Hassan Martin wins Atlantic-10 Rookie of the Week honors

If you read my recap from the Richmond game the other day, you may recall I sang the praises of Hassan Martin near the end.

"EC Matthews has been getting all of the hype, and deservedly so. Six Atlantic-10 Rookie of the Week awards now, including four straight. But do not forget about the other freshman who's making major contributions to this team: Hassan Martin. Besides his obvious shot-blocking prowess, he's starting to develop some solid game in the low post offensively, including his monster facial dunk today. He clearly needs to improve his shooting from the outside, as well as his free throw shooting (a not-so-hot 53%), but he's starting to remind me a little bit of Delroy James. But that comparison can only become official with the shooting. It'll come."

Martin averaged 11.5 points and 7.5 rebounds, as well as 2.5 blocks over two games, extending URI's grasp on the A10 rookie honors for the fifth consecutive week (Matthews had won the previous four). And of course, you may have seen this highlight involving the two froshies:

So whoop di do, the Rams are cleaning up on conference rookie of the week awards. Who cares, right? Wrong. This is the Atlantic 10, not one of the BCS leagues where freshmen have one foot out the door into the NBA as soon as they set foot on campus. Nine times outta ten, these guys are in it for the duration.

For those who have already bailed on Danny Hurley, I understand the frustrations about his clock management, and the offensive structure in those late-game situations. But those problems are infinitely more fixable than not being able to land star recruits. When's the last time URI was able to land two high-impact freshman in the same season?

Hurley, and his staff as a whole, have done an outstanding job in just two years completely remaking the culture in Kingston. Guys like EC and Hassan would not be here without them, and you wouldn't hear stories like Jarvis Garrett verbally committing to the program. A 13-17 record is nothing to write home about, particularly a 4-11 conference record, but with the potential for a win in the finale vs. Fordham, as well as a bid in the Atlantic 10 Tournament, the Rams could realistically reach 15 wins, giving them the total of the last two years combined.

So again, congratulations to Hassan Martin on winning the honors. I'll be doing more of a "Rhody wrap-up" of sorts after the Fordham game, and certainly after they conclude the A10 tourney. Til then, just remember that for the first time in a long time, there's a good reason for optimism in the greater Narragansett area.

Game Recap: Rhode Island 66, Richmond 43

Watching "College Game Day" on ESPN this morning, the panel was taking a look at some of the bubble teams. Dayton, our Atlantic 10 brethren, had Gonzaga, California, and George Washington listed as "good wins." Among their "bad losses," per the Game Day panel, was none other than the University of Rhode Island.

The Richmond Spiders can now empathize.

The Rams improved to 13-17 (4-11 A-10) with a total team effort in demolishing the Spiders (18-11, 8-6 A-10), who likely need to win the A-10 Tournament to have any shot at reaching the NCAA's. The way they looked this afternoon, I'm not sure the NIT selection committee would give them much of a look.

EC Matthews (who else?) led the Rams in scoring with 19, while Xavier Munford scored 15, becoming the fastest player (and 51st overall) in Rhode Island history to reach the 1,000 point mark. Hassan Martin and Gilvydas Biruta each notched double-doubles, with 10 points and 13 rebounds for the former, 13 and 10 for the latter.

The Spiders were awful pretty much from the start, scoring just 15 points in the first half. They led the Rams 9-6 at one point, before a 14-0 Rhode Island run gave way to a full on "Rhody Rout." Richmond shot an appalling 21% (12-57) from the field, including just 2-19 from three-point land. Kendall Anthony, who is the Spiders' healthiest leading scorer at 16 points per game, was 2-20 from the floor (cut to Knicks fans saying "you spelled J.R. Smith wrong"). Cedrick Lindsay, who averaged 18.3 ppg, is out for the season.

Rhode Island normally never makes a seemingly-routine win easy, but today was an exception. Leading 31-15 at the half, they were sure to open the second on a mini 8-1 run, ensuring the Spiders were finished before they could even fathom what was going on.

Some other takeaways from today's game:

• I've been critical of Gilvydas Biruta at times this year, but he just put together back-to-back very good games against UMass and Richmond. He lead URI in scoring (17), rebounding (8) and assists (5) against the Minutemen on Wednesday, and chipped in with a double-double today. It's easy to forget he's only a junior, and will indeed return next season. There's no reason to think he can't keep improving, and capitalize on the promise he showed as an all-Big East freshman in 2010-2011 at Rutgers.

• EC Matthews has been getting all of the hype, and deservedly so. Six Atlantic-10 Rookie of the Week awards now, including four straight. But do not forget about the other freshman who's making major contributions to this team: Hassan Martin. Besides his obvious shot-blocking prowess, he's starting to develop some solid game in the low post offensively, including his monster facial dunk today. He clearly needs to improve his shooting from the outside, as well as his free throw shooting (a not-so-hot 53%), but he's starting to remind me a little bit of Delroy James. But that comparison can only become official with the shooting. It'll come.

• What's been up with Ifeanyi Onyekaba's minutes? Since his one game suspension for a violation of team rules, he's played 13, 23, 3 and now 9 minutes. First he got removed from the starting lineup, and now he's become almost an afterthought on an already thin bench. I can almost understand the UMass game, given how close it was, but 9 minutes (mainly after the outcome had been decided) today? There was no harm in giving him a longer look today to gain some confidence back. This team is thinnest up front, so stay tuned on that front.

• Not really a surprise, but reserve forward Mike Aaman is officially done playing basketball for URI. The team will continue to honor his scholarship, but a seventh concussion he suffered at an off-campus incident back in December proved to be one too many. Aaman was seen on the bench today for the first time in awhile, and was visible during warm-ups with his now former teammates. It's too bad, I liked Aaman for what he did off the bench. Nothing flashy, but a good shooter for a big man and solid defensively. Reminded me of a poor man's Kevin Love.

• Bit of a disappointing turnout by the student section today. I get the team's record isn't great, but you gotta remember just how much better this is than the last two years, winning a combined 15 games. But Richmond is was on the bubble for the NCAA Tournament coming into this afternoon's game, so I would have hoped a little buzz was created, but I guess not. 

• Shout-out to Mike McDermott, who called his last game for WRIU today alongside PT Ranere. McDermott reminds me of Dennis Eckersley behind the mic, in a good way. I'll be back on the call myself Wednesday night, which also happens to be Senior Night, with PT. I'll be calling the Rams game(s?) in the Atlantic 10 Tournament, but Wednesday is PT's swan song, so be sure to tune on in to that one on the mothership, 90.3.

• Speaking of that A-10 tourney, all 13 teams from the conference make it this year, in case you haven't heard. URI is currently in 11th place in the conference, and would currently be matched up against Dayton, whom they split the season series with, 1-1. The Rams could still finish as low as 13th, forcing themselves into a 12 vs. 13 play-in game, or finish as high as 9th. And crazy as it sounds, if Rhody shocked the world and won the tournament, they'd get an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. Just sayin'.

• That's all we've got for this one. Had to chime in somehow, even though I wasn't on the call. Go Rhody.