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January 8, 2008

Paul Kenyon's college hoops chat transcript

Paul Kenyon: Hi everyone. Mike McDermott has set up our chat today to have me here in the office on the way to the airport. I'm ready to go, so let's get right into it.

Firm: Pal- this is the deepest Rhody team I have seen in my years of following the program. Do you agree with this assessment? Also, do you see Delroy James breaking into Coach Baron's rotation and mking a contribution this year? What can we expect from this newcomer?

Paul Kenyon: I agree with your first point Firm, about the depth. I don’t think there is any doubt this is the deepest URI team in years, if not ever.

When Al Skinner was at URI, it was his preference to have a smaller rotation, a preference he still relies on. Al wanted seven guys he could depend on. He made them his guys and he stayed with them. There were many years in which URI did not even fill the scholarship limit, by choice.

Jim Baron is doing things differently right now, in part because of the style of play he is using. He feels he needs more bodies to be able to push the pace as much as he wants to. He wants to go as deep as possible. The good news is that the roster allows him to do so. The nine-man rotation he has used all year has worked nicely. Every guy has contributed.

And now, as you point out, there is a 10th guy ready to help, too. I definitely think Delroy James will become a factor. It might not happen right away, but it will happen.

I got to see a couple practices before last season began when Delroy was allowed to work with the team.

At that point, he was very much ready to be part of the regular rotation. After missing so a year and a half he needs time to get back in the swing of things. But as everyone saw in the FDU game, he is on his way. He will help this year and be a very significant factor over the next three years.

Ethan, South Kingstown: Paul, two friends and I are driving out to the Dayton game from Kingston.

How will URI handle the vociferous Flyer fans?

With so few Rhody Rowdies on hand, what (if anything) will the Rams have to do differently to recreate their road success at the Carrier Dome?

Paul Kenyon: Hi Ethan. Drive safely, please. It’s great to hear that some people are excited enough about the team to make the drive to Ohio.

I think you will enjoy the atmosphere in Dayton. Many of us feel it is the best in the Atlantic 10. You will stick out if you are not wearing something red.

I also think you will feel comfortable. I’ve found the fans in Dayton to be as civil as any around. It’s an older crowd, in large part, a crowd that respects good basketball.

While Dayton has won 24 of its last 26 games in the building, URI has won each of its last two games there. I remember the last-second shot by Dustin Hellenga to beat the Flyers a few years ago.

URI has played well on the road in the last two years. There is no reason to think that should change tomorrow night. We’ll all be disappointed if it is not another close game between two outstanding teams.

GandysFantasy: "Hello PK - URI hoops has come a very long way since the "Jerry! Jerry!! Jerry!!!" days, when complete pandemonium seemed to be the order of the day. Can you provide a perspective on how stable the program is today, versus the complete and utter destruction of the Harrick/Jerry D years? (PS - it's looking like a GREAT day to be on the links on Tuesday!!! That'll cure the RI winter-time blues!)"

Paul Kenyon: Hi Gandy. It is golf season somewhere. Rhode Islanders Brad Adamonis and Patrick Sheehan tee it up on the PGA Tour in Hawaii this week. And I’m betting Triggs, Montaup and Exeter will be doing some business back here this week, too.

But we can wait a bit on the golf. The basketball is too much fun right now. Your question about the stability of the program brings up what I think is the biggest reason of all URI fans should be excited.

You are correct that the stability is there, not just for this season, but for the next few years, as well. Even losing three key players after this year, there already is enough talent on the team to expect a solid, if not strong team, again next year.

The reports we are getting on this year’s recruits are very positive, too. Anyone who follows on Journal chat board has seen posters keeping everyone up to date on several of those players.

To make matters even better, the stability in the athletic department is as good as I’ve ever seen it. I had a conversation with Gregg Burke yesterday about work that is being done to get more students involved and how the student attendance has gone up markedly this year. The school is still putting together -- and selling -- ticket plans for the eight A-10 games, Burke said.

As we’ve seen over the last few days, the television situation is improving, too. I believe 10 of the next 12 games will be televised.

