Everyone's expectations on the Atlantic 10 coming into the year was that the league was in for a major bounce back campaign. After sending two teams to the NCAA Tournament last year, one of which was a bid stealer in Duquesne, the expectation was that this could finally be the first year the league has more than two bids in the Big Dance since 2018.
When people were going through the league before the season, teams they checked off to fulfill this as NCAA Tournament caliber squads include the league favorite VCU, the ole' reliable Dayton, a Robbie Avila and Josh Schertz led Saint Louis team, and perhaps even St. Joseph's or Loyola Chicago.
One team that few had on their mind to be in this mix: Rhode Island. The Rams were picked 11th in the A-10 preseason poll and many thought it would be a transitional year in the third season under Archie Miller after winning nine games in year one and 12 in year two. Why would anybody tab Rhody as an NCAA Tournament caliber team?
Well, all the Rams have done is gone 11-1 in non-conference play after defeating Temple in the Hall of Fame Classic on Saturday. Their only blemish? A double-overtime loss to in-state foe Brown.
Nobody expected such a dominant run to start the season by the Rams, not even head coach Archie Miller.
"Gotta give our guys credit," Miller said. "We played 12 non-conference games and found a way to win 11 of them."
The biggest thing that stands out to me about Rhode Island is how deep they are. The Rams have four or five legit guards, and it starts with Sebastian Thomas. He is in his second stint in Kingston having transferred back to Rhody this season after playing a year at Albany. He's been the engine that has fueled the hot start.
"Sebastian steps up when it's money time," Miller said. "He delivered, not only with that last shot but with the way he sets up others."
On Saturday, Thomas had 20 points and 10 assists, hitting a clutch four-point play in crunch time to break the tie. On the year, he's averaging 17 points per game and is in the top-10 in the country in assists with seven per game.
"I feel like in those situations, you just have to make the right pass," Thomas said. "[David Green] passed it to me, and I put it up. Thankfully I made it."
Outside of Thomas, Nebraska transfer Jamarques Lawrence has been a welcome addition to go along with returners Cam Estevez and Jaden House. The latter two combined to start 42 games last season and are now coming off the bench, which shows just how deep the Rams are.
The frontcourt for Miller is nearly just as deep. A mix of returnees, transfers and a freshman make up the strong unit that's anchored by second-year man Green. He had an injury-plagued 2023-24 season, but has been healthy this year and is averaging north of 16 points a night, second on the team behind Thomas.
David Fuchs started 25 games last season and has been a backup this year, which I feel like a broken record pointing out that added depth again. Transfers Javonte Brown (Western Michigan) and Drissa Traore (St. John's) solidified the five spot, and Tyonne Farrell has been a starter at the three as a freshman.
What's impressive about Rhody is how many different ways they can beat you. If they're having an off-night from three, Brown and Fuchs will have their way inside. If they can't get the bigs going, the guards light it up from three. Through 12 games, the Rams have had five different leading scorers. Against Temple, it was Brown.
"I just go out there and hoop and try to do my best and to execute the game plan," Brown said. "Thankfully it was one of my games."
Brown dominated inside against the Owls, using his size advantage as a seven-footer. As one of the Rams' captains, he has been a huge factor at his fourth school after stints with UConn, Texas A&M and Western Michigan. He has been one of the best centers in the Atlantic 10 so far this season.
So, can they keep this up when A-10 play begins on New Year's Eve? Some may argue that this non-conference run was a fluke due to a weaker schedule, but it still included wins over Providence, Temple and a dismantling of a solid Charleston team. All of those may be Q3 wins, in fact all of URI's games this year have been Q3 or Q4, but all that means is that they're winning the games they're supposed to win.
However, with the depth and experience the Rams have, they will be in play near the top of the A-10 all year long. With a lead guard like Thomas, I feel like Rhode Island not only can make the NCAA Tournament, but can advance in the NCAA Tournament.
The Rams also luck out in a sense that they get most of the top teams in the conference at home. Two dates I'm circling on my calendar: Jan. 21 and Feb. 26. In the first game, URI hosts VCU and Max Shulga at the Ryan Center. In the second, they host Dayton in a late-season game that could very well be important for seeding come the A-10 Tournament in Brooklyn a couple weeks later.
Rhode Island has as real a chance as ever to get back into the NCAA Tournament for the first time in the post-Dan Hurley era.