Blog.WBRU

Last night URI remained perfect at home, running over the University of New Hampshire wildcats 88-56. After a heartbreaking loss to Providence College last weekend, the win gave the rams a chance to get some momentum back before heading into the O’Reilly Basketball Classic on the 20^th. Rhody looked rejuvenated on both offense and defense, applying pressure on both ends of the court.

• Sharing the love: Rhody shared both minutes of playtime and the ball. URI played all 15 of their active players at some point in the game though many just saw the last 5 minutes as the rams coasted to victory. The players on the court made the extra pass also, ending with 19 assists (they have been averaging 12/game).
• High Score=Lock: URI is now 5-0 in games in which it has scored at least 80 points. Although scoring high always means good things, it speaks to the advantage Rhody has playing at a high tempo as well. Whenever they get the fast break transition game going like they did last night, opponents better watch out (and maybe supply some oxygen on the sideline).
• Awkward scoring stats: UNH started of the second half with a statistical anomaly in shooting percentage. With just under 15 minutes to play, the wildcats had a better 3 point percentage than freethrows or field goals. They had 31.3% from downtown, while only shooting 29.4% from the field and 25% from the charity stripe.

The only hard thing for Rhody to do this week in practice is look for things to improve on. They had more rebounds, steals, blocks, assists, and points while keeping turnovers and fouls to a minimum.

-MAC

The board overseeing Rhode Island’s three public colleges is mulling possible cuts. The Board of Governor for Higher Education decided this week to look at course and program offerings at the University of Rhode Island, Rhode Island College and the Community College of Rhode Island and will put together a list of proposals next Spring. The proposals would cut some programs, reduce credits needed to get degrees and find ways to save money.

The FBI is continuing to work to track down whoever sent threatening letters containing a powdery substance to seven governors. The office of Governor Donald Carcieri was shut down on Monday afternoon after the letter was opened. Investigators say the letters, postmarked from Texas, were a hoax and the substance was not dangerous.

The federal government has moved people being detained on immigration charges out of the Wyatt Detention Center. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokeswoman Paula Grenier says the agency relocated 153 detainees out of the center to other facilities in the New England area. Others are being placed on so-called “alternative detention,” which often means placement out of facilities with GPS tracking devices attached to their bodies. The American Civil Liberties Union of Rhode Island accuses Wyatt Detention Center officials of not providing proper care to a man who died from cancer behind bars.

Employees at a Chuck E. Cheese’s restaurant are accused of selling alcohol to a minor in Attleboro. The city’s Alcohol Licensing Board says the restaurant was just one of three businesses cited during a recent compliance check. This was the restaurant’s first offense. The business could lose its alcohol license if employees are caught selling alcohol to a minor again.

Coming off 4 days rest, while riding a 3 game winning streak, The Providence Bruins lost 3-1 to the Lowell  Devils last night at the Dunkin Donuts Center.

People can make the excuse that the Bruins were missing two key defensivemen, Johnny Boychuk and Matt Lashoff, who were sent up to Boston, but the Bruins lacked effort in every aspect. The Bruins struggled to create any offense and when given 4 minutes of powerplay to start the 2nd period, came up short.

Marquadt - Marchand - Karsums

Sobotka - St. Pierre - Karsums

P. Schaefer - Hamill - Lehtonen

Nelson - Rabbit - Knackstedt

D

Engel - Penner

McQuaid - Bodnarchuk

Stokes - K. Schaefer

Tuukka Rask played in goal and saved 28 shots while allowing 3 goals against.

Vladamir Sobotka scored the sole Providence goal to match his jersey number (10) for goals on the season.

The Bruins are at home next on Sunday to host Springfield Falcons(10-9-2-1) 23 PTS (T-5th Atlantic)

-Kit

In more awards show news, the Grammy nominations are set to be released tonight. Normally, the list of nominations is just released to the press, or maybe sometimes a short ceremony is conducted. This year, though, some executive decided, though, that this represented an opportunity to make some easy money, without even having to pay the writers or actors. The result is “The Grammy Nominations Concert Live! — Countdown to Music’s Biggest Night” which airs tonight at 9 on CBS. The concert will feature performances by Mariah Carey, John Mayer, and the Foo Fighters, and will be hosted by Taylor Swift and LL Cool J. So, if you want to see a bunch of musicians fawning over themselves, be sure to tune in to that.

-Ben Jammin

President-Elect Barrack Obama has named New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson to be his commerce secretary. Richardson was the UN ambassador and energy secretary during the Clinton administration, served seven terms in Congress and in his second term as Governor of New Mexico. One of the nation’s most prominent Hispanic politicians, Richardson pledged - in English and Spanish - to work to renew the economy. Democratic officials say Obama is considering naming another Latino, California Democratic Congressman Xavier Becerra, to be U.S. Trade Representative.

-JB