WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 11: Kellan Grady #31 of the Davidson Wildcats dribbles past Jeff Dowtin #11 of the Rhode Island Rams during the first half in the Championship of the Atlantic 10 Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 11, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 11: Kellan Grady #31 of the Davidson Wildcats dribbles past Jeff Dowtin #11 of the Rhode Island Rams during the first half in the Championship of the Atlantic 10 Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 11, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

Atlantic 10 Basketball

Rhode Island Basketball: Top Atlantic 10 Games to Watch in 2018-19

by Andrew Phung

After the Atlantic 10 announced their schedule pairings for the 2018-19 season, I took a look at some Rhody’s best conference match-ups.

These are the match-ups that I am looking forward to, as well as my reasoning behind each one:

Home and road games vs. Davidson – After they took URI’s Atlantic 10 tournament title away from them in 2018, the Rams will want revenge. Additionally, the Wildcats will likely be the favorite to win the conference this season. Therefore, wins against Bob McKillop’s team will be significant for a tournament resume, as well as trying to land atop the Atlantic 10 standings this upcoming season.

Home and road games vs. Saint Louis – After the tremendous job that Travis Ford has done in recruiting freshmen and transfers alike, the Billikens should finally be expected to contend and be at the top of the conference standings. Two match-ups with Saint Louis should not be cakewalks this season.

Road game at Saint Joseph’s – Playing at Hagan Arena has always been a problem for the Rams. This season’s game at Saint Joseph’s will show what David Cox’s team is made of.

Home and road games vs. VCU – In year 2 of his rebuilding phase, Mike Rhoades should be producing more, thanks to the arrival of Rice transfer Marcus Evans. Evans is a contender for the Atlantic 10 Player of the Year award and a guard that can carry this team to victories. The battle of the Rams should be close contests.

Home and road games vs. Dayton – Darrell Davis graduated and Kostas Antetokounmpo left school early to play professional basketball. I am looking forward to these two match-ups so that I can see Rhode Island beat Dayton twice… again!

Home and road games vs. Massachusetts – After a couple of surprising results last season, Matt McCall brings back a young and hungry basketball team, headlined by LuWane Pipkins and possibly Rashaan Holloway. If the Minutemen put it all together, the two games against them could both be trap games.