The Thomas M. Ryan Center at the University of Rhode Island in Kingston, on Saturday, Nov. 27. Photo: dotCANTON
This is the third in an occasional series entitled: “Road Trip.”
By Steve Wilder dotCANTON.com
OK, OK, I understand. In the land of the Huskies and all of the national championships, it probably isn’t such a great idea to be bringing up another college basketball program … an out of state program, no less.
But all we’re doing here is putting an idea on the table: For a change of pace during the long, cold winter ahead, and for the chance to get out of Dodge for a day, the University of Rhode Island Rams are an option. The Thomas M. Ryan Center on the campus of URI in Kingston is a 90-mile drive from Canton Village and doable under optimum conditions in about 1:45.
Thomas M. Ryan Center. Photo: dotCANTON
Take Route 2 south out of East Hartford to I-395 near Norwich. Take I-395 north to exit 85 for Route 138. Go through the first light at the top of the ramp and then make a right onto 138 at the second light. Watch your signs and stay on 138 all the way to Kingston. Some advice: When approaching and driving through Richmond, R.I., be very aware of the frequently changing and very low speed limits.
If you’re into antiques, you might want to leave a few extra minutes for a stop at the Richmond Antique Center a few miles east of where I-95 passes over Route 138 in Richmond.
The Ryan Center is a jem of a facility. The building, in its ninth season, only seats about 7,500, but it is two-tiered and feels much larger.
My knowledge about the school’s basketball program is limited to the men’s team, which has a 5-2 record after it’s home victory over Davidson on Saturday, Nov. 27, and should be among the top teams in the Atlantic 10 Conference this season. Senior forward Delroy James, who is averaging 20.4 points per game, probably will contend for conference player of the year honors.
If you follow the UConn men’s basketball program, you might recall Ben Eaves. The URI senior forward began his college career with the Huskies before transferring to Rhode Island.
Five Saturday or Sunday afternoon games remain on the Rams’ home schedule (New Hampshire, Dec. 18, 2 p.m.; St. Bonaventure, Jan. 16, 4 p.m.; LaSalle, Jan. 22, 2 p.m.; Charlotte, Feb. 12, 2 p.m.; and Massachusetts, Feb. 19, 2 p.m.), plus several weekday night games, including attractive matchups against Boston College, Xavier and Dayton.
Click here for more information about URI men’s and women’s basketball.
Yankees righthander Phil Hughes, rehabbing from a “dead arm,” was the starting pitcher for the organization’s Double-A affiliate, the Trenton Thunder, Friday night, April 24, at New Britain Stadium against the Rock Cats.
