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University of Rhode Island

Men's Basketball

Rhode Island, Dayton Meet in A-10 Championship Semifinals

Atlantic 10 Semifinals Game Notes

TV: CBS Sports Network - Tom McCarthy; Doug Gottlieb; Allie LaForce

AUDIO: B101 (101.5 FM) - Steve McDonald; Don Kaull

RHODE ISLAND VERSUS DAYTON

  • The Rams face Dayton for the fifth time in Atlantic 10 tournament play and for the 28th time overall.
  • Dayton leads the all-time series, 15-13, earning a win in the lone regular season matchup (L, 75, 59 - March 3).
  • Rhode Island has won three of the last five meetings and seven of the last 10.
  • The last A-10 Tourney matchup between the Rams and Flyers came on March 13, 2003 at UD Arena (L, 74-57).
  • The Flyers also hold a 3-1 edge in neutral-site matchups - the last on March 6, 2002 in the A-10 Tourney in Philadelphia (L, 90-71).

RHODE ISLAND IN THE ATLANTIC 10 CHAMPIONSHIP

  • In 53 games all-time in the Atlantic 10 Championship, the Rams are 22-31.  
  • Rhode Island 's has advanced to the semifinals of the A-10 Tourney 11 times (4-7 in those games) and the title game on four occasions (1-3).
  • URI's #3 seed this year is the best since the 2008-09 season (#2 seed).
  • In 1999, Rhode Island won its only Atlantic 10 title, after Lamar Odom hit a 35-foot jumper as time expired, beating Temple, 62-59.

RHODE ISLAND IN THE ATLANTIC 10 CONFERENCE - REGULAR SEASON

  • Since its inaugural season in 1980-81, URI has posted a 253-310 all-time mark in Atlantic 10 regular season conference play.
  • Rhode Island's 13 wins rank as the second-most in program history.  The Rams won 14 A-10 games during the 1987-88 season.
  • This season, the Rams 11-3 record through 14 A-10 games set a new standard as the best start to conference play in program history.
  • Rhody's six A-10 road wins tied for most in the league (VCU, Davidson) and is the second-highest total in URI history (7 in 1987-88).
  • URI was picked to finish sixth according to the 2014-15 A-10 Preseason Poll.  Last year, Rhody was 5-11, finishing in 11th place.

RHODE ISLAND'S BASKETBALL RENAISSANCE

  • With 22 wins through 30 games, URI has its best record since the 2009-10 season.  That year, Rhody was also 22-8 through 30 games.
  • On Feb. 28, Rhody reached the overall 20-win mark for the first time since the 2010-11 season (20-14).
  • It also marked the first time since 2009-10 that the Rams reached the 20-win mark in the regular season.
  • The Rams have registered two separate five-game win streaks in a single-season for the first time since 1997-98.
  • Rhody has suffered back-to-back losses just once this season - vs. VCU (Jan. 13) and at UMass (Jan. 17).

RHODE ISLAND JUST ONE OF FIVE "+7/+8" TEAMS NATIONALLY

  • Rhode Island is +8 on its overall win total from 2013-14 to 2014-15 and +8 in its conference win total from a season ago.
  • Last season, the Rams won 14 games and have 22 wins so far this year.  In A-10 play, Rhody went from five A-10 wins to 13.
  • Only four teams nationally have posted that much of an improvement overall and in league play:
  • UC Davis (+13/+8), Central Michigan (+12/+9), and UNC Wilmington (+8/+9) are the others.   
  • UC Davis and New Hampshire share the highest overall win improvement (+13) nationally.

HURLEY NAMED USBWA DISTRICT I COACH OF THE YEAR

  • Dan Hurley earned the 2014-15 U.S. Basketball Writers District I Coach of the Year award.
  • In his third season, Hurley guided Rhode Island to a tie for second place in the Atlantic 10 and the #3 seed in the league tournament.  
  • Rhode Island (21-8 overall; 13-5 A-10) is one of just four teams nationally to have a +7 overall win improvement and a +8  win improvement in conference play from the previous season.
  • This season, the Rams registered their first 20-win regular season since the 2009-10 campaign (22 wins) and made program history with the best start to conference play - 11-3 in the A-10 through the first 14 games.  
  • URI also tied its best 16-game start (12-4) in A-10 play and had finished with second-best A-10 record for an 18-game season (13-5).
  • Under Hurley, the Rams suffered back-to-back losses just once, while recording separate with three, five, and six-game win streaks.  
  • URI finished 13-2 at the Thomas M. Ryan Center and was 7-4 in true road games - including a 6-3 mark in A-10 away contests
  • The six A-10 road victories tied for the most this season, along with VCU and Davidson.

