By VIN PARISE
KINGSTON, R.I. — When you go back and research a coach’s rebuilding job at a school, there’s the inevitable first question.
Who were the first big time recruits to buy in?
But after recruiting classes are established, there has to eventually be progress.
“It’s great to talk about it and have good buzz, but eventually we have to show improvement this year on the court and that’s when people truly buy in,” Rhode Island head coach Dan Hurley told me in October at Atlantic-10 Media Day.
Saturday night was one of those nights. In front of a sellout crowd of nearly 7,000 fans at The Ryan Center, URI knocked off No. 21 Nebraska, 66-62, in a great battle that was shown on SNY. Students stormed the court after the win.
Sophomore guard E.C. Matthews, a 2016 NBA Draft target, scored 26 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. Matthews scored 22 of his 26 points after halftime. Freshman guard Jared Terrell scored 12 clutch points, all of which were in overtime.
Hurley’s best performers last nightThe Rams head south for to take on Kansas at the Orlando Classic Thursday, Nov. 27. The game can be seen live on ESPN2. were freshmen and sophomores.
“This is not going to be the only moment we have like this in our building,” Hurley said after the win. “I’m so happy for our students and fans. This is what college basketball should be like around here.”
He added: “We’re thankful that a program like Nebraska was willing to start this series at our place and play in a hostile environment this early in the season.”
Rebuilding Checklist:
1. Highly touted recruiting class panning out — check.
2. First signature Top 25 win for the new program — check.
And, of course, winning games like this should only help recruiting.
“If wins like this help us get more guys like E.C. Matthews, I’m all for it,” Hurley said.
The Rams have an opportunity for another Top 25 upset when they head South to take on No. 5 Kansas at the Orlando Classic on Thanksgiving. The game can be seen live on ESPN2.
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There was also a Naismith Hall of Famer in attendance. St. Anthony head coach Bob Hurley Sr. was five rows behind the URI bench with his wife Chris. Hurley was stoic in his demeanor for 99 percent of the game, as the legendary coach typically is. Yet in the final seconds, Coach turned into Dad, Coach stopped being stoic, and Coach turned into a fan – and gave his son’s team a well deserved standing ovation.
Vin Parise is a College Basketball Analyst for SNY Television, Fox Sports 1 and Cox Sports New England. He is a contributor for ZAGSBLOG and like Adam Zagoria, is a diehard Bruce Springsteen fan. Unlike Zagoria, Parise has never been to an Allman Brothers Band concert.
