# 2017–18 Rhode Island Rams men's basketball team

The 2017–18 Rhode Island Rams basketball team represented the University of Rhode Island during the 2017–18 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Rams, led by sixth-year head coach Dan Hurley, played their home games at the Ryan Center in Kingston, Rhode Island as members of the Atlantic 10 Conference. They finished the season 26–8, 15–3 in A-10 play to finish win the A-10 regular season championship. They defeated VCU and Saint Joseph's to advance to the championship game of the A-10 tournament where they lost to Davidson. They received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament where they defeated Oklahoma in the first round before losing in the second round to Duke.
On March 22, 2018, it was announced that head coach Dan Hurley had accepted the head coaching job at Connecticut. On April 4, assistant coach David Cox was promoted to head coach.

## Previous season

The Rams finished the 2016–17 season 25–10, 13–5 in A-10 play to finish in a tie for third place. In the A-10 tournament, they defeated St. Bonaventure, Davidson, and VCU to win the A-10 Tournament championship. As a result, they received the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament as the No. 11 seed in the Midwest region. They received a No. 11 seed in the Midwest region where they defeated No. 6-seeded Creighton in the first round before losing to No. 3-seeded Oregon in the second round.

## Offseason
### Departures

| Name | Number | Pos. | Height | Weight | Year | Hometown | Reason for departure |
| Hassan Martin | 12 | F | 6'7" | 235 | Senior | Staten Island, NY | Graduated |
| Kuran Iverson | 23 | F | 6'9" | 215 | Senior | Windsor, CT | Graduated |

### Incoming transfers

| Name | Number | Pos. | Height | Weight | Year | Hometown | Previous School |
| Ryan Preston | 5 | F | 6'7" | 230 | Junior | Brooklyn, NY | Junior college transferred from Trinity Valley CC |

### 2017 recruiting class

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes :
| Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | Commit date |
| Fatts Russell #37 PG | Philadelphia, PA | Imhotep Institute | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | 150 lb (68 kg) | Sep 20, 2016 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 79 ||||||
| Overall recruiting rankings: ||||||
| Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight. In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale. Sources: "2017 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. ||||||

### 2018 recruiting class

US college sports recruiting information for 2018 recruits :
| Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | Commit date |
| Jermaine Harris #7 C | Upper Marlboro, MD | Rock Creek Christian Academy | 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) | 220 lb (100 kg) | Oct 6, 2017 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 83 |||||||
| Dana Tate #36 SF | Springfield, MA | Rock Creek Christian Academy | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | 230 lb (100 kg) | Aug 12, 2017 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 80 |||||||
| Tyrese Martin #76 PG | Woodstock, VA | Massanutten Military Academy | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 175 lb (79 kg) | Sep 13, 2017 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: NR |||||||
| Omar Silverio SG | Bronx, NY | St. Raymond High School for Boys | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 190 lb (86 kg) | |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: NR |||||||
| Overall recruiting rankings: |||||||
| Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight. In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale. Sources: "2018 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. |||||||

## Preseason

In a poll of the league’s head coaches and select media members at the conference's media day, the Rams were picked to win the A-10, receiving 27 of 28 first place votes. E.C. Matthews was selected to the conference's preseason first team while Jared Terrell was picked for the preseason second team.

