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2010-2011 MEN’S BASKETBALL Preview

Rhode Island College

Basketball

2 EthanGaye Fr. Guard 5-10 155 Providence,RI/Mt.Pleasant3 TahrikeCarter So. Guard 6-2 180 Brooklyn,NY/BenjaminBanneker4 WilliamWilliams So. Guard 5-9 165 Bronx,NY/Mt.St.Michael5 NickManson Sr. Guard 6-0 160 Newport,RI/Rogers11 AlexCruz Fr. G/F 6-4 180 EastHartford,CT/EastHartford12 TomDeCiantis Fr. Guard 6-3 180 N.Kingstown,RI/N.Kingstown15 DariusDebnam Sr. F/C 6-4 220 Dorchester,MA/Minuteman21 KeithHamilton Jr. Guard 6-0 165 QueensVillage,NY/MSGR.McClancy23 KadeemFrancis Fr. Guard 6-0 180 WhitePlains,NY/ArchbishopStepinac24 MichaelPalumbo Fr. Guard 5-8 150 Providence,RI/Classical32 MasonChoice Jr. G/F 6-4 200 Newport,RI/Rogers33 StevenRoberts So. Center 6-5 200 NewHaven,CT/Hillhouse35 CarlLee Sr. Forward 6-3 200 Warwick,RI/TollGate41 CoreyAndrews Fr. Forward 6-5 190 Waterbury,CT/SacredHeart44 AshtonWatkins Fr. Center 6-4 230 Providence,RI/Classical50 MikeAkinrola Jr. Center 6-6 230 Woonsocket,RI/Woonsocket

Roster

Who’s Back? Who’s Missing?Junior guard/forwardMason ChoicewasnamedFirst Team All-Little East last season. Choiceaveraged13.0pointspergamelastseasonandwilltakeoveras thestartingpointguard thisseason.Senior forwardDarius Debnam returns as teamcaptainonceagainthisseason.Debnamaveraged7.2points,6.0reboundslastseason.

Senior Second Team All-Little East point guardAntone Gray isnotontherosterthisseasonduetoanoff-the-court issue.GraywassecondontheAnchormeninscoringlastseason,averaging14.2pointspergame.Jake GrimeswasaFirstTeamAll-LittleEastselectionasaseniorlastseason.Grimesledtheteaminscoringaveragingateam-high14.9pointspergame.GrimeswasnamedteamMVPlastseason.

Week of November 1, 2010


Newcomers

Last Season ResultsRhodeIslandCollege2009-10Results(22-8,12-2LittleEastConference)

Date / Time Opponent Result Score Leading Scorer

11/15/091:00p.m. SpringfieldCollege W 62-59 (16)AntoneGray11/18/097:00p.m. Clark W 74-72 (27)AntoneGray11/21/093:00p.m. Colby L 62-75 (19)MasonChoice11/24/097:30p.m. BridgewaterState L 92-95 (19)CarlLee/Gray11/28/092:00p.m. RogerWilliams W 84-59 (16)MasonChoice12/01/097:30p.m. Johnson&Wales L 70-72 (21)AntoneGray12/5/093:00p.m. EasternConnecticut W 89-87 (30)JakeGrimes12/08/097:30p.m. SalveRegina W 79-53 (12)DerekLibbey12/10/097:00p.m. Manhattanville L 53-66 (15)AntoneGray12/12/093:00p.m. UMassBoston W 64-54 (12)AntoneGray01/06/107:00p.m. Becker W 63-56 (27)JakeGrimes01/09/103:00p.m. KeeneStateCollege W 80-75 (24)MasonChoice01/12/107:30p.m. SouthernMaine W 74-59 (21)JakeGrimes01/16/103:00p.m. PlymouthState L 60-62 (15)MasonChoice01/19/107:45p.m. WesternConnecticut W 81-65 (24)JakeGrimes01/21/107:00p.m. EmmanuelCollege W 76-60 (21)CarlLee01/23/103:00p.m. EasternConnecticut W 72-71 (14)MasonChoice01/26/107:30p.m. UMassDartmouth L 89-91 (24)JakeGrimes01/30/103:00p.m. UMassBoston W 62-61 (16)MasonChoice02/02/107:00p.m. AmherstCollege L 84-105 (22)CarlLee02/06/103:00p.m. KeeneStateUniversity W 95-90 (27)JakeGrimes02/09/107:30p.m. WesternConnecticut W 96-70 (14)JakeGrimes02/13/103:00p.m. SouthernMaine W 84-53 (16)DariusDebnam02/16/107:30p.m. UMassDartmouth W 92-78 (26)JakeGrimes02/20/103:00p.m. PlymouthState W 84-65 (19)MasonChoice02/26/105:30p.m. UMassDartmouth W 74-72 (20)MasonChoice02/27/105:00p.m. WesternConnecticut W 81-80 (16)Grimes/Choice03/05/106:00p.m. Rutgers-Newark W 72-60 (19)Grimes/Gray03/06/107:00p.m. Middlebury W 75-59 (15)CarlLee03/12/106p.m. Brandeis L 65-76 (20)JakeGrimes

