2000-01 record: 7-23; 3-13 in A-10 (11th) Final Ranking: NR Postseason: None. RETURNING LEADERS Points: Woodward 13.6 ppg | Rebounds: Evans 5.1 rpg | Assists: Smith 3.5 apg | FG %: Evans 40.0% | 3pt %: Daniels 23.6% | FT %: Smith 75.0% 00-01 Stats: Rhode Island | A-10

		Tuesday, Oct. 30 The single biggest key for Rhode Island will be recruiting. Not to write off the season, but Jim Baron is handcuffed by the dreaded 5/8 rule, and cannot build a program quickly enough to be competitive now. Dinno Daniels and Brian Woodward can play, and Baron can really coach, but Rhody will struggle this season.

Outlook
Jim Baron is accustomed to rebuilding projects, but it's possible he has never inherited such a fixer-upper like this one before. Then again, he's never taken over a place with such long-term promise, either.

The promise will have to wait, though, because for now Baron -- who turned around the programs at St. Francis and St. Bonaventure -- must simply get the Rams back to respectability. They are a long way away, having won 12 games, combined, in the past two seasons.

This year's bunch returns just two starters, 6-0 senior guard Dinno Daniels (11.6 ppg, 3.3 apg) and 6-9 senior center Marcus Evans (4.3 ppg, 5.1 rpg). In all, only five players return from last season's 7-23 team -- but one of them was 6-foot-3 junior guard Brian Woodward, technically listed as a non-returning starter. And he might be the best player on the team. In eight games last season he averaged 13.9 points and 4.9 rebounds, but spent the rest of the season injured. The other two returning Rams are 6-1 guards Howard Smith (4.4 ppg) and Steve Mello (3.4 ppg).

Newcomers will have to play significant minutes at forward and center, with top candidates including junior transfers Chaz Briggs (6-7) and Troy Wiley (6-8). Jamaal Wise, a 6-5 freshman from Burtonsville, Md., could be a promising scorer.

What we like: Woodward and Daniels are a nice backcourt. Other than that, the nicest thing we can say is Baron and the Rams have nowhere to go but up. They were last in the league last season in six categories -- scoring defense, scoring margin, field -goal percentage, 3-pointers made, 3-point percentage and rebound margin.

What we don't like: Evans is the only frontcourt player with experience, and his scoring and rebounding averages last season were paltry. With just three players taller than 6-5, the Rams might finish last again in rebound margin.

The bottom line: The Rams might win more than seven games this season. But don't count on it.

Key Players Returning
Player	Yr.	Pos.	Ht./Wt.	Comment
Marcus Evans*	Sr.	F	6-9/250	PTS: 4.3 | REB: 5.1 | AST: 0.4
Andre Scott	So.	C	6-9/225	PTS: 4.0 | REB: 4.2 | AST: 0.5
Howard Smith	Jr.	G	6-0/175	PTS: 4.4 | REB: 2.9 | AST: 3.5
Brian Woodward	Jr.	G	6-3/180	PTS: 13.9 | REB: 4.9 | AST: 3.0
Dinno Daniels	Sr.	G	6-0/175	PTS: 11.6 | REB: 2.1 | AST: 3.3

* Academically ineligible for fall semester.

Key Losses
Player	Pos.	Ht./Wt.	Comment
Tavorris Bell	F	6-6/210	PTS: 19.6 | REB: 5.7 | AST: 1.2
Zach Marbury	G	6-3/185	PTS: 16.9 | REB: 4.0 | AST: 2.6
Leroy Womack	F	6-9/210	PTS: 7.3 | REB: 5.6 | AST: 0.9

Rhode Island Signings
Player	Pos.	Ht.	High School/College
Troy Wiley	F	6-8	Wilmington/Paris JC (Texas)
Dustin Hellenga	G	6-3	Centreville/Winchendon Prep (Va.)
Jamaal Wise	F	6-5	Burtonsville/Paint Branch (Md.)