In the 2023-24 season, the University of Rhode Island men’s basketball team displayed several strengths and weaknesses. The following is a summary of the latest season for the Rams and a way they can improve in the future.
Team MVPs: Jaden House and David Green
In his first year in the Atlantic 10 conference, fourth-year guard Jaden House displayed his natural talent on a multitude of different occasions. House started his career in Keaney Blue with back-to-back 25 and 22 point performances against Central Connecticut State University and Fairfield University in early November 2023.
House’s tough drive-to-the-rim demeanor helped him throughout the year as the 6’4 guard often took on taller opponents in the paint. Through a slashing attack strategy, House was able to score 20+ points six times this year, while tallying double-digits 22 times.
Third-year forward David Green was a player who made noise in the preseason scrimmage but was not able to make his Rhode Island debut until Dec. 30, 2023 against Northeastern University due to National Collegiate Athletic Association transfer regulations. In that first appearance, Green scored 15 points, a mark he would continue to meet quite often throughout the season. In 19 games played, Green scored in double-digits 14 times.
Green also provided a spark to the locker room in the middle of the season, which served as the inciting action for the Rams’ 3-0 start to A-10 play. Rhode Island won the first four games that Green played in, and although the effects of the newcomer left from the final scores in the future, his presence in the box score was more than consistent.
What Worked: Youthful Promise
At the collegiate level, oftentimes an adaptation period is needed for young players to acclimate to the new speed and level of play. However, for first-years David Fuchs and Cam Estevez their effect on the team came rather quickly.
For Fuchs, this level of play was not new to him. The Austrian played professionally in Germany for Ratiopharm Ulm in Bundesliga the season prior and took that salaried experience over to the Ocean State.
Fuchs led the Rams in rebounds per game with 6.4, a mark that ranked eighth in the A-10. Fuchs also recorded six double-doubles, and proved himself as a two-way player with terrific upside potential as he matures.
Estevez took the more traditional route to collegiate basketball. The three-star recruit out of the Canterbury School in New Milford, Connecticut displayed his offensive capabilities in flashes throughout his rookie campaign. The first-year recorded double-digit points eight times this season and shot 41% from beyond the arc, a stat that placed him seventh in the A-10.
With improvement due to increased exposure and playing time, Estevez could see himself becoming a star in a Ram uniform.
What Did Not Work: Defensive Play and Streaks of Unfortunate Results
It was not a secret this past season that defensive play was a weakness for Rhode Island. Their 76.3 allowed points per game ranked 13th in the A-10, with the Rams allowing over 90 points four times this year.
Their 94-91 loss to Saint Louis University was the first time the Rams allowed over 90 points at home since Feb. 25, 2009 when URI took down Dayton 93-91 in overtime. This feat truly embodies the struggles that Rhode Island faced this season on the defensive side of the ball.
Rhody also was unable to stop the slide of poor play multiple times throughout the season. 14 of their 20 total losses came in two seven-game streaks from Dec. 2, 2023 to Dec. 21, 2023 and from Feb. 21 to March 6.
In those stretches of games, the Rams did not play with cohesion, passion or effort. They came out to games without vigor or a sense of intent and their approach was displayed in the box scores. Though when the team was on their game, for example in wins such as against Yale University and the University of Massachusetts, they were able to succeed.
Building Towards the Future: Retain Key Pieces
In today’s NCAA, the presence of the transfer portal is a major factor in offseason roster changes for any team. For the Rams, five of their players have already entered the portal.
Second-years Rory Stewart and Jeremy Foumena, along with third-years Tyson Brown and Brandon Weston and first-year Connor Dubsky have all announced since the conclusion of the season that they will be taking their talents elsewhere for the 2024-25 season.
While roster turnover is inevitable, it is vital to retain the key pieces of your team and build around them. The big four pieces are all mentioned above – Green, House, Fuchs and Estevez are all large parts of the foundation for Head Coach Archie Miller to attack the transfer portal with and bring in help to grow this program back to the reputation it once branded in the late 2010’s.
When it comes to strategy in the transfer portal, the dust still needs to settle for an appropriate plan to be enacted. However, look for the coaching staff to possibly search for a scoring veteran big and a defensive guard to fill out the holes they displayed in this past season’s roster.