2 EthanGaye Fr. Guard 5-10 155 Providence,RI/Mt.Pleasant11 AlexCruz Fr. G/F 6-4 180 EastHartford,CT/EastHartford12 TomDeCiantis Fr. Guard 6-3 180 N.Kingstown,RI/N.Kingstown23 KadeemFrancis Fr. Guard 6-0 180 WhitePlains,NY/ArchbishopStepinac24 MichaelPalumbo Fr. Guard 5-8 150 Providence,RI/Classical41 CoreyAndrews Fr. Forward 6-5 190 Waterbury,CT/SacredHeart44 AshtonWatkins Fr. Center 6-4 230 Providence,RI/Classical

LittleEastConferenceMatchupLittleEastConferenceTournamentNCAATournament


vs. URI (Exhibition)7p.m.

URI last season26-10overall,9-7ACC

How RIC fared last seasonRIC lost 101-76 in theirexhibition contest againstURI in the Ryan Center onNov.10.

vs. Becker7p.m.

Becker last season19-10overall,13-1NewEnglandCollegiateConference(NECC)

How RIC fared last seasonRICdefeatedBecker63-56ontheroadlastseason.

Wednesday, Nov. 3 Monday, Nov. 15

vs. Clark7p.m.

Clark last season17-13overall,4-8NEWMAC

How RIC fared last seasonAntoneGrayscoredacareer-high27pointstoleadRICoverClark74-72athome.

Wednesday, Nov. 17

vs. Bridgewater State7:30p.m.

Bridgewater last season17-7 overall, 11-1 MASCAC

How RIC fared last seasonCarl Lee and Antone Gray had 19 points each in a last minute 95-92 loss on the road.

Tuesday, Nov. 23

vs. Johnson & Wales7:30p.m.

JWU last season13-13 overall, 9-9 GNAC

How RIC fared last seasonThe Anchormen were upset 72-70 by their in-state rivals early last season.

Tuesday, Nov. 30

vs. Eastern Connecticut7:30p.m.

ECU last season20-10 overall, 9-5 Little East Conference

How RIC fared last seasonRIC pulled off a 72-71 victory on the road in their conference opener, then defeated the Warriors 89-87 late last season.

Saturday, Dec. 4Saturday, Jan. 22

vs. UMass Dartmouth7:30p.m.

UMD last season5-20 overall, 3-11 Little East Conference

Fast factRIC junior Mason Choice averaged 13.5 points per game in two LEC victories over the Beacons.

Saturday, Dec. 11Saturday, Jan. 29

vs. Salve Regina7:30p.m.

Salve Regina last season4-21 overall, 3-10 CCC

How RIC fared last seasonThe Anchormen blew out the Seahawks 79-53 at home.

Tuesday, Dec. 7

THis SEASON



vs. Keene State3p.m.

