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Believe it or not...UConn plays Rhode Island in just two weeks! Even though it's an exhibition, what better time to get some practice in scouting opponents, especially a team that many of us like to follow, at least on the periphery. Enjoy!
With combined 21 wins across his first two seasons, the start to Archie Miller’s tenure at Rhode Island has been a struggle, making this upcoming season pivotal in generating hope within Rhody Nation.
In Year 1, the Rams were one of the worst offenses in the nation, but were a gritty, hard-working team that was especially tough defending the perimeter. Last year, the offense made some strides but, more startlingly, were the worst defensive team he’s ever coached.
With nearly half of last year’s minutes and scoring returning providing the team with a component offensive foundation, the staff worked hard to reel in five transfers, many of which bring a level of toughness and defensive acumen to make this upcoming Rams team Archie Miller’s best to date.
In the backcourt, 6’4 205 fifth-year senior Jaden House returns as Rhode Island’s playmaker on offense as he can score from anywhere on the court but is most adept at ‘taking it to the house’ by attacking the rim and drawing fouls. Never known for his defense, House will likely defend the lowest usage guard on the floor.
House will likely start at the 3 along with transfers Sebastian Thomas and Jamarques Lawrence. Starting his career at Rhode Island, Thomas’ first two seasons in Kingston showcased his poise, vision and maturity as a true point guard, but in one season at Albany, Thomas developed his ability to create offense off the dribble after averaging nearly 20 points per-game and getting to the line nearly six times per-game. Shooting a career 27% from three, the Providence native’s one hole is perimeter shooting, but Miller likes Thomas’ toughness and aggressiveness as a senior leader.
Starting 23 games for Nebraska last season, Jamarques Lawrence is best defined as a combo guard thanks to his ability to find the open man and also make consistent shots from three. Coming off Nebraska’s best season in over 30 years, Lawrence brings NCAA Tournament experience and two-way versatility after he was graded as Nebraska’s fourth most efficient defender last season, per EvanMiya.com.
The addition of Lawrence and Thomas is expected to lessen the playing time for Always Wright, a backup point guard that started four games last season, but look for sophomore Cam Estevez to continue to breakout as the first guard off the bench. Capable of running the offense, Estevez is also an excellent perimeter shooter, who made 43% of his three-point attempts during A-10 play.
Rhode Island returns its starting frontcourt of sophomore David Fuchs and fifth-year senior David Green. After missing the first thirteen games while awaiting a waiver approval, the 6’7 215 Green finished as Rhode Island’s leading scorer, averaging 14.3 points-per-game and converting on 43% of his three-point attempts. Not just a perimeter scorer, Green is capable of slashing and scoring off the dribble, but, like House, needs to improve his defensive consistency.
Speaking of defensive woes, starting center David Fuchs finished last season as Rhode Island’s least efficient defender, per EvanMiya.com, but the 6’9 245 sophomore from Austria led the team in rebounding, finishing last season with six double-doubles. An efficient scorer inside the arc, Fuch’s 61 2P% was the tenth best rate in the A-10 and Fuchs is looking to expand his perimeter game after attempting sixteen three-pointers last season.
However, with Fuchs and Green mostly as one-way offensive weapons, transfer additions Javonte Brown, Quentin Duboundje and Drissa Traore will look to add defensive stability off the bench.
Per EvanMiya.com, Western Michigan transfer Javonte Brown ranked as the Broncos most efficient defender. What’s crazy is between his year at UConn and then spending the next two seasons playing sparing at Texas A&M, Brown played only a total of 246 minutes, but the 7’0 255 Toronto native finally played a regular bench role at WMU after averaging 8.8 points, 4.2 rebounds and a block per-game, averaging sixteen minutes-per-game. Brown will provide Archie Miller a reliable two-way low-post veteran big who will rebound at both ends, protect the rim and provide a defensive complement to Fuchs.
A 6’5 221 junior from East Carolina who started his career at Tennessee, Quentin Duboundje’s strength, athleticism and 6’11 wingspan makes him Rhode Island’s most versatile multi-positional defender. A 6’8 215 junior from St. John’s, Drissa Traore is a rim-running, athletic forward who has made a third of career three-point attempts and will back up Green at the 4. Considering Rhode Island’s defensive struggles last season, it would be wise for Miller to run a majority of his rotations with at least one of these players on the floor to provide better lineup balance.
With the ten players listed above, it will be hard for Rhode Island’s freshmen to immediately step into consistent roles. After a standout career with Mount Saint Joseph in the rugged Baltimore Catholic League, the 6’6 208 Tyronne Farrell is a versatile, physical wing that can score, rebound and make hustle plays. A late addition as of earlier this month, Moek Icke is a 7’1 233 big from The Netherlands who played two seasons playing in Germany’s third division and also in a U19 league. Like Brown, Icke’s forte is two-way rebounding and protecting the rim and he could earn rotational minutes as the third-string big. Damone King, a three-star attacking combo guard from Louisville will redshirt this season.
Even though Rhode Island is expected to be a bottom-half A-10 team, this should be Archie Miller’s most balanced roster as the group aligns with Miller’s signature transition offense that creates foul trouble for opponents and tries scores before defense gets set. Also, the team’s added toughness will help in Miller’s defensive wrinkles that regularly uses pack-line philosophies that discourages penetration and tries to prevent teams from getting inside the paint.
With Miller’s most talented backcourt he’s ever had at Kingston and more balance of scoring acumen, size and toughness in the frontcourt, expect the Rams to battle hard in most games.
It’s a solid opponent for a charity exhibition as there’s a good amount of talent in the backcourt to test UConn’s new-look backcourt. In particular, I’m curious how McNeeley/Stewart will guard House. Also, when URI’s weaker defensive frontcourt is in, that would be a fun time to see how Reed and Samson play and potentially dominate.
