The University of San Francisco men's basketball team fresh off a huge upset against No. 4 Virginia turns the page tomorrow when they finish participating the Mohegan Sun Bubbleville by taking on Rhode Island. The game is slated for a 2:30 p.m. PT start and will be televised on ESPNU with Jon Sciambi and Jay Bilas on the call.
Pat Olson will have the Dons' radio broadcast on KNBR 1050-Am, the official home of USF Dons Basketball
GAME INFORMATION
Date/Time: Nov. 29 – 2:30 p.m. PT
Opponent: Rhode Island (0-2, 0-0 A-10)
Site: Mohegan Sun Arena
Stream: ESPNU
Talent: Jon Sciambi (play-by-play) and Jay Bilas (analyst)
Radio: KNBR 1050-AM
Talent:
Pat Olson (play-by-play)
Live Stats: USFDons.com
USF AT A GLANCE
• USF pulled off the programs biggest upset in a generation by defeating No. 4 Virginia 61-60 on Friday. For the Dons, they were coming off their third game in as many days, and have steadily played better over the course of the Mohegan Sun Bubbleville.
• The last time the Dons defeated a top-5 team came on Dec. 29, 1981 when USF defeated No. 2 Wichita State 84-74 - USF head coach
Todd Golden wasn't alive when that win occurred. For comparison's sake, that Dons team that beat the Shockers was ranked No. 7 in the nation - hardly an upset.
• The Dons are 2-1 on the season, they are averaging 69.6 points per game while shooting 41.4 percent from the field. Their opponents are averaging 68.0 ppg and shooting .438 percent from the field.
• Dons From Distance: USF has hoisted up 87 attempts from beyond the arc. The Dons average 29 attempts from 3-point range this season. They have connected on 31. Against the fourth ranked Cavaliers USF shot a blistering .464% from 3-point range (13-for-28). The Dons made more 3-point field goals (13) than the Cavaliers attempted (12).
• Junior Class Leads the Way: The Dons have a loaded junior class - six players in all. This season, USF's third years have accounted for 113 of USF's 208 points, 54.3 of USF's offense.
• Against The Top-25: All-time the Dons are 35-99 (.261) against teams in the top-25. Against teams in the top-5 the Dons are now 7-31 all-time (.184). Under Golden, the Dons are now 1-3 against the top-25, with the three previous contests coming against Gonzaga who was ranked No. 2 in all three matchups.
• Hot Start for Bouyea: The Dons' floor general is off to a tremendous start. In three contests he is averaging 18.0 ppg, while shooting .541 percent from the field. Against the Cavaliers he carved up the fourth ranked team with 19 points, six assists and no turnovers. Golden felt it was his defense that was the difference in that contest however.
• Dons Backcourt: The University of San Francisco is known for its famed front court play - players like Bill Russell, Ollie Johnson, and Bill Cartwright were the catalyst to deep NCAA tournament runs in the past - head coach
Todd Golden is hoping that the Dons' very deep backcourt will lead USF back to the Big Dance. The trio of Bouyea,
Khalil Shabazz and newcomer
Damari Milstead have combined to score 122 points - they have accounted for 58.7 percent of the Dons' offense through three games.
• On the Glass: Through three contests the Dons are -6.7 in rebound margin. The Dons have been outrebounded in every contest - USF is averaging 31.3 rebounds per contest, while their opponents are averaging 38.0. Last season the Dons averaged 36.3 rebounds per game and were +3.3 in rebounds. USF is 5-10 all-time when the Dons are outrebounded by their opponent - however they are 2-1 this year.
• Closing Out Opponents: With the win over No. 4 Virginia - the Dons improve to 22-2 under Golden when the Dons have the lead with 5:00 minutes left in regulation. The two losses - both came against No. 2 Gonzaga last season.
Series
Sunday marks the seventh time the Dons and Rams have faced each other. All-time Rhode Island owns a 5-1 advantage in the series that debuted in 1961 and has been played in almost every decade since. On a neutral court the Dons are 0-1 falling to the Rams by 17 - 93-76 on Dec. 29, 1996. The last time these two teams faced was on Dec. 14, 1999 when USF defeated the Rams 94-88 at War Memorial Gym.
About the Rams
Rhode Island was picked to finish in the top-half of the Atlantic-10 in sixth place. Through two games, with one to play before tip-off on Sunday, Rhode Island is 0-2 with narrow losses at the hands of Arizona State (94-88) and Boston College (69-64). As a team, the Rams re shooting 48 percent from the field and averaging 76.0 ppg. Their opponents are averaging 81.5 ppg and shooting 43 percent from the field.
Three players average in double figures for Rhode Island, they are led by senior guard Fatts Russell, who is on the Bob Cousy Watch List, Naismith Player of the Year Watch List and the A-10 Preseason All-Conference Team.
Last Time Out Versus Rhode Island
Former Don, Kenyon Jones scored 33 points, 21 in the second half, as USF defeated Rhode Island 94-88 on Dec. 14, 1999.
Zach Marbury scored a season-high 33 points to lead the Rams, who lost their fourth straight.
James Lee added 14 points and 11 rebounds as the Dons (7-1) defeated Rhode Island (3-6) for the first time in six meetings. It was a season high in points for both teams, and the most allowed by either team this season.
Jones, who entered the game third in the nation with a 75 percent field goal success, was 13-of-18 (72 percent) from the field against the Rams. After Rhode Island tied the game with the first basket of the second half, the went on a 12-2 run, with Jones and James Lee scoring all 12 points, to take a 53-45 lead three minutes into the second half.
The Rams rallied within 58-57 four minutes later, but couldn't overtake San Francisco. The game remained close throughout the second half. The Dons never led by more than nine points. The Rams were behind only 87-85 after Marbury made a pair of free throws with 2:08 left, but LyRyan Russell helped San Francisco pull away by hitting his only basket of the game with 1:38 left.
UP NEXT
USF returns to the pacific time zone with a Tuesday evening match up against Nevada at the Lawlor Events Center. That game is slated for a 6:00 p.m. start.
Pat Olson will have the call on KNBR 1050-AM.
USF had launched the Dons Together initiative to combat the shortfalls caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Find out how you can
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