1997–98 Rhode Island Rams men's basketball team

American college basketball season March 2026 August 2023 1997–98 Rhode Island Rams Basketball Rhode Island Rams logo.svg 150 Atlantic 10 Conference A-10 11 25–9 12–4 Jim Harrick 1st Jerry DeGregorio 1st Keaney Gymnasium NCAA tournament Elite Eight The 1997–98 Rhode Island Rams men's basketball team represented the University of Rhode Island in the 1997–98 college basketball season. This was head coach Jim Harrick's first of two seasons at Rhode Island. The Rams competed in the Atlantic 10 Conference and played their home games at Keaney Gymnasium. They finished the season 25–9, 12–4 in A-10 play and lost in the semifinals of the 1998 Atlantic 10 men's basketball tournament. They were invited to the 1998 NCAA tournament where they advanced to the Elite Eight before falling to Stanford in the Midwest Regional final. As of the 2025–26 NCAA Division I men's basketball season, this is the furthest any Rhode Island men's team has ever advanced in the NCAA tournament. Roster 1997 Rhode Island Rams y Cuttino Mobley 12 G 6 4 185 Sr Philadelphia, Pennsylvania y Tyson Wheeler 21 G 5 10 165 Sr New London, Connecticut y Lamar Odom F 6 10 fr yes Queens, New York y Antonio Reynolds-Dean 34 FC 6 7 210 Jr Marietta, Georgia y Jim Harrick Schedule and results yes |- !colspan=9 style=Rhode Island Rams| Regular season Nov 17, 1997 yes 21 1997 men North Carolina-Wilmington Seahawks North Carolina-Wilmington Keaney Gymnasium Kingston, Rhode Island 78–69 1–0 Nov 19, 1997 yes yes 20 Connecticut 12 Harry A. Gampel Pavilion Storrs, Connecticut 67–80 1–1 Nov 30, 1997 yes yes 1997 men Boston University Terriers Boston University Case Gym Boston, Massachusetts 86–63 2–1 Dec 3, 1997 yes yes 1997 men Brown Bears Brown Pizzitola Sports Center Providence, Rhode Island 75–57 3–1 Dec 9, 1997 yes 1997 men Providence Friars Providence Keaney Gymnasium Kingston, Rhode Island 69–58 4–1 Dec 13, 1997 yes UNLV Keaney Gymnasium Kingston, Rhode Island 91–73 6,429 5–1 Dec 22, 1997 yes 22 Ohio Keaney Gymnasium Kingston, Rhode Island 85–72 6–1 Dec 29, 1997 yes yes 24 Stanford 7 San Jose Arena San Jose, California Cable Car Classic 69–70 6,109 6–2 Dec 30, 1997 yes yes 24 1997 men Penn Quakers Penn San Jose Arena San Jose, California Cable Car Classic 96–89 7–2 Jan 4, 1998 yes 24 Temple Liacouras Center Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 74–64 8–2 1–0 Jan 6, 1998 yes 23 1997 men Saint Joseph's Hawks Saint Joseph's Hagan Arena Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 83–68 9–2 2–0 Jan 10, 1998 23 1997 men Duquesne Dukes Duquesne Keaney Gymnasium Kingston, Rhode Island 83–76 10–2 3–0 Jan 13, 1998 yes 20 1997 men La Salle Explorers La Salle The Spectrum Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 84–73 11–2 4–0 Jan 15, 1998 yes 20 1997 men Tulane Green Wave Tulane Keaney Gymnasium Kingston, Rhode Island 85–61 12–2 Jan 17, 1998 yes 20 1997 men St. Bonaventure Bonnies St. Bonaventure Reilly Center St. Bonaventure, New York 81–86 12–3 4–1 Jan 22, 1998 22 1997 men Virginia Tech Hokies Virginia Tech Keaney Gymnasium Kingston, Rhode Island 73–66 13–3 5–1 Jan 25, 1998 yes yes 22 Cincinnati 21 Myrl Shoemaker Center Cincinnati, Ohio 82–88 13–4 Jan 29, 1998 21 UMass Keaney Gymnasium Kingston, Rhode Island 57–74 13–5 5–2 Feb 1, 1998 yes 21 1997 men Fordham Rams Fordham Rose Hill