Once upon a time, defense won basketball games. It was that simple of a concept. The amount of games a team won matched the strength of their defense.
That is no longer the case.
The University of Rhode Island men’s basketball team is eighth in the Atlantic 10 with a 4-4 conference record. However, they are second in the conference in the amount of points they allow per game – 64.2 to be exact. (The University of Dayton leads the league, allowing .7 less). They also lead the conference in defensive rebounds and blocked shots.
What happened to defense wins championships?
It’s easy to blame URI’s poor offense for their 12-9 record. They score just 70 points a game, which ranks eleventh out of the A-10’s 14 teams. Â
But compare them to Dayton. Like I said, both teams pretty much allow the same amount of points per game and offensively, Dayton averages just three more points than the Rams. But Dayton is second in the conference and the Rams are eighth. So obviously it must be more than just their offensive struggles.
Something happened about the same time they began conference play. In the 13 non-conference games, Rhode Island’s opposing team recorded 2.5 more fouls than the Rams did a game. However, since Jan. 2, when URI begun conference play, Rhode Island has committed 4.6 more fouls than opposing teams. That’s seven more fouls a game the Rams committed in conference play than nonconference play. The trend continued again on Saturday in the Rams’ 64-55 home loss to St. Joseph’s University, where they were whistled for 11 more fouls than the Hawks.
Why? I have no idea. The roster has remained the same. It must be their defensive approach. Maybe it has to do with junior Hassan Martin. In each of the last three games, he has fouled out. However, excluding those games, he committed just six fouls in four conference games. In Rhode Island losses, he averages just one more foul per game, so he’s not the one to point the finger at either.
Whatever the reason is, it’s costing the Rams big time. However, the worst part of this is the Rams failure to take the free points when they get fouled. They shoot just 66 percent from the charity stripe – twelfth in the A-10. That means on average they miss seven free throws per game.
Leaving seven points on the foul line is crucial, especially when considering eight of their nine losses have come down to single digits.
Maybe Rhode Island’s 12-9 record is not because of their offensive struggles and maybe it’s not necessarily their defense either. One thing is for certain though.  Boneheaded fouls and their inability to make free throws is costing them greatly, as they continue to watch a once promising season slip out of their grasp.