The Regular Season Begins on Friday Night - Rhody Hosts Norfolk State

Watch Live: Ocean State Networks (ch. 5/1005 HD) - Eric Frede / Abu Bakr

Listen Live - B101 (101.5 FM) - Steve McDonald / Don Kaull
The Beltone Hearing Aid Centers Rams Radio Network

Internet: CoxSportsOnline.com (video) / iHeart.com (audio)

Gamenotes: Rhode Island/Norfolk State (pdf)

RHODE ISLAND VS. NORFOLK STATE - ALL-TIME SERIES

This marks the first time that Rhode Island and Norfolk State have met on the hardwood.
It is the second time Rhode Island has faced a MEAC opponent (12/28/91 - 73-59 win over North Carolina A&T).

RHODE ISLAND WELCOMES THE START OF THE DAN HURLEY ERA

On March 21, Rhode Island introduced Dan Hurley as the 19th head coach in program history.
ESPN.com, CBSSports.com, and Athlon Sports all ranked the move as one of the top offseason hires in the country.
Hurley came to Kingston after two successful seasons at Wagner College in Staten Island.
He guided Wagner to a school-record 25 wins and a 15-3 mark in Northeast Conference play in 2011-12.
In two seasons with the Seahawks, he compiled a 38-23 overall record.
Hurley spent nine seasons as the head coach at St. Benedict's Prep in Newark, N.J., compiling a 223-21 record.

RHODE ISLAND IN SEASON OPENERS

In its 106 previous season openers, Rhode Island has posted an outstanding 84-22 (.792) winning percentage.
The Rams have won eight of their last 10 season openers, but have dropped their last two.
Last season, the Rams fell 92-90 in overtime at George Mason on Nov, 11, 2011.

RHODE ISLAND IN HOME OPENERS

From Lippitt Hall, Rodman Hall, Keaney Gymnasium, sometimes the Providence Civic Center, and now to the Thomas M. Ryan Center, URI teams have posted an 94-12 (.887) record its first home game of the season.
Last year, Rhody picked up an 85-73 win over Hofstra in last year's home opener on Nov. 25, 2011.

RHODE ISLAND AT THE THOMAS M. RYAN CENTER - 10TH ANNIVERSARY

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Ryan Center - the home of URI men's and women's basketball.
URI holds a 103-53 (.660) regular season record in the Ryan Center since the arena opened for play on Nov. 26, 2002 with a 73-71 victory over USC.
Last season's victory over Hofstra on Nov. 25, 2011 was the 100th on the Ryan Center floor.
The Rams have won 11 or more home games on five occasions - including a program-record 15 in 2009-10.

RHODE ISLAND IN IN-SEASON TOURNAMENTS

Dating back to the 1949-50 season, Rhode Island is 62-65 (.488) all-time in in-season tournaments.
Last season, the Rams were 1-3 in the TicketCity Legends Classic, beating Hofstra and dropping games to Texas, Boston University and Cleveland State.
Rhody went 1-1 at the UCF Holiday Classic, beating James Madison before losing to host UCF.

TODAY'S RHODE ISLAND BASKETBALL FACT(S) YOU CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT

Today's Theme: Season Openers
Dating back to the 1905-06 - the first in which Rhode Island featured a head men's basketball coach - the Rams are 12-6 all-time in "program debuts" by a new coach.
Phil Wessels (1905-06), George Cobb (1910-11), Jim Baldwin (1915-16), Fred Murray (1919-20), Frank Keaney (1920-21), Jack Guy (1952-53), Claude English (1980-81), Brendan Malone (1984-85), Tom Penders (1986-87), Al Skinner (1988-89), and Jim Harrick (1997-98) each won their debut as the head coach of Rhode Island.
Today (Nov. 9) marks the second-earliest calendar date to start a season - the earliest came during the 2010-11 season, when URI opened up at Pittsburgh on Nov. 8.