## Schedule and results

| Date time, TV | Rank$^#$ | Opponent$^#$ | Result | Record | High points | High rebounds | High assists | Site (attendance) city, state |
| Exhibition |||||||||
| Oct 28, 2017* 1:00 pm | | Buffalo Charity Exhibition for Disaster Relief | W 80–72 $^{OT}$ | | 24 – Terrell | 12 – Robinson | 5 – Garrett | Ryan Center (1,363) Kingston, RI |
| Non-conference regular season |||||||||
| Nov 10, 2017* 7:30 pm | | UNC Asheville NIT Season Tipoff | W 84–60 | 1–0 | 18 – Robinson | 5 – Preston | 5 – Terrell | Ryan Center (6,367) Kingston, RI |
| Nov 13, 2017* 11:30 pm, ESPNU | | at Nevada | L 81–88 | 1–1 | 24 – Terrell | 6 – Akele | 6 – Dowtin | Lawlor Events Center (7,737) Reno, NV |
| Nov 19, 2017* 1:00 pm | | Holy Cross | W 88–66 | 2–1 | 25 – Terrell | 5 – Tied | 9 – Dowtin | Ryan Center (4,309) Kingston, RI |
| Nov 23, 2017* 6:00 pm, ESPNU | | vs. No. 20 Seton Hall NIT Season Tipoff semifinals | W 75–74 | 3–1 | 32 – Terrell | 7 – Berry | 2 – Dowtin | Barclays Center (1,874) Brooklyn, NY |
| Nov 24, 2017* 7:30 pm, ESPNU | | vs. Virginia NIT Season Tipoff championship game | L 55–70 | 3–2 | 12 – Berry | 7 – Berry | 6 – Terrell | Barclays Center (3,952) Brooklyn, NY |
| Nov 28, 2017* 7:00 pm | | Brown Ocean State Cup | W 86–62 | 4–2 | 20 – Russell | 8 – Robinson | 4 – Russell | Ryan Center (4,485) Kingston, RI |
| Dec 2, 2017* 5:00 pm, CBSSN | | Providence Ocean State Cup | W 75–68 | 5–2 | 15 – Garrett | 12 – Robinson | 4 – Tied | Ryan Center (7,959) Kingston, RI |
| Dec 6, 2017* 8:00 pm, SECN+ | | at Alabama | L 64–68 | 5–3 | 18 – Garrett | 5 – Langevine | 2 – 3 tied | Coleman Coliseum (12,807) Tuscaloosa, AL |
| Dec 16, 2017* 4:00 pm | | College of Charleston | W 68–62 | 6–3 | 21 – Terrell | 10 – Tied | 3 – Dowtin | Ryan Center (5,761) Kingston, RI |
| Dec 21, 2017* 7:00 pm | | Iona | W 80–74 | 7–3 | 23 – Terrell | 10 – Robinson | 6 – Dowtin | Ryan Center (4,381) Kingston, RI |
| Dec 27, 2017* 7:00 pm, ESPNU | | Florida Gulf Coast | W 80–60 | 8–3 | 20 – Matthews | 7 – Robinson | 6 – Terrell | Ryan Center (5,347) Kingston, RI |
| Atlantic 10 regular season |||||||||
| Dec 30, 2017 4:00 pm | | George Mason | W 83–64 | 9–3 (1–0) | 18 – Matthews | 10 – Langevine | 8 – Dowtin | Ryan Center (6,383) Kingston, RI |
| Jan 3, 2018 7:00 pm | | La Salle | W 74–62 | 10–3 (2–0) | 24 – Matthews | 6 – Matthews | 3 – Dowtin | Ryan Center (4,549) Kingston, RI |
| Jan 6, 2018 4:00 pm | | at George Washington | W 81–60 | 11–3 (3–0) | 22 – Terrell | 10 – Langevine | 9 – Dowtin | Charles E. Smith Center (2,249) Washington, D.C. |
| Jan 9, 2018 7:00 pm, CBSSN | | at Saint Louis | W 72–65 | 12–3 (4–0) | 20 – Terrell | 10 – Berry | 8 – Dowtin | Chaifetz Arena (5,179) St. Louis, MO |
| Jan 13, 2018 11:00 am, ESPNU | | St. Bonaventure | W 87–73 | 13–3 (5–0) | 20 – Matthews | 9 – Tied | 9 – Dowtin | Ryan Center (7,082) Kingston, RI |
| Jan 17, 2018 7:00 pm | | Massachusetts | W 73–51 | 14–3 (6–0) | 24 – Terrell | 12 – Robinson | 6 – Dowtin | Ryan Center (5,583) Kingston, RI |
| Jan 20, 2018 1:00 pm, CBSSN | | at Dayton | W 88–74 | 15–3 (7–0) | 24 – Terrell | 7 – Matthews | 7 – Garrett | UD Arena (13,350) Dayton, OH |
| Jan 24, 2018 7:00 pm, Stadium | No. 24 | at Fordham | W 78–58 | 16–3 (8–0) | 20 – Berry | 7 – Langevine | 5 – Tied | Rose Hill Gymnasium (2,015) Bronx, NY |