Keene State last season13-13overall,6-8LEC

Fast factThe Anchormen have woneight of their last ninemeetingswith Keene Stateandswepttheseasonserieslastyear.

vs. Southern Maine7:30p.m.

Southern Maine last season2-23overall,0-14LittleEastConference

How RIC fared last seasonTheAnchormenrecordedtheirlargestvictorywithan84-53gameatSouthernMainelastseason.

Tuesday, Jan. 11Saturday, Feb. 12

vs. Colby College7p.m.

Colby College last season19-6overall,13-2NESCAC

Fast factRICjuniorforwardMasonChoice’solderbrother,Adam,istheseniorcaptainfortheColbyMules.

Thursday, Jan. 13

vs. Plymouth State3p.m.

Plymouth last season16-11 overall, 8-6 LEC

How RIC fared last seasonDamien Strahorn was named the 12th head coach in the 64-year history of the Panther men’s basketball program this November.

Saturday, Jan. 15Saturday, Feb. 19

vs. Western Connecticut7:30p.m.

WCSU last season19-7 overall, 9-5 Little East Conference

Fast factWestConn’s DaQuan Brooks was named Little East Conference Player of the Year as a sophomore last season.

Tuesday, Jan. 18Tuesday, Feb. 8

vs. Emmanuel College7:30p.m.

Emmanuel last season4-21 overall, 3-15 GNAC

How RIC fared last seasonCarl Lee scored 21 points to lead the Anchormen to a 76-60 win on Jan. 21.

Thursday, Jan. 20

vs. UMass Dartmouth7:30p.m.

UMD last season18-9 overall, 9-5 Little East Conference

How RIC fared last seasonRIC split the regular season series against the Corsairs, and defeated them74-72 in the semifinal game of the LEC tournament on Feb. 26.

Tuesday, Jan. 25Tuesday, Feb. 15

vs. Amherst7:30p.m.

Amherst last season14-11 overall, 3-6 NESCAC

How RIC fared last seasonAmherst defeated RIC, 105-84, handing the Anchormen their largest margin of defeat (21 points) all of last season.

Tuesday, Feb. 1

Saturday, Jan. 8Friday, Feb. 11


Meet The Anchormen

Sophomore Guard 6’2” 180lbsBrooklyn,NY/BenjaminBanneker

A shutdown one-on-one defender, Carter grew into adefensivestopperoffthebenchfortheAnchormenasa freshman last year.WhileCartermaybe oneof thebest individual defenders in the Little East, he is stilldevelopinghisoffensivegame.Carterhasthepotentialtobethebestsixthmanintheconferenceifhetakeshisgametothenextlevelasasophomorethisseason.

Freshman Guard 6’3”180lbsN.Kingstown,RI/N.Kingstown

DeCiantisisanathleticguard,whosesizemakeshimamatchupnightmareforsmallerdefenders.DeCiantisisahighlytoutedrecruitforRICwhowasnamedSecondTeamAll-StateandaTopTenDivision Iplayerby theR.I.BasketballCoachesAssociationasasenioratNorthKingstownHighSchool.

Freshman Guard 5’10”155lbsProvidence,RI/Mt.Pleasant

A slasher with excellent vision as both a passer anda scorer, Gaye is the Anchormen’s point guard of thefuture. Gaye can knockdownany open shot. Gaye isa local product fromwhowill be looking tomake animpactoffthebenchasafreshmanthisseason.

Ethan Gaye

2

Tahrike Carter

3 4

11

Freshman Guard/Forward 6’4”180lbsEastHartford,CT/EastHartford

CruzisasolidallaroundplayerwhowilllooktocarveoutaroleoffthebenchfortheAnchormenasafreshmanthisseason.CruzwasastandoutplayeratEastHarfordHighSchoolandwillbelookingtohaveanimpactasaroleplayeroffthebenchforRICthisseason.

