Back in town: Rams set to host Bonnies

Photo courtesy of URI Athletics

Two teams that are skidding through Atlantic 10 play both have a chance to put the ship back on course tonight. Both have lost five of their last seven games dating back to the middle of January, and are desperate to get back to their winning ways of Novem

ber and December. 

Rhode Island with its struggles as the visitors are desperate to get back to the Ryan Center, but even with their home fans in attendance they are still not up to 100 percent. With sickness almost certainly ruling out senior guard Quentin Djibounde, and freshman forward Tyonne Farrell stepping away from the team indefinitely, the Rams operate shorthanded in this A-10 clash.

St. Bonaventure, on the other hand, has suffered double-digit losses in the last two outings, losing by 24 to Loyola Chicago on Feb. 4, and by 10 to George Washington on Feb. 9. The Bonnies hope to use a fellow “pillow fight Wednesday” team to snap themselves out of the funk.

The following are the keys to the game between Rhode Island and St. Bonaventure – a matchup that has much importance regarding March.

Rhode Island Key Player: David Fuchs

Along with being the team’s leading rebounder, sophomore forward David Fuchs has refound his scoring touch as of late. The Austrian has recorded 17 and 16 points in his last two outings, collecting eight rebounds in both contests. While the two impressive performances were overshadowed by a pair of losses, Fuchs has been playing some of the best basketball lately for Rhode Island.

His key player stature in tonight's matchup comes from his rebounding ability. Ranking fifth in the conference with 7.6 rebounds per game, Fuchs is Rhode Island’s best hope for collecting rebounds against a St. Bonaventure team who allows just 31.2 boards per contest, which leads the A-10.

St. Bonaventure Key Player: Melvin Council Jr.

Rhode Island has seen some guards drop quite the scoring volume on their heads over the past two losses. Fordham’s senior guard Jackie Johnson III had a fun Wednesday night last week, scoring 15, while George Mason’s senior guard Darius Maddox had a fun afternoon on Saturday, dropping 24.

That leads to the belief that the Bonnies’ senior guard Melvin Council Jr. can match that output. Council leads the Bonnies with 14.2 points per game this season, and if he has his night, the guard can cause some damage in the Ryan Center.

Rhode Island Key to the Game: Back to the Basics

Over the past three weeks, the winning identity of the Rhode Island Rams has evaporated. Shots that used to fall now clank off the rim, players that used to be boxed out now float into the paint and tight games that used to fall the Rams’ way now tip to the other side of the scale.

To get back to the way it was, Rhode Island needs to rekindle the fire that once powered their engine. Do the little things right and the rest should follow. Talent is not a question on this team, the amount of use of that talent is.

St. Bonaventure Key to the Game: Control the Tempo

The best way to stop Rhode Island for St. Bonaventure is to force them to play at a speed that they don’t want to. If the Rams want to run a fast offense, make them get through a full-court press. If Rhody wants to slow things down and let play get set up, pressure them until they pass the ball away.

Rhode Island played their best game early in the year when they controlled the pace of play. Best thing for the Bonnies is to take it out of reach.

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Rhode Island and St. Bonaventure tip-off from the Ryan Center at 7 p.m. tonight. The game can be streamed on ESPN+ with a radio broadcast available on WRIU 90.3 FM and the Varsity Network.