Spring Break
Baron gears up for last home game of career
Chris Smith
Issue date: 3/6/09 Section: Sports
03/06/09 -Heading into his last game at the Ryan Center, University of Rhode Island men's basketball senior guard Jimmy Baron isn't making his last regular season home match any more special than just another game.
Saturday's game against the University of Massachusetts at Amherst will be the last home game for seniors Kahiem Seawright, Jason Francis and Baron, who is looking to change the Rams recent troubles on senior day.
"The reason why [it's not any more special] is because we've lost the last couple of senior games," Baron said. "We are just treating it like any other game, any of the other guys will tell you that. We need every game right now."
Baron became URI's all-time leader in three pointers on Jan. 18 against Fordham University. This Saturday he will be looking to break the Atlantic 10 Conference record for three pointers currently held by Darnell Harris of LaSalle University. Baron is just two treys away from the record, with 341 career three pointers.
"It means a lot, but it would mean a lot more to all the players and coaches I have been around over the years," he said.
Jimmy has also been working off the court, as he was named to the 2008-09 ESPN the Magazine Academic All-American Second Team, as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America. He became just the second URI men's basketball player to be named an Academic All-American.
Baron has accumulated a 3.42 grade-point average as a communications major. He admitted it has been tough working on his studies outside of basketball, but his teachers have been very helpful a long the way.
"It is tough, but if you open the lines of communication with your teachers it makes it a lot easier."
Baron has earned ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District 1 and Atlantic 10 All-Academic team honors in each of the past two seasons.
These are not the only honors Baron has accumulated this season, as he was named to the 2009 National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Division I All-District 4 second team yesterday and is in the running for the Lowe's Senior Class award, among 10 other finalists. He is currently in third place in the voting behind Terence Williams of the University of Louisville and Jerel McNeal of Marquette University.
"I had expectations, but I wasn't one of those seniors who was looking for all the awards coming into this year," he said. "As long as we win basketball games I'm happy."
This season in particular has been special to Jimmy because he is one of the captains and leaders of this team.
"You have a lot more control over things," he said. "[I've been] more in control and more confident. When everyone is buying into what you are doing it's a lot easier. So it has been special."
Baron and the Rams have won 10 out of the last 11 games and will be looking to close out their season with seven straight wins and a first-round by in the A-10 tournament.
Saturday's game against the University of Massachusetts at Amherst will be the last home game for seniors Kahiem Seawright, Jason Francis and Baron, who is looking to change the Rams recent troubles on senior day.
"The reason why [it's not any more special] is because we've lost the last couple of senior games," Baron said. "We are just treating it like any other game, any of the other guys will tell you that. We need every game right now."
Baron became URI's all-time leader in three pointers on Jan. 18 against Fordham University. This Saturday he will be looking to break the Atlantic 10 Conference record for three pointers currently held by Darnell Harris of LaSalle University. Baron is just two treys away from the record, with 341 career three pointers.
"It means a lot, but it would mean a lot more to all the players and coaches I have been around over the years," he said.
Jimmy has also been working off the court, as he was named to the 2008-09 ESPN the Magazine Academic All-American Second Team, as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America. He became just the second URI men's basketball player to be named an Academic All-American.
Baron has accumulated a 3.42 grade-point average as a communications major. He admitted it has been tough working on his studies outside of basketball, but his teachers have been very helpful a long the way.
"It is tough, but if you open the lines of communication with your teachers it makes it a lot easier."
Baron has earned ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District 1 and Atlantic 10 All-Academic team honors in each of the past two seasons.
These are not the only honors Baron has accumulated this season, as he was named to the 2009 National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Division I All-District 4 second team yesterday and is in the running for the Lowe's Senior Class award, among 10 other finalists. He is currently in third place in the voting behind Terence Williams of the University of Louisville and Jerel McNeal of Marquette University.
"I had expectations, but I wasn't one of those seniors who was looking for all the awards coming into this year," he said. "As long as we win basketball games I'm happy."
This season in particular has been special to Jimmy because he is one of the captains and leaders of this team.
"You have a lot more control over things," he said. "[I've been] more in control and more confident. When everyone is buying into what you are doing it's a lot easier. So it has been special."
Baron and the Rams have won 10 out of the last 11 games and will be looking to close out their season with seven straight wins and a first-round by in the A-10 tournament.
