NCAA Tournament March Madness
#349 Rider
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Projection: need to automatically qualify
Rider's resume is built on a few competitive flashes and a string of damaging blowouts, and that combination explains why it sits where it does. The best moments are those tight nonconference finishes — a narrow home loss to Coppin State, a close outing at Merrimack and a gritty road performance at Quinnipiac — which demonstrate the roster can compete when the offense clicks. Those positives have been overwhelmed by brutal road losses at the high-major stops of Virginia, Rutgers, Texas and Houston that leave little in the way of signature wins away from home. Defensively the team has shown more consistency than on offense, but offensive inconsistency has often prevented those close games from becoming résumé builders. The remaining schedule offers clear chances to improve with home dates against Canisius and Niagara and other favorable league matchups while trips to VCU, Iona and Siena are uphill tests that could push the profile in either direction.
| Date | Opponent | Ranking | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11/3 | @Virginia | 23 | L87-53 |
| 11/5 | @Rutgers | 135 | L81-53 |
| 11/18 | @Texas | 50 | L99-65 |
| 11/20 | @Houston | 10 | L91-45 |
| 11/25 | Coppin St | 364 | L68-65 |
| 12/4 | @Merrimack | 271 | L68-66 |
| 12/7 | @Quinnipiac | 152 | L72-58 |
| 12/9 | Bucknell | 301 | 44% |
| 12/16 | @Delaware | 233 | 14% |
| 12/22 | @VCU | 43 | 1% |
| 12/29 | Manhattan | 310 | 46% |
| 1/4 | Siena | 150 | 18% |
| 1/9 | @Fairfield | 299 | 23% |
| 1/11 | Marist | 157 | 19% |
| 1/14 | Iona | 173 | 21% |
| 1/17 | @St Peter's | 306 | 25% |
| 1/19 | Sacred Heart | 288 | 40% |
| 1/24 | @Mt St Mary's | 307 | 25% |
| 1/30 | @Manhattan | 310 | 25% |
| 2/1 | St Peter's | 306 | 45% |
| 2/5 | @Marist | 157 | 7% |
| 2/7 | Merrimack | 271 | 37% |
| 2/13 | Mt St Mary's | 307 | 45% |
| 2/15 | @Sacred Heart | 288 | 21% |
| 2/20 | Canisius | 352 | 65% |
| 2/22 | Niagara | 351 | 64% |
| 2/27 | @Iona | 173 | 9% |
| 3/1 | @Siena | 150 | 7% |