Alex Cruz Tom DeCiantis

12 15



Sophomore Guard 5’9” 165lbsBronx,NY/Mt.St.Michael

Williams made tremendous strides late last season,playingakeyroleintheteam’sruntotheSweet16ofthe NCAA Division III Tournament. Williams will bethe Anchormen’s primary backup at point guard thisseasonandwillrunthepointwhenChoiceisnotonthefloor.Williams has excellent vision and the ability toknockdownthreepointerswhenleftopen.

Senior Guard 6’0”160lbsNewport,RI/Rogers

Manson emerged as a key contributor for theAnchormenlastseasonafterearningthestartingjobatshootingguardandnotgivingitup.Mansonmaybethedeadliest shooter in theentireLittleEastConference.Hisabilitytoknockdownanyshotonthefloormakeshimadeadlyweaponespeciallyfromthree-pointrange.Mansonisalsoatenaciousdefender.

Senior Forward/Center 6’4”220lbsDorchester,MA/Minuteman

A versatile big man with a blend of size, strengthand athleticism, Debnam is the silent leader of theAnchormen both on and off the court. A force to bereckoned with on both ends of the floor, he has theabilitytostepbackandhitshotsfrombeyondthethreepoint line that sets him apart from other big-men.Debnamisthecompletepackageforapowerforward.

Junior Guard 6’0”165lbsQueensVillage,NY/MSGR.McClancy

A sharp-shooting sniper capable of burying a threepointerfromanywhereonthefloor,HamiltonwillbeakeycontributoroffthebenchfortheAnchormenonceagain.AtransferfromQueensboroCommunityCollegelast season,Hamiltonhasmadestrides improvinghisdefense,buthisabilityontheoffensiveendmakeshimadeadlyweaponoffthebench.

William Williams Nick Manson

4 5

Darius Debnam Keith Hamilton

15 21


Meet The Anchormen

Freshman Guard 6’0”180lbsWhitePlains,NY/ArchbishopSepimic

Francis, a highly touted recruit from New York, is avery smooth and athletic guard. Francismakes smartdecisions with the ball, is excellent at both settingup his teammates, and making plays defensively. Asa freshman, Francis will be a key contributor off thebench forRIC, but hehas themakings of a superstarwithhisall-aroundskillset.

Freshman Forward 6’5”190lbsWaterbury,CT/SacredHeart

Aversatilebigmanwithspeedandathleticism,capableof playing both guard and forward, Andrews will beanotherlong-termprojectwithtremendousupsidefortheAnchormen.Asa freshman,Andrewswillneed toworkonhisoffensivegame,buthisathleticismandsizemakehimanimpactdefenderandshot-blockerinthepaintimmediatelythisseason.

Kadeem Francis

23

Michael PalumboFreshman Guard 5’8”150lbsProvidence,RI/Classical

At first glance, Palumbo doesn’t look like threat, buthe is deadly from three point range. If Palumbo isgivenanounceofdaylight,hewillburythreepointers.Palumbo,aSecondTeamAll-StateselectionasasenioratClassicalHighSchoolwillhaveanimmediateimpactoffthebenchforRICasafreshmanthisseason.

24 32

35 41 44

Senior Forward 6’3”200lbsWarwick,RI/TollGate

Lee’sathleticismisvirtuallyunmatched,allowinghimtobeafactoronbothendsofthefloor. Inadditiontobeing a powerful offensive force with his ability toslashthroughthelaneandfinishattherim,Leeisalsoatremendousshot-blockingpresenceonthedefensiveend.IfLeegetsafastbreakopportunity,watchout,hemaybethebestdunkerinallofDivisionIII.

Carl Lee Corey Andrews



Junior Guard/Forward 6’4”200lbsNewport,RI/Rogers

A unique blend of speed, athleticism and size allowsChoicetobeafactorasbothaperimeterandinteriorscoring threat. Choice will be making the transitionto point guard this season after primarily playingforward last season.AnAll-LittleEastperformerasasophomorelastseason,ChoicehasthepotentialtobethebestplayerintheLittleEastConferencethisseason.

