A year ago Rhode Island spent Selection Monday watching for their name to appear in one of the 16 NCAA Tournament regionals.

Their name would never be called, leaving the Rams at home despite a resume most experts thought had earned them an at-large bid. The selection committee’s decision would be labeled as a crime, but there was nothing Rhode Island could do after Xavier swept the Atlantic 10 Tournament championship doubleheader.

The Rams were unable to repeat their performance from last year and understand there will be no at-large bid coming their way. But they still have unfinished business after last year’s tournament upset.

“We should have taken care of business against Xavier last year, instead of leaving it to the committee,” coach Jim Foster said. “You can’t take anything for granted. When you do that, this game bites you in the butt.”

Rhode Island (30-24) has gotten some encouraging signs lately, but Foster doesn’t believe they’ve reached their potential yet. The Rams have yet to put together the entire package, though they have played well enough to finish the regular season 6-4.

One of the Rams finishing the year the strongest has been ace Tim Boyce. The senor entered the tournament on a scoreless innings streak of 34; the country’s longest this year. He saw it come to an end at 37 when La Salle scored a run in the third inning of Rhode Island’s 7-2 victory in the first round of the A-10 Tournament.

The streak included a near no-hitter last Thursday against George Washington, but fell short and has to settle for a shutout. Foster described the hit that broke up the no-hit bid as a “metal-bat hit” that found a hole up the middle.

“It would have been great,” Boyce said. “I definitely started thinking about it probably in the fifth inning as it became a reality.”

Boyce’s work has not gone unnoticed as he was named Rhode Island’s MVP and the Atlantic 10 Pitcher of the Year.

“It’s a luxury knowing when he’s on the mound,” right fielder Tom Coulombe said. “I’ve never seen a run like that. He’s been unbelievable.”

With their senior ace on the mound, the Rams are very comfortable with their chances every Friday. But on the verge of what could be his last college start, Boyce is just trying to do his job.

“It’s in the back of my head,” he said Monday. “It would be nice to keep it going as long as I can, but all streaks have to come to an end.”

While Boyce’s streak is over, the Rams aren’t done yet. Rhode Island has won most of its conference series this year, and played against some of the top teams in the country, including a visit to No. 2 Virginia.

Their schedule and some bad weather, forced the Rams to play 25 games on the road to open the season. That combination has left Rhode Island battle tested and prepared for tournament play.

“We’ve shown we can play on a national level,” Foster said. “We don’t worry about our opponent; it’s more of a question of worrying about what we’re doing.”

Despite falling into the losers’ bracket with another loss to Xavier, Rhode Island believes in its ability to come back.

Especially after watching the Musketeers win the tournament from the losers’ bracket last year, a season after losing in the championship game. Now the Rams want to be that team.

“That’s what happened to Xavier,” Coulombe said. “If we do what they did to come back and get it done, I’d be OK with that.”