The Rams of March

It has not settled in that the University of Rhode Island Rams have punched their ticket to a trip to the NCAA tournament. It has been 18 years the last time that the Rams did that, a time where URI was not a glint in my eye. But, for the years I have supported, rooting for Rhode Island has been a treat and nothing short of exciting.

The season probably didn't play out as one would expect. This was a team that had been ranked pre-season and made it all the way up to #21 in the nation in the AP Poll. Then, reality struck. Injuries, lack of motivation, poor coaching choices, whatever you may blame it on, this team was not in good shape. Duke, PC, Valparaiso, Houston, then in conference play La Salle, Richmond, Dayton twice. None of these loses are terrible, minus the loss to the Explorers, still, Rhody did not have the season we expected.

But they turned it on at the right time. With 10 games to go on the season, I predicted URI go 9-out-10 and make things interesting. They won 8 of those 10. Now a loss to Fordham at home definitely hindered this team during that stretch, but with a win against VCU, the Rams were suddenly back in tournament discussion. 5 straight wins going into the Atlantic-10 tournament could not have been more perfectly timed.

Right now, we are seeing the Rhode Island team that we expected to see. Now up to 8 straight wins, including their first conference title since 1999. Matthews, Martin, Terrell, Iverson and Dowtin have been great. Garrett and Robinson stellar off the bench, and Dan Hurley is showing what he is capable of as a coach as well.

As I sit here, about 30 hours out from the round-of-64 tipoff against Creighton, it is still surreal. The adversity this team has overcome is remarkable. They have made all of us proud to be Rhody fans, and regardless of their finish, their championship performance has proven to be astounding. Who knows, we could see another Elite 8 run.