March Madness has arrived in Rhode Island.
The URI Rams men's basketball team, needing a conference tournament win to get to the dance, won its Atlantic 10 playoff opener in Washington, DC on Wednesday, 79-to-77 over Duquesne.
Rhody will play Richmond next on Thursday night.
Providence College, which has already punched its ticket, hosts Butler in the first round of the Big East Tournament at Madison Square Garden this afternoon.
Yesterday, Friars Coach Ed Cooley was named Coach of the Year in The Big East. The Friars are 24 and 4 so far this season.
Bryant University is awaiting its opening opponent in the NCAA Tourney after winning its first-ever Division 1 conference championship on Tuesday.
(Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
Photo: Getty Images