2019–20 Rhode Island Rams men's basketball team

The 2019–20 Rhode Island Rams basketball team represented the University of Rhode Island during the 2019–20 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Rams, led by second-year head coach David Cox, played their home games at the Ryan Center in Kingston, Rhode Island as members of the Atlantic 10 Conference. They finished the season 21–9, 13–5 in A-10 play to finish in third place. Their season ended with the A-10 tournament and all other postseason tournaments were canceled due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

2019–20 Rhode Island Rams men's basketball
ConferenceAtlantic 10 Conference
Record21–9 (13–5 A-10)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
Home arenaRyan Center
Seasons
2019–20 Atlantic 10 men's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
No. 3 Dayton 18 0   1.000 29 2   .935
Richmond 14 4   .778 24 7   .774
Rhode Island 13 5   .722 21 9   .700
Saint Louis 12 6   .667 23 8   .742
St. Bonaventure 11 7   .611 19 12   .613
Duquesne 11 7   .611 21 9   .700
Davidson 10 8   .556 16 14   .533
Massachusetts 8 10   .444 14 17   .452
VCU 8 10   .444 18 13   .581
La Salle 6 12   .333 15 15   .500
George Washington 6 12   .333 12 20   .375
George Mason 5 13   .278 17 15   .531
Saint Joseph's 2 16   .111 6 26   .188
Fordham 2 16   .111 9 22   .290
Note: The 2020 A-10 tournament was canceled after the first round due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Rankings from AP poll

Previous season

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The Rams finished the 2018–19 season 18–15, 9–9 in A-10 play to finish in ninth place. They defeated La Salle and VCU to advance to the semifinals of the A-10 tournament where they lost to St. Bonaventure.

Offseason

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Departures

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Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Reason for departure
Will Leviton 2 G 5'8" 150 Senior Providence, RI Walk-on; graduated
Ryan Preston 5 G 6'6" 195 Senior Brooklyn, NY Graduated
Omar Silverio 15 G 6'4" 190 Freshman Bronx, NY Transferred to Hofstra
Mike Layssard Jr. 21 F 6'9" 255 Junior Lena, LA Left the team for personal reasons
Christion Thompson 25 G 6'4" 190 RS Junior Baton Rouge, LA Graduate transferred to Tulane
Nicola Akele 45 F 6'7" 215 Senior Treviso, Italy Graduated
Michael Tertsea 55 C 6'10" 230 RS Sophomore Makurdi, Nigeria Transferred to Gannon
Dana Tate 12 F 6'7" 230 Sophomore Boston, MA Transferred to Siena[1]
Gregory Hammond 22 G 6'5" 200 Freshman New Orleans, LA Transferred to UMass-Lowell[2]

Incoming transfers

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Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Previous School
Jeremy Sheppard 2 G 6'1" 160 Junior Richmond, VA Junior college transferred from College of Central Florida.

Sheppard is not eligible for the 2019–20 season[3]

Antwan Walker 5 F 6'9" 230 Sophomore Washington, D.C. Transferred from Georgetown. Under NCAA transfer rules, Walker will have to sit out for the 2019–20 season. Will have three years of remaining eligibility.
DeVale Johnson 23 F 6'7" 185 Sophomore Brooklyn, NY Junior college transferred from Williston State College.

2019 recruiting class

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US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Mekhi Long
SF
Woodstock, VA Massanutten Military Academy 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Jun 29, 2018 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    RivalsN/A   247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: 80
Gregory Hammond
SG
New Orleans, LA Sophie B. Wright Charter School 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Oct 5, 2018 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    RivalsN/A   247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: 79
Marial Mading
SF
Springfield, MA Commonwealth Academy 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Oct 2, 2018 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    RivalsN/A   247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: NR
Overall recruiting rankings:
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "2019 Team Ranking". Rivals.com.