| Jan 27, 2018 12:00 pm, NBCSN | No. 24 | Duquesne | W 61–58 | 17–3 (9–0) | 20 – Matthews | 5 – Tied | 6 – Dowtin | Ryan Center (7,432) Kingston, RI |
| Jan 30, 2018 6:30 pm, CBSSN | No. 22 | at Massachusetts | W 85–83 | 18–3 (10–0) | 19 – Dowtin | 5 – Robinson | 10 – Dowtin | Mullins Center (4,194) Amherst, MA |
| Feb 2, 2018 7:00 pm, ESPN2 | No. 22 | at VCU | W 81–68 | 19–3 (11–0) | 18 – Matthews | 18 – Langevine | 6 – Dowtin | Siegel Center (7,637) Richmond, VA |
| Feb 9, 2018 7:00 pm, ESPN2 | No. 18 | Davidson | W 72–59 | 20–3 (12–0) | 17 – Garrett | 8 – Langevine | 5 – Dowtin | Ryan Center (7,743) Kingston, RI |
| Feb 13, 2018 8:30 pm, CBSSN | No. 16 | Richmond | W 85–67 | 21–3 (13–0) | 17 – Terrell | 6 – Langevine | 7 – Dowtin | Ryan Center (7,019) Kingston, RI |
| Feb 16, 2018 7:00 pm, ESPN2 | No. 16 | at St. Bonaventure | L 74–77 | 21–4 (13–1) | 23 – Terrell | 10 – Langevine | 5 – Dowtin | Reilly Center (5,480) Olean, NY |
| Feb 20, 2018 7:00 pm, CBSSN | No. 18 | at La Salle | W 95–93 $^{OT}$ | 22–4 (14–1) | 25 – Dowtin | 7 – Robinson | 7 – Dowtin | Tom Gola Arena (1,841) Philadelphia, PA |
| Feb 23, 2018 7:00 pm, ESPN2 | No. 18 | Dayton | W 81–56 | 23–4 (15–1) | 20 – Dowtin | 5 – Tied | 5 – Dowtin | Ryan Center (7,880) Kingston, RI |
| Feb 27, 2018 7:00 pm, CBSSN | No. 17 | Saint Joseph's | L 48–78 | 23–5 (15–2) | 19 – Terrell | 7 – Terrell | 4 – Dowtin | Ryan Center (7,186) Kingston, RI |
| Mar 2, 2018 8:00 pm, CBSSN | No. 17 | at Davidson | L 61–63 | 23–6 (15–3) | 22 – Terrell | 8 – Robinson | 4 – Matthews | John M. Belk Arena (4,442) Davidson, NC |
| Atlantic 10 tournament |||||||||
| Mar 9, 2018 12:00 pm, NBCSN | (1) No. 25 | vs. (8) VCU Quarterfinals | W 76–67 | 24–6 | 18 – Dowtin | 8 – Robinson | 5 – Garrett | Capital One Arena (7,321) Washington, D.C. |
| Mar 10, 2018 1:00 pm, CBSSN | (1) No. 25 | vs. (4) Saint Joseph's Semifinals | W 90–87 | 25–6 | 18 – Berry | 9 – Berry | 10 – Dowtin | Capital One Arena (8,756) Washington, D.C. |
| Mar 11, 2018 1:00 pm, CBS | (1) No. 25 | vs. (3) Davidson Championship | L 57–58 | 25–7 | 20 – Matthews | 8 – Matthews | 4 – Garrett | Capital One Arena (7,643) Washington, D.C. |
| NCAA tournament |||||||||
| Mar 15, 2018* 12:15 pm, CBS | (7 MW) | vs. (10 MW) Oklahoma First Round | W 83–78 $^{OT}$ | 26–7 | 16 – Matthews | 10 – Langevine | 5 – Terrell | PPG Paints Arena (18,757) Pittsburgh, PA |
| Mar 17, 2018* 2:40 pm, CBS | (7 MW) | vs. (2 MW) No. 9 Duke Second Round | L 62–87 | 26–8 | 23 – Matthews | 8 – Berry | 9 – Dowtin | PPG Paints Arena (19,015) Pittsburgh, PA |
| *Non-conference game. $^#$Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses. All times are in Eastern Time. |||||||||
Source

## Rankings

Ranking movements Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking RV = Received votes :
| | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week |
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | Final |
| AP | RV | RV | RV | RV | RV | RV | RV | RV | RV | RV | RV | 24 | 22 | 18 | 16 | 18 | 17 | 25 | RV | Not released |
| Coaches | RV | RV | RV | RV | RV | RV | RV | RV | RV | RV | RV | 23 | 21 | 19 | 14 | 18 | 16 | 24 | 22 | RV |
*AP does not release post-NCAA tournament rankings