Honestly, if you haven’t been keeping a close eye on the university of rhode island basketball schedule, you’ve missed a bit of a rollercoaster. We’re sitting here in mid-January 2026, and Archie Miller’s squad is at a crossroads. The non-conference portion of the year felt like a lifetime ago—remember that solid win over Yale back in November?—but the Atlantic 10 grind is a different beast entirely.
Right now, the Rams are 10-8 overall. On paper, it looks okay. But the 1-4 start in conference play is a thorn in the side of every fan heading to the Ryan Center. It’s been a tough month, basically a series of "almosts" and frustrating second halves. They just dropped a close one to VCU (75-84) a few days ago, and the road ahead doesn't get any smoother.
The Gauntlet: Breaking Down the Upcoming Games
The next few weeks of the university of rhode island basketball schedule are, quite frankly, brutal. If the Rams want to climb out of the bottom third of the A-10 standings, they have to steal some wins on the road.
Wednesday, January 21, they head to Richmond to face the Spiders at 7:00 PM. Richmond is sitting at 13-6 and they're always a nightmare to play at the Robins Center. Then, it’s back home on January 24 for a rematch with George Mason. This is a big one. Mason already beat Rhody earlier this month (61-50), and they’re currently tearing up the league with a 17-1 record.
- Jan 21: at Richmond (7:00 PM) - ESPN+
- Jan 24: vs George Mason (2:00 PM) - ESPN+
- Jan 27: at Dayton (7:00 PM) - This is usually the loudest arena in the conference.
- Feb 1: at Duquesne (12:00 PM) - USA Network
It’s a heavy schedule. Playing Dayton and Richmond on the road in the same week is the kind of thing that makes or breaks a season. Miller has been vocal about the team's "intensity," and they'll need every bit of it to survive this stretch.
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Why the Defense is Keeping Fans Up at Night
The weird thing about this team is that they actually move well. Archie Miller mentioned earlier this season that this might be his most athletic group yet. They rank 3rd in the A-10 in scoring defense, allowing only 66.9 points per game. That sounds great, right?
But the offense has been... spotty. They’re averaging about 72 points a game, which is middle-of-the-pack. When you have guys like Jonah Hinton (15.6 ppg) and Tyler Cochran (15.4 ppg) carrying the load, you expect a bit more consistency. The problem is the support. If Hinton or Cochran has an off night, the scoreboard just doesn't move.
Who is Stepping Up?
Let’s talk about the roster for a second. We saw Keeyan Itejere put up 18 points against Davidson recently. That was huge. We need more of that. Myles Corey, the grad student from South Alabama, has had flashes of brilliance, like his 22-point explosion against Vermont, but he’s been quiet in conference play.
Then you’ve got the freshmen. Barrett Loer and Jalen Harper are getting minutes, but they're still learning the speed of the college game. It’s a lot to ask of them in the middle of a January slump.
The Archie Miller Factor
People forget Miller is in his fourth year now. The progression from 9 wins to 12 to 18 last year was the trajectory everyone wanted. This year feels like a bit of a reboot because so many contributors from last season—like Sebastian Thomas—are gone. Thomas was a 17-point-per-game guy. You don't just replace that overnight with a couple of portal additions.
Miller’s "relentless" approach is being tested. He’s been trying to mold this group into a defensive powerhouse, and while the stats look okay, the "W" column is what matters. The fan base is patient, but they want to see the Rams competing late into March, not just hovering around .500.
Looking Forward: The Path to the A-10 Tournament
The university of rhode island basketball schedule culminates in the Atlantic 10 Championship in Pittsburgh, starting March 11. Between now and then, the Rams have five home-and-home series to finish.
If they can split the next four games, they’ll be in a position to make a run in February. They have home games against Fordham (Feb 14) and Saint Louis (Feb 17) that are winnable if the Ryan Center crowd shows up.
Basically, the goal now isn't the regular-season title—that’s likely heading to Saint Louis or George Mason. The goal is seeding. Getting out of those bottom four seeds is crucial to avoid the Tuesday "play-in" games in Pittsburgh.
Actionable Steps for Fans
If you're planning on following the rest of the season, here’s how to stay locked in:
- Sync your calendar: The games on Jan 24 (Mason) and Feb 7 (Richmond) are the best chances to see high-level A-10 ball at home.
- Watch the peripherals: Keep an eye on the rebounding margin. When Rhody wins the glass, they usually win the game. Alex Crawford and Keeyan Itejere need to be monsters in the paint.
- Check the TV listings: A lot of these games are tucked away on ESPN+, but the Feb 1 matchup at Duquesne is on the USA Network.
- Follow the injury report: With a rotation as thin as this one, a single rolled ankle can change the entire outlook of a three-game week.
The season is far from over, but the margin for error has basically vanished. It’s time for the Rams to prove that Archie’s rebuild is still on track.