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TagsBY KYLE FRANKO
NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM
ATLANTIC 10 TOURNAMENT
ATLANTIC CITY – Needing a win to keep its NCAA tournament hopes alive, Rhode Island pulled out one of its most complete performances of the season.
The Rams dominated the second Atlantic 10 Tournament quarterfinal at Boardwalk Hall, advancing with a 63-47 victory over St. Louis.
Most projections have Rhode Island as one of the last teams in or the last teams out. While head coach Jim Baron said that's difficult to ignore, he thinks the Rams' body of work speaks for itself.
"I know this was a great win for us against a very good St. Louis team," said Baron whose team has won at Boston College and against Oklahoma State at a neutral site. "You hope that the league can really help carry you, but I look at our body of work. We've had some tough losses on the road. ... I think our body of work overall [is good]."
URI (23-9, 9-7) gets Temple next and while it might be able to get into the tourney despite a third defeat to the top-seeded Owls, a win would surely put the Rams in.With another performance like Friday afternoon's they might just get it. URI dominated a St. Louis team that needed a victory just as desperately. It got on the glass for 17 offensive rebounds and held the Billikens (20-11, 11-5) to 6-of-19 from behind the arc.
The defensive effort was the most impressive considering the way the Rams struggled the last month of the season. They came into Atlantic City losers of five of their last seven and dropped out of the conferences top four. URI had to win an opening round game at home against St. Joseph's just to make the trip to New Jersey.
"It starts from practice and we go hard at each other," said forward Lamonte Ulmer who finished with a team-high 16 points. "We hope that it translates to the game because that's what we preach – defense makes offense."
Baron praised his senior forward afterwards for the strides he's made during his career. But the ninth-year head coach also felt like Ulmer's absence form any of the All-Conference teams speaks to the depth of the Atlantic-10.
"I think this kid is one of the most improved players in the league. He comes to play everyday with such a high energy," Baron said. "If he doesn't make a team, it's a pretty good league. If he's not on one of these teams, that's what I'm saying about this league, it's tremendous."
One of the reasons the league has been so good is the emergence of Rick Majerus' St. Louis team. The Billikens, who are the youngest team in the country with just one junior, finished fourth in the league but just couldn't find any offensive groove.
When given the chance to reflect, Majerus couldn't help but be disappointed.
"They took it to us," Majerus said. "They were more physical, more animated, more energized. I can't tell you anything strategic - just give them a lot of credit."
As he's done several times in the past, Majerus remained adamant with his dislike for conference tournaments.
"It wouldn't make any difference if we won this because I think kids should be in school," he said. "These are about making money and are fan favorites. I don't know how much this one makes but you're not going to remember 10 years down if you won the conference tournament. The way it should work is the top teams in the league should go.
"If you win this thing, I guess, you deserve to go, but the conference season means so much more."
But Baron and Rhode Island might disagree. The Rams have a chance to play themselves into March with a third shot at top-seeded Temple Saturday afternoon. They lost the first two and an Owls sweep might mean the NIT for Baron's boys.
"They have excellent players, [Fran Dunphy] is a great coach and they have excellent chemistry," Baron said. "It's going to be an excellent challenge for us, but we're looking forward to it. The crowds going to be here, but that's what you play for, and we have to be ready for it."
