URI Basketball Set to Open Season Against LIU Brooklyn Tuesday Night
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URI Basketball Set to Open Season Against LIU Brooklyn Tuesday Night
“There are a whole bunch of feelings going through my mind and my body right now, but the most prevalent one is just excitement. Excitement to start the season with this group of guys, I think it is a great group of guys,” said URI head coach David Cox during his media availability on Monday.
Game time is set for 7 p.m.
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The Rams are coming off a 2018-19 campaign in which they finished eighth in the regular season before advancing to the semifinals of the A-10 Tournament.
En route to the semifinals, the Rams knocked off top-seeded VCU in the quarterfinals.
In 2019-20, URI returns seniors Jeff Dowtin and Cyril Langevine and junior guard Fatts Russell.
Langevine and Dowtin were joined by Russell on the 2019-20 Atlantic 10 Men's Basketball Preseason All-Conference Team.
The Rams also welcome freshmen Gregory Hammond, Jacob Toppin, and Mekhi Long.
Rhode Island was picked to finish fourth in the A-10 Preseason Poll released last month.
Eligibility Waiver Claims Denied for Walker, Sheppard
Just a couple of days before the season, the NCAA informed URI that eligibility waivers for transfers Antwan Walker and Jeremy Sheppard were denied.
"This is certainly not the news we hoped for, and my heart breaks for Antwan and Jeremy. These are young men who have done everything asked of them since they arrived, and both remain significant to our program moving forward,” said Cox.
Walker, who transferred to Rhode Island from Georgetown, will be eligible to play after the last date of scheduled final exams for the fall semester.
He is expected to be able to appear in games starting with Rhode Island's home game against Western Kentucky on December 21.
Sheppard is not expected to be able to play this season.