From the best start since 1947 to getting knocked out in the opening round of the Atlantic 10 Conference tournament, calling the University of Rhode Island men’s basketball team’s 2024-25 season a ‘rollercoaster’ would be an understatement.
The peaks of the season were very high, as the Rams kicked the year off with a nine-game winning streak, which included a win over rival Providence College for the first time in five years. However, the season ended in all-too-familiar fashion, an early exit in the conference tournament that left Rhody fans wanting more.
The following is a rundown of what worked for the Rams this season, what didn’t work so well, some standout players and a look ahead to the future.
Team MVP: Sebastian Thomas
I don’t think there was any suspense with this one. Thomas, a fourth-year guard from Providence, provided countless moments throughout the campaign that will be remembered in Kingston for a long time.
After spending his first two seasons at Rhode Island, Thomas transferred to the University at Albany for the 2023 season, where he was the leading scorer in the America East Conference. His homecoming this year couldn’t have gone much better, as he finished top five in the A-10 in points per game with 17.2 and led the A-10 in both assists per game and steals per game. He also became just the sixth player in URI history to collect 150 assists in a single season.
Not only are the overall numbers impressive, but Thomas got the job done time and time again when it mattered most. He provided what many would consider the signature moment of the season when he drained a three-pointer that iced the game against Providence over fourth-year forward Bryce Hopkins. Thomas also made another clutch three to ice the win against Temple University, along with hitting game-winning shots over Davidson College and George Mason University.
Thomas had four double-doubles and went on a run of seven straight games with 20+ points in December and January. Overall, these accolades earned Thomas A-10 All-Third Team honors, and there’s a strong argument to be made that he deserved a spot on the first or second team.
What Went Well: Defending Home Court and Offensive Play
Following a combined home record of 16-17 in his first two years with the team, URI Head Coach Archie Miller made it a point of emphasis heading into this season that he wanted to play far better at the Ryan Center. He achieved that goal in a big way, as the Rams went 14-3 on their home court this season and didn’t lose a home game until Jan. 8.
Rhode Island rattled off nine consecutive home wins to begin the season, which was capped off with the 62-59 victory over George Mason, who ended up making the A-10 championship game. The only loss that URI suffered by more than 10 points at the Ryan Center this season was against the A-10 champion Virginia Commonwealth University, an 81-57 defeat on Jan. 21.
Another area of strength for the team this year was a high-powered offense that led the conference in points per game with 78. It’s worth noting that these numbers are a little inflated by a torrid start to the year, where the Rams scored 80+ points in each of their first eight games. Nonetheless, the offense remained strong throughout a large portion of the year, and was a leading force in the increased win total from 12 to 18.
What Went Poorly: Late-Season Struggles and Road Woes
In what has become a common trend in the past three seasons, the ultimate downfall of Rhode Island’s season was its inability to win on the road and in the last couple months of the season.
Starting with the road struggles, the Rams went 1-9 in road games this year and ended the season on a seven-game road losing streak. It’s no secret that it’s tough to win on the road in college basketball, however no team with these kinds of numbers are going to have a chance to compete at the top of their conference. In Miller’s three-year stint as head coach, Rhode Island holds a 5-27 record in road games.
The Rams seemed incapable of putting a full 40 minutes together on the road this year, whether it was allowing the other side to comeback after a strong start, or falling into a big hole in the opening minutes of the contest. They also struggled mightily on defense, allowing 80+ points in the final five games away from home.
Similarly to how URI has continuously struggled on the road in the past three seasons, it has also limped to the finish in each of the past three years. This season, the Rams entered the month of February with a record of 15-6 and had their sights set on at the very least a single-bye in the A-10 Tournament, if not a double-bye. Instead, they went 3-6 in their final nine regular season games, missed out on a bye in the tournament and were sent home by last-seeded Fordham University on the first day of the tournament.
With the great start to the season that URI got off to, it makes the finish all the more frustrating. The final couple months of the year are when you’re expected to play your best basketball; instead, Rhode Island has gone a combined 6-25 in February and March the past three seasons.
A Look Ahead
So, where does the URI men’s basketball team go from here? Obviously, in today’s world of college basketball, the transfer portal is such a vital part of every offseason, and the Rams are going to need to make good use of it this offseason. Four of the five starters on the team are graduating, including the top three scorers: Thomas, fifth-year forward David Green and fifth-year guard Jaden House.
Although Rhode Island is losing much of its offensive firepower, look for defense, particularly interior defense, to be a priority when adding pieces this offseason. Miller spoke after the loss to Fordham about how he wanted the team to get more physical and stronger next year. The defensive struggles have been a major issue for Rhode Island in the past two years, finishing bottom three in the conference in points allowed per game, and are at the top of the list of what must be fixed.
Another key piece of this offseason is trying to retain some of the vital members of the current team and keep them from entering the transfer portal. The Rams have already lost two players to the portal, second-year guard Cam Estevez and first-year forward Tyonne Farrell, but now the focus turns to holding onto both second-year forward David Fuchs and third-year guard Jamarques Lawrence.
Fuchs took a big step forward in his second season, finishing fourth in the conference in rebounds per game and putting together multiple double-doubles. Meanwhile, Lawrence came on strong towards the end of the season, scoring double-digit points in five of his final eight games.
After another disappointing end to the year, Miller and the rest of the coaching staff will get to work in trying to build a roster that can compete at the top of the A-10.
