SOUTH KINGSTOWN — There is a new fad on a number of online sites for making predictions for college basketball conference action. Rather than simply listing the order of finish, the new trend is to list the possible range of finish for each team.

For instance, when it comes to the Atlantic 10, the range for Dayton this winter might be 1-3. Many are predicting the Flyers to win the title. But even if problems occur, the worst the Flyers will do is finish third, according to the system.

Or take Fordham. The range some are using for the Bronx Rams is 13-14. Almost every forecast has the team finishing last. The situation looks so bleak that it is difficult, according to this system, to see the team doing any better than 13th place.

Now, consider the University of Rhode Island. The Rhody Rams are a lot more fun to consider. The conference’s own preseason forecast lists URI eighth among the 14 teams.

But what would its range be?

URI could have the widest range of any team in the conference. It is not impossible, if everything went right, to imagine the Rams contending for the conference title, as they did last season when they tied for second. But then again, it is not impossible, should key injuries or other problems hit, to imagine the Rams finishing 11th or 12th.

So URI’s range would be 2-12, which is a way of saying the Rams could finish anywhere. Rarely has a URI season begun with more possibilities, more uncertainty over what will happen.

Last winter, co-captain Kahiem Seawright issued a guarantee that his team was better than ninth-best in the conference, which is where it was predicted to finish. Seawright and his teammates then went out and backed up his guarantee with an 11-5 record in the conference, 23-11 overall.

This year, it would be foolhardy to make such a prediction since there are so many variables. It is not that the talent level has dropped off. Seven of the nine regulars in last year’s rotation return. And there is more talent ready to help, most notably sophomore forward Orion Outerbridge and freshman guard Akeem Richmond.

The uncertainty is caused because the pieces are not as easy to put together. The last two years, roles were determined early and everyone worked to fit into their spot. This year, there are all kinds of variables.

One indication is how Baron is treating the newer players. His inclination is to give veterans priority for playing time and have newcomers wait their turn. This year, Baron is saying that he is looking for his new guys to earn playing time, especially Outerbridge and Richmond.

“We’re going to need him to score for us. That’s what he does,” Baron said of Richmond after the freshman scored 18 points in the exhibition opener against Concordia.

“We need him to be ready to play,” Baron said of Outerbridge, a slim, athletic 6-foot-9 forward who was little used last year as he worked to become stronger. Outerbridge last looked very good in preseason work and is being given every chance to earn extensive playing time.

Then there are other questions. Can Keith Cothran and/or Delroy James step up from good support players to stars? Cothran developed nicely last year, but he was working then with the defense overloading to the opposite wing to guard Jimmy Baron. This year, Cothran is likely to see more defenses overplaying toward his side of the court. He had some great games and some poor games last year. The Rams need him to be good every night this season.

James probably has even more potential than Cothran. He can score, rebound and defend. But he, too, was up and down last season and needs to become a consistent leader this time.

Will Martell is a year stronger and settled in the pivot. Lamonte Ulmer has long since proven he can make the spectacular play, but the Rams need him to be more of a complete player. Marquis Jones returns at the point, with Stevie Mejia backing him up.

Forward Ben Eaves, who will miss the first month of the season because of a wrist injury, has the potential to help both inside and outside and could be a key. But then again, there are all kinds of possibilities for the Rams this season, which should make it interesting to see what happens.

pkenyon@projo.com