There really are many reasons for Rhody fans to be encouraged

GandysFantasy: Paul, I am of the opinion that the ProJo does a very good job covering the local and regional college hoops scen; mine apears to be a minority opinion. Between you and K-Mac, along with Billy Reynolds (who knows New England hoops history better than anyone), the ProJo provides the Ocean State with ample coverage, yet it's never enough for many delusional Rhody diehards. How do you respond to your many critics?

Paul Kenyon: Hi Gandy. Thanks for the kind words. We do appreciate the support.

Frankly, I feel strongly that you are correct, too. I’m kind of the third wheel when it comes to the basketball coverage here, so please let me speak about the other two. There is no other newspaper in New England, and very few in the country, that have a one-two punch like we have in Bill Reynolds and Kevin McNamara.

Bill Reynolds is simply as good as it gets when it comes to New England basketball. He literally wrote the book on the subject. No one knows the game, or cares about the game any more.

Kevin McNamara picked up the fever growing up in Coventry and has become one of the very best college basketball people in the country. With the Big East headquartered here in Rhode Island, Kevin has gotten to work with many of the best basketball people in the country, on and off the court. He does a great job not only with game coverage but with his Sunday round-ups.
There are reasons to criticize us here. But I would strongly defend the coverage the Journal gives college basketball.

TonyP: Hi Paul, you and I were at URI together with mutual friends but hereis my question. DO yuo know waht ever happened to John Fultz?

Paul Kenyon: Hi Tony. It’s nice to have another old guy here.

I remember seeing John Fultz make many, many shots. Today, most of them would count for three points, not two as they did then. I’m sorry I can’t help you, though. I don’t know about John's whereabouts. Sorry.

TonyP: Will URI win the conference?

Paul Kenyon: If someone forced me to pick the conference winner right now, Tony, I would have to stay with Xavier, the pre-season pick.

I guess that’s one of those picks for the program. The Musketeers’ have the program everyone else in the A-10 would like to copy. It really is a class program that is able to attract top quality players year in and year out.

As they’ve shown with their scoring explosion in their last three victories, twice going over 100 points with seven players scoring in double figures, they are very, very good again.

The good news is that they have more competition than ever. URI and Dayton, obviously, are going to give the Muskies everything they have. As I said in a chat here a couple weeks ago, I am very impressed with Massachusetts, too. I can’t wait to get to see Duquesne coming into the Ryan Center next week. It is the wild card in the race.

GandysFantasy: PK, you must be looking forward to the game in Dayton. What is the atmosphere like at that arena, and what can fair-weather fans learn from the Flyer Experience?

Paul Kenyon: For those who enjoy college basketball, I would heartily recommend seeing a game in the UD Arena.

You are right, Gandy, I am looking forward to seeing another game there. The place is different, almost a throwback. For those of us who are old enough to remember the 1960s and 1970s, it is almost like going back. My memories of those days are that crowds went more to enjoy the game and root for their team than root against the opponents. The atmosphere was fun. There was no profanity, less booing of officials and coaches. It was just a fun thing to do.

That’s the way it still is in Dayton. While there is good student support, the building is so big, seating over 13,000, that the crowd is older. It is more pleasant than is some arenas. The fans have seen great basketball for more than 40 years in the city and they seem to appreciate good play from both sides.

I’m going to quote Jimmy Baron in tomorrow’s pre-game story saying ``the atmosphere in Dayton is second to none.’’ As far as the A-10 is concerned, I couldn’t agree any more strongly.

South County: Paul, what does Rhody have to do to get tapped for NCAA this year?

Paul Kenyon: Hi South. Want to talk magic numbers even before conference play begins?
Why not? Let me throw one up. I’ll go with 25.

If URI has 24 victories on Selection Sunday it will be worried only about where it will play in the NCAA Tournament, not whether it will be invited to the dance.

The 14 victories and great RPI rating -- I believe it is at 17 now -- makes it possible to look ahead. Let’s say the Rams go 10-6 in the conference to get to 24 victories and tie for third in the conference. That gives them a first-round bye and then they win their quarterfinal game in the A-10 tournament to get to 25 victories.

