1st Quarter Grades for PC, URI, Brown and Bryant Men’s Basketball

1st Quarter Grades for PC, URI, Brown and Bryant Men’s Basketball

There were a lot of unknowns coming into the 2023-24 season for the four Division I men's basketball teams in Rhode Island, and the first few weeks have added even more questions.

Providence College has a new coach in Kim English after Ed Cooley's unceremonious departure to inter-conference rival Georgetown University.

Then, there was the University of Rhode Island, where the Rams have functionally a new team this season — eleven new players.

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Going into the season, the Brown Bears were poised to be a major factor in the Ivy League.

And, then there were the Bryant Bulldogs, who looked to be one of the more stable programs coming into the season. Oh, how things can change in a couple of months.

What a difference a few weeks make.

 

Here is the breakdown of the early season:

 

Providence College Friars (4-1)

English’s team is off to a solid 4-1 season. The best performance was the dominant win over the University of Wisconsin. The tournament in the Bahamas exposed some of the Friars' weaknesses. Frontcourt depth continues to be a worry. And, it could be a major problem in the Big East conference play.

 

Early Breakout Player - Devin Carter

 

Early Question Mark - Bryce Hopkins, forcing shots and turnovers

 

Best Surprise - Cory Floyd, Jr.

 

GRADE: A-

 

University of Rhode Island Rams (4-2)

In the first three games, the Rams' new squad looked to be ahead of schedule in developing into a new and potentially competitive team. The Rams started 3-0.

Last weekend, the Rams headed to Mohegan Sun and dropped two games, and the questions began to fly.

 

Early Breakout Player - Zek Montgomery. The transfer from Bradley has been a big plus and the Ram's leading scorer.

 

Early Questions - Brandon Weston, who was emerging last season, now appears to be an afterthought in Archie Miller’s rotation.

 

Best Surprise - Freshman David Fuchs' team-leading 6 rebounds a game has been a great surprise for Coach Miller.

 

GRADE: B+

 

Bryant University Bulldogs (3-3)

Coach Jared Grasso went on leave before the season began. He was arrested days later. Then he “resigned.”

A week later, the Bulldogs upset the 10th-ranked team in the country. What?

 

Early Breakout Player - Sherif Gross-Bullock is averaging nearly 18 ppg.

 

Early Questions - Acting head coach Phil Martelli, Jr.

 

GRADE: B-

 

Brown University Bears (1-4)

The Bears are 1-4, and there are a lot of questions. Their only win is against Division III Rhode Island College. They head to a tournament in the Bahamas this weekend. They have three games -- they open with Delaware on Friday. The Bears need a couple of wins in the Carribean.

 

Early Breakout Player - Each year he claims this position — Kino Lilly, Jr. — is averaging 18 ppg.

 

Early Questions — Brown is shooting just 40% from the field.

 

GRADE: D  (Has not won a D I game yet this season)