Rams ace non-conference slate, A10 play awaits

Twelve games in, 11 wins. Other than a double overtime road blemish to a team (who’s name won’t be mentioned right here up top) that’s been to Rhode Island what the Enrique Wilson was to Pedro Martinez, Rhode Island aced the non-conference portion of its schedule.

It was a carefully crafted slate by Benny Sander, Rhode Island’s assistant coach, with input from the whole staff - of course - providing this group the ability to gain confidence while splashing in tests. Sure, Rhode Island would’ve liked to grab an additional marquee name or two to play, but that’s a chore for any A10 team much less one coming off seasons of 9, 12 wins. Next year, Rhody will see more opportunities (whether in better holiday tourneys or otherwise) given the good work done to stabilize and set positive signals on the program’s near-term future. For now, let’s reset to the present. Here are the metrics:

• 11-1 non conference. Wins over Temple (AAC), Providence (BE), Yale (Ivy), and a 38-point drubbing of College of Charleston (CAA) — solid programs.

• One double-OT road loss to Brown, still from the 13th ranked league out of 31 with a profile of 143 NET. Also about to play Kansas today and then Kentucky next week. Rhody pride shot aside, not an anchor.

• A top 100 ranked offense (99) in KenPom.

• A top 100 ranked defense (97) in KenPom, after registering 261 in that category last year.

• A NET Ranking this morning of 70 of 364 teams, positioning them for a shot at meaningful (NCAA, NIT) at large postseason play aspirations — all dependent upon conference play of course. Interestingly, they have a 7-0 “WAB” stat. Here’s what this means:

  • A metric that shows how many more or fewer wins a team has than a bubble team would be expected to have against the same schedule. The WAB uses the NET to determine opponent strength, and a bubble team is defined as a team ranked 45th in the NET.

• A KenPom of 89 and a BartTorvik (this is as far as I’m going metrically, lol) of 97.

Now comes the grind. The Atlantic 10 looks the part this season with SEVEN teams in the Top 100 of the NET Rankings as of this morning: Dayton (42), St. Bonaventure (55), VCU (68), Rhode Island (70), George Mason (91), Saint Josephs (93) and Loyola Chicago (100). Teams like Davidson sit just outside that profile and look significantly better - just as Rhode Island does - than advertised in the preseason. And the GWs and La Salle’s of the world look okay too. Saint Louis is a massive underperformer relative to winning the offseason press conference, Fordham is a net neutral relative to expectations of Fordham, and Duquesne, Richmond, and UMass are down.

Overall, a positive reality for the conference, as it’s taken care of business collectively and a cadre of resume enhancing opportunities await for its better teams.

While Rhode Island needs to avoid metric land mines like their very first conference game at Duquesne (204), should they navigate the A10 schedule by taking care of business and avoiding these stumbles while pocketing quality wins (of the Top 100: Dayton, VCU, Bonaventure, Mason all visit the Ryan Center, while Rhody goes to SJU, Loyola and a return to Mason), they can position themselves well.

Through the non-conference season, it’s unquestionable they’ve more than done the job.

Merry Christmas and happy holidays to all of you!