With combined 21 wins across his first two seasons, the start to Archie Miller’s tenure at Rhode Island has been a struggle, making this upcoming season pivotal in generating hope within Rhody Nation.
In Year 1, the Rams were one of the worst offenses in the nation, but were a gritty, hard-working team that was especially tough defending the perimeter. Last year, the offense made some strides but, more startlingly, were the worst defensive team he’s ever coached.
With nearly half of last year’s minutes and scoring returning providing the team with a component offensive foundation, the staff worked hard to reel in five transfers, many of which bring a level of toughness and defensive acumen to make this upcoming Rams team Archie Miller’s best to date.
In the backcourt, 6’4 205 fifth-year senior Jaden House returns as Rhode Island’s playmaker on offense as he can score from anywhere on the court but is most adept at ‘taking it to the house’ by attacking the rim and drawing fouls. Never known for his defense, House will likely defend the lowest usage guard on the floor.
House will likely start at the 3 along with transfers Sebastian Thomas and Jamarques Lawrence. Starting his career at Rhode Island, Thomas’ first two seasons in Kingston showcased his poise, vision and maturity as a true point guard, but in one season at Albany, Thomas developed his ability to create offense off the dribble after averaging nearly 20 points per-game and getting to the line nearly six times per-game. Shooting a career 27% from three, the Providence native’s one hole is perimeter shooting, but Miller likes Thomas’ toughness and aggressiveness as a senior leader.
Starting 23 games for Nebraska last season, Jamarques Lawrence is best defined as a combo guard thanks to his ability to find the open man and also make consistent shots from three. Coming off Nebraska’s best season in over 30 years, Lawrence brings NCAA Tournament experience and two-way versatility after he was graded as Nebraska’s fourth most efficient defender last season, per EvanMiya.com.
The addition of Lawrence and Thomas is expected to lessen the playing time for Always Wright, a backup point guard that started four games last season, but look for sophomore Cam Estevez to continue to breakout as the first guard off the bench. Capable of running the offense, Estevez is also an excellent perimeter shooter, who made 43% of his three-point attempts during A-10 play.
Rhode Island returns its starting frontcourt of sophomore David Fuchs and fifth-year senior David Green. After missing the first thirteen games while awaiting a waiver approval, the 6’7 215 Green finished as Rhode Island’s leading scorer, averaging 14.3 points-per-game and converting on 43% of his three-point attempts. Not just a perimeter scorer, Green is capable of slashing and scoring off the dribble, but, like House, needs to improve his defensive consistency.
Speaking of defensive woes, starting center David Fuchs finished last season as Rhode Island’s least efficient defender, per EvanMiya.com, but the 6’9 245 sophomore from Austria led the team in rebounding, finishing last season with six double-doubles. An efficient scorer inside the arc, Fuch’s 61 2P% was the tenth best rate in the A-10 and Fuchs is looking to expand his perimeter game after attempting sixteen three-pointers last season.
However, with Fuchs and Green mostly as one-way offensive weapons, transfer additions Javonte Brown, Quentin Duboundje and Drissa Traore will look to add defensive stability off the bench.
Per EvanMiya.com, Western Michigan transfer Javonte Brown ranked as the Broncos most efficient defender. What’s crazy is between his year at UConn and then spending the next two seasons playing sparing at Texas A&M, Brown played only a total of 246 minutes, but the 7’0 255 Toronto native finally played a regular bench role at WMU after averaging 8.8 points, 4.2 rebounds and a block per-game, averaging sixteen minutes-per-game. Brown will provide Archie Miller a reliable two-way low-post veteran big who will rebound at both ends, protect the rim and provide a defensive complement to Fuchs.
A 6’5 221 junior from East Carolina who started his career at Tennessee, Quentin Duboundje’s strength, athleticism and 6’11 wingspan makes him Rhode Island’s most versatile multi-positional defender. A 6’8 215 junior from St. John’s, Drissa Traore is a rim-running, athletic forward who has made a third of career three-point attempts and will back up Green at the 4. Considering Rhode Island’s defensive struggles last season, it would be wise for Miller to run a majority of his rotations with at least one of these players on the floor to provide better lineup balance.
With the ten players listed above, it will be hard for Rhode Island’s freshmen to immediately step into consistent roles. After a standout career with Mount Saint Joseph in the rugged Baltimore Catholic League, the 6’6 208 Tyronne Farrell is a versatile, physical wing that can score, rebound and make hustle plays. A late addition as of earlier this month, Moek Icke is a 7’1 233 big from The Netherlands who played two seasons playing in Germany’s third division and also in a U19 league. Like Brown, Icke’s forte is two-way rebounding and protecting the rim and he could earn rotational minutes as the third-string big. Damone King, a three-star attacking combo guard from Louisville will redshirt this season.
Even though Rhode Island is expected to be a bottom-half A-10 team, this should be Archie Miller’s most balanced roster as the group aligns with Miller’s signature transition offense that creates foul trouble for opponents and tries scores before defense gets set. Also, the team’s added toughness will help in Miller’s defensive wrinkles that regularly uses pack-line philosophies that discourages penetration and tries to prevent teams from getting inside the paint.
With Miller’s most talented backcourt he’s ever had at Kingston and more balance of scoring acumen, size and toughness in the frontcourt, expect the Rams to battle hard in most games.
It’s a solid opponent for a charity exhibition as there’s a good amount of talent in the backcourt to test UConn’s new-look backcourt. In particular, I’m curious how McNeeley/Stewart will guard House. Also, when URI’s weaker defensive frontcourt is in, that would be a fun time to see how Reed and Samson play and potentially dominate.
