be the starting five for URI. On this night, it was guard Zek Montgomery, guard Luis Kortright, guard House, forward Tyson Brown, and forward David Fuchs (David Green is still waiting for NCAA clearance and Josaphat Bilau is not expected back from his knee injury until January).  

URI’s first bucket was made via an easy over-the-top entry pass to Tyson Brown, who was underneath for a lay-in.  This was a sign of things to come.  When running their set offense, initially, URI did not recognize or take advantage of the height advantage down low.  They were just not used to seeing such an easy, over-the-top entry pass to their big men down low.   They quickly caught on, pounded the ball inside, and had four dunks.

URI Guard Jalen House led the way for the Rams with 19 points on seven for eight shooting in only 23 minutes.  6’ 11” redshirt freshman Jeremy Foumena had 15 points, including a thunderous dunk and a made three-point shot. URI had five players in double figures – House, Foumena, Kortright (11),  Brown (10), and Fuchs (10).  When you shoot so many layups, your team’s shooting percentage should be high, and URI’s was 58% on two-point shots.  They shot 36% on threes and 71% from the line.  URI had 13 turnovers, six steals, and five blocks.  It was total domination.

Assumption was scrappy and hustled the entire evening. They brought great energy and constantly dived onto the floor for loose balls. They were led by Kasey Alcindor, who had 15 points, and Cooper Cook, who scored 13. Alcindor and Cook both hit three three-pointers in the first half, but neither player made a three in the second half as URI Coach Archie Miller had his team focus on defending the three-point line in the second half.

 

URI's Secret Scrimmage with Harvard

After the game, Tyson Brown, who is a junior college transfer, commented on his first major college game by saying, “I have been very excited for this moment. I have been waiting for this for a long time.”

During the post-game media availability, Miller talked about how important playing this game was for his players. Miller said, “This team is inexperienced in terms of playing with each other.  They need game experience.”  He further said as a coach, he needs to learn about this group and who can and cannot play together.  Miller revealed the team had a “secret” scrimmage with Harvard, and commented it was “Eye-opening” regarding how far the team needs to go to learn how to play with each other.  He concluded by saying, “This is a good group to grow with.”

The game was a valuable experience for URI.  The question is, why would a Division II school subject its players to such a massacre and embarrassment at the start of their season?  Last year, Assumption played Providence College and lost 106 to 69.   Every coach wants their team ready and primed both physically and mentally to start the season.  Getting decimated by a Division I team shows the players what they are not.  A coach’s job becomes more difficult as they have to prop their players up again, working as a psychologist rather than on X’s and O’s.

NEXT UP:

Rhode Island plays its next game on Monday, November 6, 2023, against Central Connecticut State University at the Ryan Center at 7:00 PM.

 

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