SOUTH KINGSTOWN — Only once before has the University of Rhode Island entered a men’s basketball game under similar circumstances.
It was 21 years ago when the Rams had their other 5-0 start in Atlantic 10 play, and their opponent that night was the same foe who will invade the Ryan Center on Wednesday.
Massachusetts again stands in the way of URI and another milestone under Dan Hurley, whose pencil might need sharpening to fill out the list he’s compiling in his sixth year at the helm.
The Rams were denied that night in Amherst by first-year coach Bruiser Flint and his Minutemen, a 64-60 defeat on Jan. 21, 1997. It’s another first-year UMass coach who will attempt to do the same this time around, as Matt McCall leads a dangerous group outperforming preseason expectations.
“It would mean everything,” URI guard E.C. Matthews said. “When I first got here, it was hard. This is what we talked about. Just to be one of those teams, to be remembered like that. It’s about leaving a legacy now.”
The senior suffered through an 8-21 debut campaign in 2013-14, but Matthews and his mates are more than making up for that on the back end of his career. URI carries program records for consecutive Ryan Center wins (12) and consecutive wins over conference foes (13) into game. The Rams have captured 19 of their last 22 overall against league opponents, with 13 of those victories coming by double digits.
“I think we’ve got a nice little groove, but we can’t get complacent,” URI guard Jeff Dowtin said. “We’ve got tough games coming up this week. I think we’re taking it at the right pace right now.”
URI (13-3, 5-0 A-10) remains the lone unbeaten team in the league and is now the clear favorite to take home the regular-season title after an 87-73 victory over St. Bonaventure on Saturday. The Bonnies were the only other team to garner a preseason first-place vote at the annual media day. The Rams used a 16-3 run early in the second half to build a double-digit lead they carried the rest of the way. URI placed no greater importance on that game than it will on its meeting with UMass, a testament to its focus and willingness to fully prepare for each opponent.
“There are lots of teams struggling to win a conference game,” Hurley said. “Home or away, they’re hard to win. We would take great pride in that if we’re able to get it.”
The Minutemen (10-8, 3-2) boast the league’s reigning player and co-rookie of the week in guards Luwane Pipkins and Carl Pierre. Pipkins erupted for 44 points in a win over La Salle and helped lead UMass back from a 16-point deficit to stun Saint Joseph’s, 72-69, on Sunday. Pierre has recorded 51 of his 74 field goals from 3-point range, with the potent backcourt covering for the three-game absence of senior big man Rashaan Holloway (indefinite suspension).
“We know they’re a dangerous team,” Matthews said. “We respect them. They’ve got a lot of great players that could come out here and have a great game, so we cannot disrespect them.”
“Scary game for us,” Hurley said. “They return a lot of really good players. [McCall] has done a good job. They’ve got some young guys running around bringing energy.”
— bkoch@providencejournal.com
On Twitter: @BillKoch25