Expectations are like sand castles at Scarborough Beach. Threatened by waves and tides, here now but probably gone later. And then rebuilt.
So it is with University of Rhode Island and Providence College basketball this season. The Rams started with great expectations based on the return of injured stars E.C. Matthews and Hassan Martin. A Top 25 ranking raised expectations higher. Then a three-point loss at Valparaiso and a heartbreaking three-point loss to Providence at the sold-out Dunkin’ Donuts Center Saturday dashed those expectations. Good-bye Top 25.
The Rams kind of rebounded Tuesday night with a 51-39 victory over visiting Old Dominion. I wrote “kind of” because only Matthews scored in double figures (15), and the Rams shot just 32.7 percent from the field and 46.4 percent from the free-throw line. But Rhody’s defense held ODU to 29.2 percent shooting and only 17 points in the first half.
This wasn’t the blowout that would have had Ram fans talking NCAA Tournament again. It was an ugly win. But it was still a win. A W when the team needed it. As for rebuilding expectations, that’s a little uncertain. Martin did not dress for ODU because of a right quadriceps injury. He had played 35 minutes against PC, scoring 14 points and hauling down 17 rebounds, his career best. Rhody’s medical staff held him out of the ODU game. The Providence Journal reported Wednesday that he will be out indefinitely. A prolonged absence could temper expectations for the Rams.
Expectations for Providence College were not so high entering this season. After three consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, Kris Dunn’s graduation and big man Ben Bentil’s decision to turn pro, coach Ed Cooley’s Friars were clearly in a rebuilding mode. Some rebuilding. They are 7-2 after crushing intra-city rival Brown, 95-57, Tuesday night. After rallying for that 63-60 victory over URI, PC could have come out flat against the Bears. Instead, they scored 20 of the first 23 points in the game, shot 61.7 percent, buried 37 field goals, the most in three seasons, and held Brown to 37 percent shooting. Emmitt Holt led the way with 20 points. He made his first nine shots. Rodney Bullock, who is emerging as the leader of this team, and Jalen Lindsey each added 16.
Granted, a victory over Brown in December is not the same as a victory over Georgetown in January, but it’s still a W. And 7-2 with the losses to Ohio State and Virginia? If Friar fans weren’t planning on building sand castles before, they might be now.