2020 recruiting class

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US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Ishmael Leggett
SG
Washington, DC St. John's College High School 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 165 lb (75 kg) Sep 19, 2019 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    RivalsN/A   247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: NR
Elijah Wood
CG
Bethesda, MD Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 190 lb (86 kg) May 27, 2019 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    RivalsN/A   247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: NR
Overall recruiting rankings:
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

Scholarship Tree

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2019-2020 2020-2021 2021-2022 2022-2023 2023-2024 Key
Jeff Dowtin Fatts Russell Jermaine Harris Jacob Toppin Ishmael Leggett =Senior
Cyril Langevine DJ Johnson Tyrese Martin Mekhi Long Elijah Wood =Junior
Fatts Russell Jeremy Sheppard Antwan Walker Ishmael Leggett Open =Sophomore
DJ Johnson Antwan Walker Mekhi Long Elijah Wood Open =Freshman
Jeremy Sheppard Jermaine Harris Jacob Toppin Open Open
Antwan Walker Tyrese Martin Ishmael Leggett Open Open
Jermaine Harris Mekhi Long Elijah Wood Open Open
Tyrese Martin Jacob Toppin Open Open Open
Mehki Long Ishmael Leggett Open Open Open
Jacob Toppin Elijah Wood Open Open Open
Open Open Open Open Open
Open Open Open Open Open
Open Open Open Open Open

Roster

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2019–20 Rhode Island Rams men's basketball team
Players Coaches
Pos. # Name Height Weight Year Previous school Hometown
F 0 Jermaine Harris 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 230 lb (104 kg) So Rock Creek Christian Upper Marlboro, MD
G 1 Fatts Russell 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 165 lb (75 kg) Jr Imhotep Institute Philadelphia, PA
G 2 Jeremy Sheppard 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 165 lb (75 kg) RS Jr John Marshall
Williston State College
Richmond, VA
G 4 Tyrese Martin 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 205 lb (93 kg) So Massanutten Military Academy Allentown, PA
F 5 Antwan Walker 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 230 lb (104 kg) Jr Massanutten Military Academy
Georgetown
Washington, D.C.
F 10 Cyril Langevine 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 230 lb (104 kg) Sr The Patrick School East Orange, NJ
G 11 Jeff Dowtin 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Sr St. John's Washington, D.C.
G 13 Eric Dadika (W) 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 175 lb (79 kg) Sr Spotswood Milltown, NJ
F 15 Mekhi Long 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Fr Bishop McNamara Bryans Road, MD
G 20 Jordan Green (W) 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) 160 lb (73 kg) Sr Millbrook School Bronx, NY
F 21 Jacob Toppin 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Fr Woodstock Academy Brooklyn, NY
F 23 D. J. Johnson 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Jr Brooklyn Collegiate Prep
Williston State
Brooklyn, NY
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • (W) Walk-on

