Rams Picked Eighth in A-10 Preseason poll

Oct. 22, 2009

2009-10 Atlantic 10 Men's Basketball Preseason Release

KINGSTON, R.I. -- Rhode Island was picked to finish eighth among the 14 teams in the Atlantic 10 Conference, according to the league's annual preseason poll. The poll, voted on by A-10 head coaches and media, was released today on the conference's Basketball Media Day.

URI finished with a 23-11 overall record during the 2008-09 season and returns three starters from last year's squad, which advanced to the second round of the National Invitation Tournament. The Rams were one of six A-10 teams to advance to the postseason a year ago.

Dayton sits atop the poll, earning 33 of 57 first-place votes cast by the panel of media and coaches. Xavier, Richmond, La Salle, Duquesne, Temple and Charlotte followed. Massachusetts, Saint Joseph's, St. Bonaventure, Saint Louis, George Washington and Fordham rounded out the poll.

Keith Cothran, the team's top returning scorer, was selected to the 2009-10 Atlantic 10 Preseason All-Conference third team. The 6-4 guard had a breakout junior season, averaging a career-high 13.2 points per game. He ranked fourth in the league in steals, averaging 1.72 swipes per game.

Rhody plays the first of its two exhibition games on Friday, Nov. 6 at the Thomas M. Ryan Center, hosting Concordia (Que.) at 7 p.m. The second and final preseason tuneup is set for Tuesday, Nov. 10, against Rhode Island College in a game televised live on Cox Sports Television.

Rhode Island kicks off the 2009-10 regular season on Wednesday, Nov. 18, when it travels to Brown in the 151st meeting between the two local schools.

Season tickets are now on sale and individual game tickets at the Ryan Center - including the Dec. 5 Providence game - go on sale Friday, Oct. 23 through the URI Athletic Ticket Office in the Ryan Center.

Tickets for the Jan. 2 game versus Oklahoma State at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. are also on sale and are now available for purchase through the Ryan Center box office.

For more information on season tickets and mini-plans call (401) 874-RAMS or visit GoRhody.com.