Gym Bronx, New York 75–70 14–5 6–2 Feb 3, 1998 Saint Joseph's Keaney Gymnasium Kingston, Rhode Island 94–76 15–5 7–2 Feb 7, 1998 yes 1997 men California Golden Bears California Keaney Gymnasium Kingston, Rhode Island 72–63 16–5 Feb 8, 1998 St. Bonaventure Keaney Gymnasium Kingston, Rhode Island 67–66 17–5 8–2 Feb 10, 1998 yes 25 George Washington 17 Charles E. Smith Center Washington, D.C. 69–61 18–5 9–2 Feb 14, 1998 25 Temple Keaney Gymnasium Kingston, Rhode Island 67–68 18–6 9–3 Feb 18, 1998 yes UMass 18 Mullins Center Amherst, Massachusetts 87–85 2OT 19–6 10–3 Feb 21, 1998 yes 1997 men Dayton Flyers Dayton University of Dayton Arena Dayton, Ohio 62–71 19–7 10–4 Feb 24, 1998 Xavier Keaney Gymnasium Kingston, Rhode Island 69–68 20–7 11–4 Feb 28, 1998 Fordham Keaney Gymnasium Kingston, Rhode Island 71–57 21–7 12–4 |- !colspan=9 style=Rhode Island Rams| Atlantic 10 tournament Mar 5, 1998 yes yes E2 Dayton W3 The Spectrum Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Quarterfinals 83–70 22–7 Mar 6, 1998 yes yes E2 Xavier W1 The Spectrum Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Semifinals 80–95 22–8 |- !colspan=9 style=Rhode Island Rams| NCAA tournament Mar 13, 1998 yes yes 8 MW Murray State 25 9 MW Myriad Convention Center Oklahoma City, Oklahoma First round 97–74Harrick and Rhode Island Post a Bittersweet Win https://www.nytimes.com/library/sports/ncaabasketball/031498bkc-rhodeisland.html The New York Times March 14, 1998 June 20, 2021 23–8 Mar 15, 1998 yes yes 8 MW Kansas 2 1 MW Myriad Convention Center Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Second Round 80–75Rhode Island Stuns Kansas https://www.nytimes.com/library/sports/ncaabasketball/031698bkc-rhodeisland.html The New York Times March 16, 1998 June 20, 2021Rhode Island Sends Kansas Home Early https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-mar-16-sp-29485-story.html The Los Angeles Times March 16, 1998 June 20, 2021 24–8 Mar 20, 1998 yes yes 8 MW Valparaiso 13 MW Scottrade Center St. Louis, Missouri Midwest Regional semifinal – Sweet Sixteen 74–68URI, Stanford in Final Eight https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/sports/colbask/longterm/1998/men/articles/uri21.htm The Washington Post March 21, 1998 June 20, 2021 25–8 Mar 22, 1998 yes yes 8 MW Stanford 10 3 MW Scottrade Center St. Louis, Missouri Midwest Regional final – Elite Eight 77–79Stanford Defeats Rhode Island in Midwest Regional final, 79-77 http://www.nytimes.com/library/sports/ncaabasketball/032398bkc-stanford.html The New York Times March 23, 1998 June 20, 2021 25–9 AP poll EST MW Midwest Rankings 1997–98 NCAA Division I men's basketball rankings AP 0 17 21 20 23 NR NR NR 22 24 23 20 22 21 NR 25 NR NR NR NR Coaches 0 18 25 25^ NR NR NR NR NR NR 25 23 22 21 23 24 25 NR NR NR 11 *AP does not release post-NCAA Tournament rankings^Coaches did not release a week 2 poll Awards and honors Cuttino Mobley – Atlantic 10 Player of the Year Tyson Wheeler – AP Honorable Mention All-American 1998 NBA draft 1998 NBA draft Rhode Island Rams Round Pick Player NBA Team 2 41 Cuttino Mobley Houston Rockets 2 47 Tyson Wheeler Toronto Raptors https://www.basketball-reference.com/draft/NBA_1998.html 1998 NBA Draft Basketball-reference.com June 20, 2021 References Rhode Island Rhode Island Category:Rhode Island Rams men's basketball seasons Rhode Rhode