Rhode Island Info
Head Coach: Dan Hurley
Location: Providence, RI
Conference: A-10
Nickname: Rams
Mascot: Rhody the Ram
Last time out: Beat UMass-Lowell
Typical Rotation Depth: 10 players
Tempo: Learning to fly
Offensive Style: To the rim
Defensive Style: Pressure
Line: Nebraska by 2.5
Famous Alumni: Lamar Odom
Other Previews
Huskers.com - http://www.huskers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=100&ATCLID=209774935http://www.huskers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=100&ATCLID=209774935
Rhody Rampage - http://rhodyrampage.com/2014/10/17/rhode-island-basketball-2014-15-schedule-preview-nebraska-cornhuskers/
Possible Starters
Huskers
0 Tai Webster 6-4 199 So
5 Terran Petteway 6-6 215 Jr
31 Shavon Shields 6-7 221 Jr
2 David Rivers 6-7 200 Sr
35 Walter Pitchford 6-10 237 Jr
Rams
32 Jared Terrell 6-3 220 Fr
10 Biggie Minnis 6-3 200 Jr
0 E.C. Matthews 6-5 190 So
55 Gilvydas Biruta 6-8 235 Sr
12 Hassan Martin 6-7 230 So
Player to Watch: E.C. Matthews
Matthews was a highly sought after 4 star recruit out of Michigan who hit the ground running as the A-10 co-freshman of the year. Dan Hurley rotates through his players quite a bit but the southpaw NBA prospect should be on the court most of the time.
The Skinny
Huskers have their first big test in an up and coming Rhode Island team on the road. Dan Hurley's squad are the A-10 version of the Huskers having built up the talent level with a few transfers and top 150 recruits. However, it's still a young team that the Huskers should be able to handle.
The Rams have mucked it up over the last couple of season and are attempting to transition into a full court pressure defense so you'll see a lot of different rotations. Speaking of rotations, the best lineups for the Huskers has included Benny Parker on the court. If Nebraska starts out slow again, you'll see the Energizer out on the floor immediately. I think Coach Miles finds a way to get Walt Pitchford immediately involved on the offense...am I the only one who misses the familiarity of him jacking up a 3 to start the game? Miles has also hinted the role of David Rivers on offense could increase. His outside shooting stroke will certainly come in handy on nights when a path to the lane doesn't exist.
The keys to this game will be how Nebraska fares on the boards and how Rhode Island handles the ball. The Rams don't have a ton of height but they have beefy players who excel at pulling down rebounds. Rhody has been turning the ball over without pressure so transition points should be there for the Huskers. Expect them make their living on the run and at the charity stripe when the Rams are hacking away.
Rhode Island really doesn't have the type of team that can hurt the Huskers. It's probably a close game with the home court advantage.
Prediction: Nebraska 72 Rhode Island 67
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