Inheriting the head coaching position after Dan Hurley left for UConn, David Cox’s final two seasons at Rhode Island (25-31) did not match the success in his first two (39-24).
A week after David Cox’s firing, the Rams made a home run hire, bringing Archie Miller back to the A-10 after four seasons at Indiana. With a decade of head coaching experience at two high profile schools, Dayton and Indiana, Miller turns 44 in October, making him one of the youngest coaches in college basketball with his volume of experience.
Miller brings to Kingston his version of the pack-line defense that clogs slashing lanes, discourages penetration and encourages teams to shoot from the perimeter. On offense, Miller likes to put pressure on the defense by creating foul trouble through penetration and trying to score before the defense gets set, however this style was more prevalent at his time at Dayton than his time at Indiana.
Returning Talent
Like many teams facing a coaching change, the Rams experienced sizable roster turnover with six outbound transfers and two graduations, but Miller and his staff were able to retain five players who each look to compete for rotation minutes next season.
Starting every game last season, the 6’2 180 Ishmael Leggett was one of the Rams’ best rim-attackers, whose 40.8 free throw rate ranked 230th nationally and tops amongst Rams guards. With a 5.9 offensive rebounding rate, Leggett was best amongst Rams guards and was also tied for second on the team in steal rate. If Leggett can continue to improve his assist-to-turnover ratio and shoot more closely to the efficiency he previewed as a freshman, Leggett can possibly be a double-digit scorer in his junior season.
Playing close to starter’s minutes mostly off the bench, the 6’6 210 combo forward Malik Martin returns for his fifth-year of eligibility, his third season in Kingston. An efficient two-way glue-guy, on offense Martin is strong on the glass, limits turnovers, draws fouls and makes shots inside the arc. On defense, Martin’s 3.3 block percentage ranked 328th nationally and drew just 1.7 fouls per forty minutes, the lowest on the team and the 78th lowest nationally. Expect Martin to reprise last year’s role again this season.
Originally a prized four-star recruit by Syracuse, the 6’3 186 Jalen Carey started just seven of his 74 career games, but had his best season last year as a redshirt junior thanks to his improved shooting, defense and ball-control:
Carey’s stats between the 18-19 and 20-21 seasons:
4 for 30 from three (13.3%), 39 assists, 87 turnovers, 26 steals in 695 total minutes.
Carey’s stats last year:
14 for 30 from three (46.7%), 28 assists, 31 turnovers, 19 steals in 365 minutes.
While his three-point percentage is unsustainable, at the very least, defenses now have to respect Carey from the perimeter, opening up lanes for his teammates. A guard with good length, Carey will be a solid depth piece who can play anywhere from the 1 to the 3.
With only two D1 offers out of Bishop Hendricken High School in Warwick, Providence’s Sebastian Thomas impressed in his freshman season, starting in three games and leading the team in assist rate and finishing the season with better than a two-to-one assist-to-turnover ratio. The 6’1 180 pass-first point guard is savvy years beyond his age and Thomas will again be a key backup guard who will look to improve his shooting in his sophomore season.
Redshirted last season, Abdou Samb was a three-star recruit who played his high school basketball in the DMV area, David Cox’s old stomping grounds and one of his favorite regions to recruit. Picking URI over eleven other D1 programs, the 6’8 210 Samb is a developmental piece who is known for his energy and toughness on defense and has a chance to be a part of the Rams’ rotation this upcoming season.
Incoming Talent
With the fluidity in today’s transfer portal, it’s tempting for new coaches to patch up holes with quick fix grad transfers, but the foundation of Miller’s five-man transfer haul shrewdly features a quartet of promising underclassmen with three or more years of eligibility.
Out of the four, the most likely to start is George Washington transfer Brayon Freeman. The three-star recruit shined in his freshman season averaging 10.3 points, 2.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.3 steals and with a 43.2 2p%, 43.7 3p% and 68.2 ft%.
The clear third scoring option alongside 16 point-per-game scorers James Bishop and Joe Bamisile, Freeman will look to parlay his 475th nationally ranked free throw rate into more opportunities to attack the rim in Miller’s offense and possibly lead the Rams in scoring.
Originally a four-star recruit by Alabama, Alex Tchikou oozes with potential but remains a bit of a mystery after missing the entire 2020-2021 season due to a ruptured Achilles tendon and playing just five total minutes last season.
Bulking up from 200 to 230 pounds, the 6’11 forward is an outstanding athlete with length and physical tools to become an elite defender. Flashing three-point range in high school, Tchikou’s athleticism is best suited in transition offense, giving him the complete package as a potential rim-running force and an opening day starter.
Another candidate to start this season is former Seton Hall four-star recruit Brandon Weston. Redshirted last season recovering from ACL surgery, the 6’5 200 wing is an explosive, high-motor downhill athlete who rebounds well for his position and has the physical tools to be a tough perimeter defender. His shot is still a work in progress, but his athleticism and defensive potential set Weston up for at least a rotational role this season.
Yet another former four-star recruit, Anthony Harris has been a depth guard at North Carolina throughout parts of three injury plagued seasons. Tearing his ACL early on in his freshman season that forced him to sit out until January of 2021, Harris was deemed unavailable to play in games In January of last season for undisclosed reasons.
Finally healthy and poised to play his first full season of college basketball, the 6’4 195 guard has three years of eligibility remaining and is ready to showcase his physical brand of two-way basketball.
Playing last season at New Mexico Junior College, but was originally a three-star recruit by Wichita State, Josaphat Bilau is a 6’10 235 forward with three years of eligibility. Last season at NMJC, Bilau averaged 3.9 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.5 blocks and 1.8 turnovers in just 14.6 minutes per game. Known more for his defense, Bilau will need to improve his offensive efficiency to earn a role in a crowded URI frontcourt.
The most exciting prospect of Rhode Island’s incoming class of high school graduates is Louis Hutchinson, the 6’7 185 wing whose athleticism, skill and length (6’10 wingspan) offers intriguing upside.
Picking URI over Texas A&M, Mississippi State, Memphis and others, Hutchinson is an ambidextrous finishing three-level scorer who can create off the dribble and has good form in catch-and-shoot situations. With the quickness and length to defend four positions, Hutchinson has the tools to be an all-conference performer someday, but for next season will look to compete for minutes at the 3 and 4.
Rounding up Miller’s recruiting class are international forwards Jeremy Foumena from Montreal and Rory Stewart from England, both recruited from Orangeville Prep in Ontario. The 6’11 235 Foumena is more of a traditional low-post big touted for his rebounding prowess on both sides of the court. The 6’8 230 Stewart is a stretch forward with a soft touch and is hyped as one of, if not the best shooting forward prospect in Canada. Both are expected to be end-of-bench projects with exciting long-term potential.
Non-Conference Schedule
After an opening night tilt against the Quinnipiac Bobcats, one of the more underrated teams in the MAAC, the Rams are up against a solid field in the Cayman Islands Classic opening the tournament against Kansas State, facing Tulane/Nevada in the second round and then facing one of Akron/Illinois State/LSU/Western Kentucky in their final game. Standalone home games against Providence, Brown and Army will precede a trip to Atlanta to face Georgia State. As of August 1st, Rhode Island’s non-conference schedule has not been officially released, but it features a wide variety of teams to help prepare for A-10 play.
There’s a lot of variability in any team with so many new pieces, but the Rams have the talent, coaching and athleticism to finish the season within the top-half to top-third of the A-10. An invite to the NIT Tournament is a fair goal for the Rams.
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