E.C. MATTHEWS AND HASSAN MARTIN NAMED TO ALL-ATLANTIC 10 SECOND TEAM

  • The sophomore duo of E.C. Matthews and Hassan Martin were named to the 2014-15 All-Atlantic 10 Second Team.
  • Matthews finished the regular season fifth in the A-10 in scoring, checking in at 16.6 points per game.  
  • The 6-5 guard from Detroit led the Rams in scoring in 16 games and tallied double-digits in the scoring column on 23 occasions.
  • Matthews scored 20 or more points eight times this season - the sixth-highest total in the league this season.  
  • Matthews was a two-time A-10 Player of the Week (Nov. 24, Jan. 12) and was named to the weekly honor roll on six occasions
  • Martin led the A-10 in two statistical categories - FG percentage (64.0%, 135-211) and blocked shots (88 blocks, 3.0 bpg).
  • The 6-7 sophomore averaged 11.9 points (23rd in the league) and 7.7 rebounds (8th) and was named to the A-10's weekly honor roll seven times.
  • He led Rhode Island in scoring eight times, rebounding 19 times, and blocked shots on 21 occasions.
  • Martin and Matthews are URI's first postseason all-conference team honorees since the 2010-11 season (Delroy James, second team).

HASSAN MARTIN NAMED TO ATLANTIC 10 ALL-DEFENSIVE TEAM

  • In addition to All-Atlantic 10 second team honors, Hassan Martin was one of five players named to the league's all-defensive team.
  • The Staten Island, native was one of the best defensive players in the country, ranking seventh nationally in blocked shots (3.0 bpg).
  • He was also ninth in total blocks (88) and  77th in defensive rebounding (5.5 dreb/g).  
  • Martin blocked a URI record 10 shots vs. La Salle on Jan. 22, tied for the second-best single-game performance this season.
  • He led the Rams in blocks in 21 games, had three or more blocks on 16 occasions, and blocked six or more shots in five games.

JARED TERRELL NAMED TO ATLANTIC 10 ALL-ROOKIE TEAM

  • Jared Terrell earned a spot on the A-10's All-Rookie Team. - the third Rhody player to earn All-Rookie honors in the past two seasons.
  • Terrell started the first 28 games of the regular season, only coming off the bench on Senior Day.  
  • The 6-3 guard ranked third on the Rams in scoring, checking in at 9.2 points per game.  
  • He leads the Rams - and ranks ninth in the A-10 - in steals, averaging 1.5 swipes per game.  
  • His 42 total steals are the most by a Rhody freshman since Zach Marbury in 1999-2000 (44).  
  • The Weymouth, Mass. native was a two-time A-10 Rookie of the Week (Feb. 2, Feb. 23) and was named the CBSSports.com National Freshman of the Week on Feb. 3 after averaging 17.5 pts, 4.0 reb, and 4.0 stl in a 2-0 week and wins over GW and Fordham.  
  • He scored in double figures on 13 occasions and the Rams were 12-1 in those games.

MATTHEWS, MARTIN ALSO NAMED TO USBWA ALL-DISTRICT I TEAM

  • In addition to their Atlantic 10 honors, E.C. Matthews and Hassan Martin were also named to the USBWA All-District I team.
  • Martin and Matthews were among the 11 players named to the All-District I (Maine, Vt., N.H., R.I., Mass., Conn.) team.  
  • The sophomore duo were among four A-10 players named to the USBWA All-District teams.  Cady Lalanne of UMass and DeAndre Bembry from Saint Joseph's were the others.

T.J. BUCHANAN - DEFINITION OF THE 6TH MAN

  • T.J. Buchanan has been one of the best reserve players in the Atlantic 10 this season.
  • Buchanan is averaging 5.7 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.2 steals and a 1.88:1 assist/TO ratio in 23 minutes of play per game.
  • In A-10 play, the senior captain's averaged: 6.8 points, 3.9 boards, 2.4 assists, 1.4 steals, 1.47:1 assist/turnover, 24.8 min.  per game.
  • This season, the senior captain has led the Rams in steals (11 games), assists (10), rebounding (3), and blocked shots (3).
  • Buchanan has led Rhode Island in at least one statistical category in 21 of its 29 games this season.
  • Primarily a guard, Buchanan has played the both guard spots as well as both forward positions at times throughout the season.

THE JARED TERRELL FACTOR

  • The Rams are 12-1 when Jared Terrell reaches double-figures in the scoring column.  
  • The lone loss for Rhode Island when Terrell had at least 10 points came vs. Georgia Tech during the Orlando Classic.
  • When Terrell scores more than 10 points, Rhody is 12-0.

YOUTH IS SERVED DURING RHODY REVIVAL

  • In terms of scoring and minutes played by freshmen and sophomores, Rhode Island ranks near the top of the Atlantic 10.
  • Rhody frosh have played 25.4% of the team's minutes, while sophomores have played 32.4% - combining for third-most in the A-10.
  • VCU leads the league in total minutes for freshmen (21.4%, 6th) and sophomores (38.9%, 2nd) - totalling a combined 60.3%.
  • Scoring-wise, URI ranks second in combined scoring efforts (64.7%), with freshmen (22.1%, 4th) and sophomores (42.6%, 3rd).
  • Saint Louis - getting 67.5% of its scoring from first (48.5%, 1st) and second-year (19.0, 10th) players - leads the A-10.

