Archie Miller is set for his second season at URI with 10 new players

We’re happy to be running some of the The Vault Network’s Coach Interviews this upcoming season on KevinMcSports.

Nathan Mook and Abu Bakar regularly interview Rhode Island assistant Kenny Johnson and the first installment of the 2023-24 season is now posted on YouTube. Please subscribe (it’s Free) to The Vault Network and KevinMcSports YouTube pages!

“Our staff is really excited about the group we’ve been able to assemble,” Johnson said. “The summer has been really good for establishing continuity, both for getting to know each other and getting to know what Coach Archie expects.”

Rhode Island struggled offensively during last season’s 9-22 season, averaging just 66 points on 39 percent shooting. Returnees Josaphat Bilau, Brandon Weston and Rory Stewart all have made improvement while injecting additional firepower into the attack was a top priority. Johnson notes that scoring guard Jaden House, a transfer from High Point, will be ready right away. House led his team in scoring at 17.3 points a game, scoring in double figures in 28 games and eclipsing 20 points 11 times.

Other newcomers off the transfer portal include Zek Montgomery (Bradley), Luis Kortright (Quinnipiac) and David Green (Louisiana Tech).

The Rams could be much-improved inside as the staff addressed a ‘glaring need’ to become more physical. The improved health of returning big man Josaphat Bilau (6-10) and redshirt freshman Jeremy Foumena (6-11) will be a great start and Johnson mentioned the recruitment of 6-9 JuCo forward Tyson Brown and Vienna, Austria native David Fuchs, a strong 6-9 forward “who looks like anything but a freshman,” Johnson said.

The Rams are awaiting a pending transfer waiver application for Green, a 6-7 forward who is looking for a second transfer after beginning his college years at Hofstra before playing the last two years at Louisiana Tech. The NCAA has been enforcing a stricter transfer waiver policy voted on, and endorsed, by major conferences and the National Association of Basketball Coaches that could force Green to sit out this coming season but retain two years of eligibility.

The Rhode Island men’s and women’s basketball teams will host the Homecoming Hoopfest on Oct. 13 at the Ryan Center. Both teams will be introduced to the crowd and then participate in a series of activities on the court.

Miller and URI women’s coach Tammi Reiss will be available to season ticket holders at 5 p.m. and then doors will open for the event at 5:30. Reiss and her defending 2022-23 Atlantic 10 regular season champions will conduct a shooting contest that will include audience participation from the crowd. The men’s team will then take the court and participate in a 20-minute scrimmage. Following the scrimmage, players and the coaching staff will be available for an autograph session on the concourse level.