Roster

Schedule and results

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Date
time, TV
Rank# Opponent# Result Record Site (attendance)
city, state
Exhibition
October 26, 2019*
7:00 pm
Rhode Island College W 93–55 
Ryan Center 
Kingston, RI
Non-conference regular season
November 5, 2019*
7:00 pm, Cox/YurView
LIU W 76–65  1–0
Ryan Center (4,258)
Kingston, RI
November 9, 2019*
9:00 pm, FS1
at No. 7 Maryland L 55–73  1–1
Xfinity Center (14,263)
College Park, MD
November 15, 2019*
7:30 pm, NBCSN
Alabama W 93–79  2–1
Ryan Center (7,021)
Kingston, RI
November 19, 2018*
7:00 pm, Cox/YurView
Nicholls
Jersey Mike's Jamaica Classic campus game
W 70–65  3–1
Ryan Center (4,520)
Kingston, RI
November 22, 2019*
4:30 pm, CBSSN
vs. North Texas
Jersey Mike's Jamaica Classic
W 60–47  4–1
Montego Bay Convention Centre 
Montego Bay, Jamaica
November 24, 2019*
2:30 pm, CBSSN
vs. LSU
Jersey Mike's Jamaica Classic
L 83–96  4–2
Montego Bay Convention Centre 
Montego Bay, Jamaica
November 27, 2019*
4:00 pm, ESPN+
Manhattan W 73–64  5–2
Ryan Center (4,434)
Kingston, RI
December 1, 2019*
2:00 pm
at West Virginia L 81–86  5–3
WVU Coliseum (10,973)
Morgantown, WV
December 6, 2019*
7:00 pm, ESPN2
Providence
Ocean State Cup
W 75–61  6–3
Ryan Center (8,052)
Kingston, RI
December 21, 2019*
2:00 pm, Cox/YurView
Western Kentucky W 86–82 OT 7–3
Ryan Center (5,325)
Kingston, RI
December 29, 2019*
4:00 pm, ESPN+
at Middle Tennessee W 89–62  8–3
Murphy Center (2,806)
Murfreesboro, TN
January 2, 2020*
7:00 pm, ESPN+
at Brown
Ocean State Cup
L 75–85  8–4
Pizzitola Sports Center (2,738)
Providence, RI
Atlantic 10 regular season
January 5, 2020
12:00 pm, Cox/YurView/ESPN+
Richmond L 61–69  8–5
(0–1)
Ryan Center (5,325)
Kingston, RI
January 8, 2020
7:00 pm, CBSSN
Davidson W 69–58  9–5
(1–1)
Ryan Center (5,095)
Kingston, RI
January 11, 2020
7:00 pm, CBSSN
at VCU W 65–56  10–5
(2–1)
Siegel Center (7,637)
Richmond, VA
January 15, 2020
7:30 pm, Cox/YurView/ESPN+
at Saint Joseph's W 71–61  11–5
(3–1)
Hagan Arena (1,964)
Philadelphia, PA
January 18, 2020
12:30 pm, NBCSN
La Salle W 66–63  12–5
(4–1)
Ryan Center (6,323)
Kingston, RI
January 22, 2020
7:00 pm, Cox/YurView/ESPN+
Duquesne W 77–55  13–5
(5–1)
Ryan Center (6,007)
Kingston, RI
January 25, 2020
3:00 pm, Stadium
at St. Bonaventure W 81–75  14–5
(6–1)
Reilly Center (5,480)
St. Bonaventure, NY
January 28, 2020
7:00 pm, Stadium
at George Mason W 78–64  15–5
(7–1)
EagleBank Arena (3,140)
Fairfax, VA
January 31, 2020
7:00 pm, ESPN2
VCU W 87–75  16–5
(8–1)
Ryan Center (7,896)
Kingston, RI
February 4, 2020
7:00 pm, CBSSN
Massachusetts W 73–67  17–5
(9–1)
Ryan Center (6,328)
Kingston, RI
February 8, 2020
12:00 pm, CBSSN
at George Washington W 82–51  18–5
(10–1)
Charles E. Smith Center (3,018)
Washington, D.C.
February 11, 2020
7:30 pm, CBSSN
at No. 6 Dayton L 67–81  18–6
(10–2)
UD Arena (13,407)
Dayton, OH
February 15, 2020
12:00 pm, CBSSN
Saint Joseph's W 73–55  19–6
(11–2)
Ryan Center (6,673)
Kingston, RI
February 22, 2020
5:30 pm, CBSSN
at Davidson L 75-77 OT 19–7
(11–3)
John M. Belk Arena (4,597)
Davidson, NC
February 26, 2020
7:00 pm, Cox/YurView/ESPN+
at Fordham W 76–75  20–7
(12–3)
Rose Hill Gymnasium (1,588)
Bronx, NY
March 1, 2020
2:00 pm, ESPNU
Saint Louis L 62–72  20–8
(12–4)
Ryan Center (7,004)
Kingston, RI
March 4, 2020
9:00 pm, CBSSN
No. 3 Dayton L 57–84  20–9
(12–5)
Ryan Center (7,895)
Kingston, RI
March 7, 2020
7:00 pm, ESPN+
at Massachusetts W 64–63  21–9
(13–5)
Mullins Center (4,053)
Amherst, MA
Atlantic 10 tournament
Mar 13, 2020
8:30 p.m., NBCSN
(3) vs. TBD
Quarterfinals
A10 Tournament Canceled[4] Barclays Center 
Brooklyn, NY
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
All times are in Eastern Time.

Source[5]

References

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  1. ^ "Siena Basketball Adds Rhode Island Transfer Dana Tate, Jr". Siena College Athletics. Retrieved February 5, 2020.
  2. ^ "College Basketball's 2019-20 Midseason Transfer List". Stadium. October 31, 2019. Retrieved February 10, 2020.
  3. ^ McNamara, Kevin. "Ram hoopsters Walker, Sheppard denied immediate eligibility". providencejournal.com. Retrieved February 5, 2020.
  4. ^ "Atlantic 10 Men's Basketball Championship Cancelled". atlantic10.com. The Atlantic 10 Conference. March 12, 2020. Retrieved March 13, 2020.
  5. ^ "19–20 Rhode Island Men's Basketball Schedule". Rhode Island Athletics. Archived from the original on December 13, 2019. Retrieved November 24, 2019.