Sophomore Center 6’5”200lbsNewHaven,CT/Hillhouse

Roberts is a developing post-presence with off-the-chartspotentialthankstohisextraordinaryathleticism.Hecombineshislargeframewithoutstandingleapingability that not only allows him to compete forrebounds,butfinishwithaslamdunkattherimeitheroffareboundoronafastbreak.Robertswillbeakeycontributoroffthebenchasasophomorethisseason.

Freshman Center 6’4”230lbsProvidence,RI/Classical

Whathelacksinspeed,hemorethanmakesupforinstrength. A huge frame, Watkins can also dunk withthe best of them. Watkins will be a project for theAnchormen, but has the potential to dominate theLittleEastConferenceinthefuture.Watkinswilllikelysee limited playing time as a freshman, but he is anintriguingprospecttowatchthisseason.

Junior Center 6’6” 230 lbsWoonsocket,RI/Woonsocket

Akinrola will step into the spotlight as the startingcenterfortheAnchormenthisseasonafternotstartingasinglegamealloflastseason.Akinrolawasakeyroleplayeroffthebenchafterrecoveringfromahandinjurythat sidelinedhim for the first half of his sophomoreyear.Akinrolahasthesizetobecomeadominantpostpresencethisseason.

Mason Choice Steven Roberts

32 33

44 50

Ashton Watkins Mike Akinrola


Little EAST CONFERENCE preview

EasternConnecticutStategraduatedjustoneplayerfromlastyear’scoregroupcomprisedoffourexperiencedseniorsandfourjuniorsthatsawsignificantplaying time. The Warriors were bounced from the LEC Tournament byWestern Connecticut State andwent on to the ECAC championship gamewheretheylosttoElmsCollegelastyear.TheWarriorswillrelyheavilyontheirexperiencedplayersinordertomakeadeeppostseasonrun.

KeeneStateposteda13-13recordlastyeardespitebeingthebestdefensiveteamintheLittleEastConference.TheOwlsfinishedtheseasonwitha6-8conferencerecordandwereeliminatedbyEasternConnecticutStateinthefirstroundoftheLittleEastTournament.TheOwlswillbeledbyFirstTeamAll-ConferenceandLECDefensivePlayeroftheYearfromlastseason,DerekD’Amours,astheylooktomakesomenoiseintheLittleEastthisseason.

Plymouth State University will be in full scale rebuilding mode aftergraduating five seniors from last year’s squad, including five of their topsevenscorers.FirstyearheadcoachDamianStrahorntakesoveratthehelmforthePanthersthisseason.ThePanthersfinishedlastseasonwitha16-11recordincludingan8-6conferencerecord,butweredroppedfromboththeLECandECACTournamentsinthefirstround.PlymouthStateupsetRICathomelastyear,butwillhaveatoughtimerepeatingthatfeatthisseason.

Key PlayerNickNedwick(14.0pts/game)

Last Year’s Results:RIC89-87,RIC72-71

Key PlayerDerekD’Amours(23.8pts/game)


Key PlayerRyanLambert(12.7pts/game)

Last Year’s Results:PSU62-60,RIC84-65

Eastern Connecticut State Warriors

Keene State Owls

Plymouth State Panthers



The Western Connecticut State Colonials posted a 19-7 record including a 9-5 record in conference play last season. RIC swept the regular season series and defeated the Colonials, 81-80, in the Little East Championship Game last season. The Colonials will certainly have a chip on their shoulder this year and will be led by junior guard DaQuan Brooks. Brooks was named the Little East Conference Player of the Year last season, averaging 19.6 points per game. Western Connecticut is one of the premier challengers in the Little East this season.

SouthernMainehadatoughtimelastyearanditlooksasifthestruggleswillcontinuethisseason.TheHuskies’went2-22overalllastseason,andwerewinless, 0-14 in conferenceplay. TheHuskieswill expect a lot from theirincomingfreshmanclassaswellasreturningleaderOtisSmith.SmithtookoveraleadingroleaftertheirbestplayerCortezIsaacwentdownearlyintheseasonwithaninjury.Isaacaveragedjustunder26pointspergamein15gameslastseason.

