Since Dan Hurley’s departure in 2018 after back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances, the Rhode Island men’s basketball program has struggled to find consistency.
After Hurley, former head coach David Cox put together a pair of winning season’s but failed to reach the Big Dance in four consecutive years.Â
Even the first two seasons under current head coach Archie Miller were mired with controversy and conflict, managing just a 21-42 record combined across both campaigns.
However, it allowed the former Dayton and Indiana head coach time to rebuild this program with Rhode Island now off to an undefeated 8-0 start in his third season at the helm.
Centric to this success has been Miller’s work in the transfer portal with all five of the Rams leading contributors arriving either in 2023 or during this past offseason.
In his second season with the program, former Hofstra and Louisiana Tech transfer David Green has only improved. After missing some time with injuries in 2023-24, the 6-foot-7 wing has started all eight of the Rams games so far and is currently the team’s leading scorer averaging 17.1 PPG and 6.0 RPG.
In addition to shooting 50% on three’s which is tied for 16th nationally, Green already has a double-double on the season and even managed 26 points to lead the recent win over Yale.
Joining him last offseason via the portal, former High Point guard Jaden House proved Miller’s primary offensive weapon during the 2023-24 campaign.Â
Though he’s seen less minutes this season with more talent and depth throughout the roster, House has been just as impactful averaging 12.8 PPG while coming off the bench.
In the season opener against Fairfield, House added 16 points and later followed up with 17 points, eight boards and three assists to help complete a comeback win against Holy Cross.
However, it’s the transfer portal recruits from this offseason that have helped Rhode Island to blow by any early season expectations with this undefeated start to the campaign.Â
After a year spent at Albany in which he finished top-45 nationally in scoring, Rhode Island native Sebastian Thomas made his return to the program where he spent his first two seasons.
Averaging 16.4 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 7.7 APG and 2.6 STLPG, Thomas has found more of a playmaking role for URI, currently 9th nationally in assists and tied for 27th in steals/game.
He’s still brought the same scoring prowess though and against Lafayette, Thomas contributed a season-high 23 points. Later, following it up with his only double-double of the season, adding 15 points and 10 assists to help knock off Charleston.
Beside him in the backcourt, Nebraska transfer Jamarques Lawrence has proven the ideal partner to Thomas as a No. 2 guard. With more stability he’s averaging career-highs of 11.0 PPG, 3.5 APG, while shooting 41% from three and starting 8/8 for the Rams this season.
In Rhode Island’s trip to the 2024 Jacksonville Classic, Lawrence lifted the Rams to a 2-0 run with 13 points against Detroit Mercy before dropping 18 points, five boards and seven assists over UT Arlington.
While he struggled to find consistency between stints at UConn, Texas A&M, and Western Michigan, 7-foot center Javonte Brown has now seemingly found a place where he can succeed.
Averaging career-highs of 11.0 PPG, 5.9 RPG, and 2.3 BKPG while shooting 73% from the field, Brown has been a two-way monster early this season for the Rams.
In fact, his best performance of the early season came against Charleston in which he scored 17 points, grabbed seven rebounds, dished a pair of assists and swatted four blocked shots.
However, there are much tougher tests ahead for Rhode Island including Providence this Saturday, a visit to Brown next week, and a matchup against Temple just before A10 play.
Despite being selected 11th out of 16 in the A10 preseason men’s basketball poll, the Rams are defying expectations with the program’s first 8-0 start in over 77 years.
While the conference slate will provide a more consistent challenge for Miller and Co., it’s an opportunity to return this program to national prominence and compete for the programs first NCAA Tournament bid in seven season’s.