JARVIS GARRETT, FOR STARTERS

  • Since entering the starting lineup on Jan. 17 at UMass, Jarvis Garrett is averaging 7.5 points and 3.3 assists per game.
  • The freshman point guard has posted an assist/turnover ratio of 2.04:1 over the past 15 games, playing an average of 29 minutes.  
  • Included in those games are four games in double figures: 14 at Saint Joseph's, 13 vs. UMass, 13 at George Mason, 12 vs. GW.
  • Prior to the UMass game, Garrett was averaging 5.0 points, 1.9 assists and had a 1.90:1 a/t ratio in 19 minutes (15 games).
  • The Rams are 11-4 with Garrett in the starting lineup at point guard.

CONVERTING TO THE METRIC SYSTEM

  • According to KenPom.com, Rhode Island rates well in several of his "Four Factors" basketball metrics - effective FG%, turnover%, offensive rebounding%, and FTA/FGA. 
  • FOUR FACTORS:  In effective FG%, the Rams are 169th offensively (49.2) but 21st defensively (44.5).
  • EFG% is measured by adjusting a FG% to include additional points from 3FG.  TS% takes into account 2FG, 3FG, and FT.
  • While the offensive turnover% is low (20.7%, 281st), Rhody's defensive turnover% of 22.5 is 21st-best nationally.
  • URI is 118th in offensive rebounding%, grabbing 32.5% of its chances.  Rhody is 74th in the country in DREB%, at 71.2%.
  • Rhode Island's FTA/FGA marks are 48.6% offensively (3rd).
  • OTHER KENPOM METRICS:  URI ranks ninth in adjusted defensive efficiency (91.3%).  Defensive efficiency is defined by the total number of points allowed per 100 possessions.
  • Rhode Island leads the A-10 in opponent's points per possession, yielding just 0.93.
  • The Rams are the 49th-best team in the nation in 2-point FG% offense, making 51.4% of their attempts from inside the arc.
  • Defensively, Rhode Island ranks 82nd in 2-point FG% defense, allowing just 45.3% shooting inside the perimeter.

GETTING DEFENSIVE - A DEEPER LOOK AT SOME OF THE NUMBERS

  • KenPom.com ranks the Rams ninth nationally in defensive efficiency - 91.3 (points allowed per 100 possessions) and among the best in defensive eFG% (21st - 44.5%) and defensive turnover% (21st - 22.5%).
  • SCORING DEFENSE:  The Rams are 20th nationally/1st in the A-10 in scoring defense, yielding just 59.4 points per game.
  • Through 30 games, only 12 URI opponents have scored more than 60 points in regulation and five did not break the 50 point mark.
  • URI held back-to-back opponents (La Salle & St. Bonaventure) to fewer than 50 points for the first time since the 2005-06 campaign.
  • 3FG% DEFENSE:  URI ranks 2nd nationally/1st in the A-10 in 3FG defense, yielding just 27.3% from beyond the arc.
  • Only five opponents (Kansas, Brown, VCU, Saint Joseph's 2x) have made more than five 3-point field goals in a game versus the Rams.
  • FG% DEFENSE:  The Rams' defense is holding foes to just 40.6% shooting from the floor - 72nd nationally and 2nd in the A-10.
  • In 12 of its 22 wins, Rhody has held its opponent under the 40.0% mark from the floor.

RHODE ISLAND'S RECORD WHEN...

  • Shooting less than 40% from the floor - 4-2; between 40-44.9% -5-3; 45-49.9% - 6-2; 50% or better - 7-1
  • Scoring less than 60 points - 4-3; 60-69 points - 7-5; 70-79 - 7-0; 80 or more - 4-0
  • Holding Opponents under 40% from the floor - 12-1; between 40-44.9% -4-3; 45-49.9% - 4-2; 50% or better - 2-2
  • Allowing less than 60 points - 14-1; 60-69 points - 7-5; 70-79 points - 1-2; 80 or more - 0-2

DAYS AND TIMES, WINS AND LOSSES

  • Rhode Island is 8-6 in night games (after 5 p.m.) and 14-2 in day games so far in 2014-15.
  • Additionally, the Rams are 8-6 during weeknights and 14-2 on the weekend.
  • The winningest day of the week has been Saturday, with the Rams earning 11 wins.  Losses this season have come on Tuesday (VCU, Dayton), Wednesday (Providence, Saint Joseph's, Davidson), Thursday (Kansas), Saturday (at UMass), and Sunday (Georgia Tech).
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