The view from here is that they would still be in the 30s in the RPI at that stage, especially if the wins included one or two against the other contenders. All victories beyond 25 would be simply getting themselves a higher seed.

rhodyrudder: Hi Paul. Thanks again for doing the chat and for your coverage of the Rams. I want to ask about Rhody's home court advantage at the Ryan Center. The atmosphere for the PC game was as good as I've seen in any arena for college basketball. Do you think they will be able to get crowds of 7000 or more, and can they run the table at home?...Also, a quick question regarding the game tomorrow. You mentioned that it would be on channel 64. Is this the local Fox affiliate, or is it #64 on the Cox cable, which currently is not showing any programming at all? I can't even turn to it.

Paul Kenyon: Hi Rudder. Let’s do the last part first. The Cox Communications people tell me that it is Channel 64 on your television, not the local Fox affiliate. I think it’s great everyone did so much work to get the game on.

As for the Ryan Center atmosphere, I’ve spent so much time here today complimenting Dayton and Xavier, I’m glad you asked about the Ryan Center. URI fans have reason to be proud of the building and they have turned it into a major boost for the program. Having students sit so close to the action makes it fun. At times, some students might have gotten a bit carried away. But security guards now are stationed neat the visiting bench and those who get rowdy are kicked out of the building. That’s happened at least a couple times in the last two years, which makes it better for everyone.

I mentioned earlier that I spoke to Gregg Burke, the deputy AD yesterday. One of the subjects he touched on is work he is doing to increase attendance. Ticket plans are now available for A-10 games only, plans that would allow a fan to have the same seat for all remaining games. Gregg told me about the student group he has organized to give him advice and suggestions. Already, more student tickets have been distributed than in the entire 2004-05. Hopefully, I’ll get to tell everyone more about that in the next couple weeks.

The part about being unbeaten at home is asking a lot? If the Rams can sweep a home schedule that includes visits from Dayton, Xavier, Duquesne and Saint Joseph’s, they will truly have a season to remember. That’s a tall order and one I would doubt the team could pull off.

GandysFantasy: Paul, did you ever think you'd see a building as grand as the Ryan Center hosting URI basketball games? Does it need any improvements (other than more fans!)?

Paul Kenyon: Let me relate one quick story about one of my first visits to the Ryan Center.

I gave myself a little tour from top to bottom to see what the facility was like. As I’m finishing, I ran into a couple people I know who had been just ahead of me. They had finished doing the same thing.

One of them looked at me and his first words were, ``Can you believe how nice this place is?’’
It is one of those reactions that made two points. First it was that the planners _ and Ron Petro deserves the most credit on the design. It will be his most long lasting legacy to the school _ really did a great job. It is a facility to be proud of, a great place to watch a game.
The second point was more a Rhode Island thing. It seemed as if he was saying he was so accustomed to having things go wrong. His reaction was like, ``We really did this one right.’’
I wholeheartedly agree.

The one constant problem since day one is the sound system. When I arrived for the FDU game workers were trying to deal with the sound system to make it better. There are parts of the building where the sound simply does not travel well.

TonyP: Paul I now work at U of Florida where of course the program is on the rebound after a few great years. THe question is will URI ever be able to compete on the level of a UF/Tenn?KY level?

Paul Kenyon: Tony, we can’t get too carried away here.

The quick answer to your question is that you are looking at the view from the top. There is no way in the world a URI can compete on a regular basis with a Florida. Anyone who visits the facilities, who sees the budgets, who sees the fan support, knows it is simply impossible.
But as we are seeing this year, it is very possible for URI to compete at a high level, if no the highest level. We’ve spoken here today about the Ryan Center, the increasing fan support. The pieces are there for URI to be very good at its level. And that level can include being a top 25 team in basketball.

Paul Kenyon: That's it for today everyone. Sorry I couldn't get to everyone's questions. I enjoyed it. It's off to the airport.

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 1:59 PM to URI Basketball | Permalink

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