UMassBostonisanotheryoungteamintheLittleEastwithjustoneseniorandthree juniorsto leanonthisseason.LastyeartheBeaconswent3-11inconferenceplay,andjust5-20overall.TheBeaconswillreturntheirtopthree scores from last season (JustinWhite, Pat Joseph andMo Johnson)thataveragednearly40pointspergamecombined.UMassBostonwillneedthesebigthreetostayhealthyandproductiveinordertohaveachancethisseason.

UMassDartmouth is RIC’s biggest rival in the Little East Conference, andthe biggest challenger in the conference this season. The Corsairs wereeliminatedbyRICinthesecondroundoftheLECTournamentlastseason,butwillbebacklookingforrevengethisseason.UMassDartmouthposteda20-10overallrecordandwent9-5inconferenceplaylastseason.SeniorforwardBrandonStevensleadsanexperiencedgroupthatconsistsofeightupperclassmenintobattlethisseason.

Key PlayerOtisSmith(16.2pts/game)


Key PlayerPatJoseph(13.7pts/game)


Key PlayerBrandonStevens(18.4pts/game)

Last Year’s Results:UMD91-89,RIC92-78

Key PlayerDaQuanBrooks(19.6pts/game)


Western Connecticut Colonials

UMass Dartmouth Corsairs

UMass Boston Beacons

Southern Maine Huskies


assistant coach record2004-05 Providence 14-172003-04 Providence 20-9#5SEEDNCAATOURNAMENT2002-03 Providence 18-14NITTHIRDROUND2001-02 Providence 15-162000-01 Providence 21-10#10SEEDNCAATOURNAMENT1999-00 Providence 11-191998-99 Providence 16-14NITFIRSTROUND1997-98 SanDiego 14-141996-97 IONA 22-8MAACREG.SEASONCHAMPS/NIT1995-96 IONA 21-8MAACREG.SEASONCHAMPS/NIT1994-95 IONA 10-171993-94 Hamilton 17-9ECACSEMI-FINALIST1992-93 Hamilton 22-5ECACFINALIST

MEET THE head COACH

bob walshBobWalshbeginshissixthseasonasRhodeIslandCollege’sheadmen’s basketball coach. Walsh has presided over one of themost successful periods in program history as RIC has madefive consecutive trips to the postseason and four straightappearancesintheNCAATournament.WalshhasledRICtotheSweet16twiceandtheEliteEightonceduringhistenure.

Walsh owns a 114-35 record (.765 winning percentage) andhaswonthreeLittleEastConferenceRegularSeasonandthreeLECTournamentChampionships.Over the last four years, theAnchormen have won 95 games, the most of any four-yearstretchinprogramhistory.

“CoachWalshhasdoneanoutstanding jobwiththeprogram.Thereisnodoubtthatheeats,sleepsanddrinksbasketball,”saidRICAthleticDirectorDonTencher.“That’swhatyouhavetodotobeasuccessfulcoach.”

Walsh,38, spent sevenseasonsasanassistant coachwith theProvidenceCollegebasketballprogrampriortocomingtoRIC.

WalshjoinedthestaffofProvidenceCollege’sthen-headcoachTimWelshin1998afterspendingthe1997-98campaignasanassistantcoachat theUniversityofSanDiego.Walsh formerlyserved as an administrative assistant onWelsh’s staff at Ionafrom1994-1996.

Little East Coach of the Year2007,2009

Rhode Island Media Coach of the Year2007,2009,2010

head coach record2009-10 RIC 22-8 LECReg.Season/Tourn.Champs-NCAASweet162008-09 RIC 23-6 LECReg.SeasonChamps-NCAAFirstRound2007-08 RIC 23-7 LECTourn.Champs-NCAASecondRound2006-07 RIC 27-4 LECReg.Season/Tourn.Champs-NCAAElite82005-06 RIC 19-10 ECACFinalist

13 YEARS221-160(.580)

5 YEARS114-35(.765)

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