Chris Bethel played just one minute in Sunday's loss at Rhode Island, leading to speculation as to why the senior forward didn't see more action. (Photo taken by Keith Krebs, courtesy of Joe DiBari)

BY CHARLES COSTELLO

The major storyline to emerge from yesterday’s forgettable loss to Rhode Island, besides the 98-67 final score that saw Fordham take a step back after showing progress in their previous two games, was the absence of senior forward Chris Bethel. Bethel didn’t start, and played just one minute early on in the game. When Bethel went to the bench with 15:19 left in the first half, he would not return to the game.

“He wasn’t prepared to play when he came out so we went with some of the younger guys,” assistant coach Jared Grasso explained in postgame comments on WFUV.

That comment, and Bethel’s one minute of playing time that led to the question being asked in the postgame interview, have led to all sorts of speculation.

Bethel is averaging 10 points and six rebounds per game, and is one of only three seniors on the team. His production on the offensive end of the floor, and his veteran status, only tell part of the story. The coaching staff has consistently challenged Bethel to be more productive on both ends of the floor, and to be better defensively and rebounding the basketball.

“He’s got some offensive talent,” Whittenburg said earlier this year. “We know he’s got the ability to score. Championship teams can’t have one dimensional guys. Even if the ball doesn’t go in the basket you’ve got to be able to play the game of basketball.”

As for his senior status, this is really the first year where he is receiving significant playing time. Bethel averaged three minutes as a freshman, nine minutes as a sophomore, and eight minutes last year. Hence, you’ll often hear head coach Dereck Whittenburg refer to Bethel as a freshman. At the same time, Whittenburg has called on Bethel to provide more leadership, given the fact that this is his fourth year with the program.

Jacob Green's 10 points weren't enough Sunday as the visiting Rams trailed from start to finish in Kingston, Rhode Island, falling to URI 98-67. (Photo courtesy of Joe DiBari, Fordham University's Sports Information Director)

BY CHARLES COSTELLO

Unable to build off of Wednesday’s promising road loss at Dayton, the Fordham Rams turned in a disappointing performance this afternoon in Kingston, Rhode Island, falling to the host Rams 98-67 in front of 4,612 at the Ryan Center on the campus of URI. 

Heading into the game, Rhode Island’s 0-2 conference record was a bit misleading. The Rams losses came at Saint Joseph’s, a triple overtime defeat in the conference opener last Saturday at The Palestra, one of the toughest places for a road team to play, and Xavier, a two point loss last Thursday against the nationally ranked Muskateers, the Atlantic 10′s best team.

Rhode Island is a veteran team, with eight returning players from a team that won 21 games a year ago. Three starters returned from a team that went to the National Invitation Tournament, and four of the top six scorers from a year ago are back. The Rams (12-6, 1-2) are also a dynamic offensive team, and it showed Sunday against Fordham (2-14, 0-4). Fordham lost for the seventh straight game, and they are now 0-6 on the road this year.

Ten turnovers in the first half led to a 55-32 lead for Rhode Island at the break. For the game, Fordham turned the ball over 17 times leading to 20 Rhode Island points.

“We turned the ball over and they got a bunch of easy shots,” Fordham assistant coach Jared Grasso said on WFUV after the game. “When they get it going on offense they’re tough to beat.”

Rhode Island scored 46 points in the paint, while Fordham managed just 26. And URI’s bench outscored the visiting Rams 47-19. Total domination from start to finish.

“Give credit to Rhode Island as every shot they threw up seemed to go in today,” Fordham head coach Dereck Whittenburg said after the game, as reported on fordhamsports.com. “I thought our freshmen and Jacob Greeb played well though we did show our inexperience at times which hurt us.”

Rhode Island knocked down 37 field goals, shooting 52.9 percent from the floor. They also connected on 11-of-23 three-pointers. The host Rams led by as many as 31 points midway through the second half, and didn’t appear to cool the jets late in the game, in what seemed like a desperate attempt to reach 100 points. Nevertheless, Fordham’s focus after it was all over was on the need to begin working immediately to get better for their next game.

“A month from now (Rhode Island visits Rose Hill on Feb. 21) hopefully we’ll be a better team,” Grasso said. “We’ve got to think about Duquesne next Sunday.”

Alberto Estwick, who earlier in the day was named the Atlantic 10′s Co-Rookie of the Week, led the Rams with 19 points, though most of his points came late when the game was out of hand. Jio Fontan (17 points), Trey Blue (13 points), and Jacob Green (10 points) all reached double figures for Fordham. Senior Jimmy Baron led Rhode Island with 20 points.

(Statistics and game results posted on ESPN.com)