New Found Rivalry: Robert Morris at Bryant

Robert Morris (6-10, 1-0) at Bryant (9-7, 1-0)
When: Saturday January 11th, 1pm
Where: Chace Athletic Center, Smithfield Rhode Island
KenPom: RMU 174, Bryant 183
Storyline: RMU heads back up to Smithfield, where last year they clinched the NEC regular season title. After splitting the season series in 12-13, these two figure to battle it out again for the NEC crown.
Link: NEC FrontRow

Survive, and Move on: 
First off, nice win to start off the NEC season. Chris gives you the recap here. How good is Karvel Anderson? A career high 36 points on only 19 shots? That's insane efficiency. Let's not overlook the fact that RMU probably loses that game in Anderson does't produce his best overall performance in an RMU uniform. There was a lot of good things, but RMU still has that one stretch where they blow, or almost blow, the game in the second half. It's like they can't avoid a bad five to eight minutes stretch each game. They do that Saturday at Bryant, and things could get ugly.

RMU and Bryant are developing a nice rivalry.
(Bryant Athletics)

New Found Rivalry: 
A few years ago, RMU and Mount St. Mary's was the premiere rivalry in the NEC. Then RMU steamrolled the Mount for a stretch (though Mount got some revenge last March), and LIU became a conference power. The Blackbirds and Colonials formed a great rivalry that included two straight NEC title games, and a few classic regular season battles over that stretch.

Now the Bryant Bulldogs have emerge as the Colonials next big rival.

Last year, Bryant shocked the conference by going to Moon Township and defeating the Colonials on their home court, moving RMU to 0-2 in NEC play. RMU returned the favor in late February, going to Smithfield in front of one of the best, and loudest, crowds in Bryant, and NEC history. The win clinched the regular season title for the Colonials.

With both teams expected to contend for the NEC title, expect the rivalry to continue to grow this year.

What's at stake?

This is a really hard question to answer this early in the season. Remember, last year RMU lost their first two games in NEC play --both at home-- and bounced back to win the regular season title with a game to spare. So one cannot draw too many conclusions from a early January game.

With that said, both these two know the opposing squad will contend for the league title, and both would love to get off to a 2-0 start and kickstart what could be a nice run in NEC play.

This game could also go a long way in deciding who gets home court advantage in the NEC tournament, especially if RMU pulls out the victory, given they still get the Bulldogs at home --on ESPNU, the Chuck better be PACKEEDDDD on January 30th, I'll be driving out from Philadelphia for the game-- they would have a big early advantage.

Getting to know the Bulldogs:

The Bulldogs enter the game winners of two straight including a dominating NEC opening victory over St Francis (PA). They have a lot more depth then last years team, and are still anchored by two extraordinary scoring threats, Dyami Starks and Alex Francis.

Much like RMU, Bryant has a good O, but
below average D.
(KenPom)

Starks (20.9 ppg) and Francis (17.6 ppg) along with Corey Maynard (11.9 ppg) lead a very strong offense, scoring 105.3 points-per-100 possessions (adjusted offensive efficiency).

The Bulldogs really look to work it into Francis. He's the type of players that can dominate the game with not only his ability to score, but also pass out of double-teams, and kill teams on the boards. With RMU's new zone look, they need to find Francis and keep him off the offensive glass, or he will eat them up all game long.

Look for the Colonials to pack the zone in, and make the Bryant guards beat them. Starks is a 40 percent three point shooter, but he's their only consistent weapon from downtown. As a team Bryant only shoots 32.3 percent. That's not all that good.

On defense, I think Bryant will struggled with the Colonials new high octane attack. RMU is scoring 107.2 points-per-100 possessions. That's just fractions off the NEC's best offense, in terms of Adjusted Offense. Many believe Andy Toole's team has the best offense in the league.

Bryant is allowing teams to shoot 35.6 percent from three, thats 242nd worse three point D in the country. Look for Anderson and Lucky Jones to exploit that. The Colonials are currently the 15th best three point shooting team in college basketball, making 40.8 percent of their attempts.

RMU Keys: 

The Colonials O remains efficient,
but the D still needs work.
(KenPom)

This is the biggest game of the season. I know Karvel, Lucky, Ant, and big Mike will be focused and will bring the heat. I expect solid games from all of them.

Mike will have his hands full with Francis, plus he is battling a knee injury, but I trust the big fellow. He shows up in the big games (Note on McFadden, my man Chris has been pretty tough on Mike, and for good reason. He's been up-and-down all year. I refuse to say anything critical about Mike on CTC because he has a pass for life after his clutch FT's against UK, any time out, beer on me big fella).

What I can't wait to see? How the new guys, Jeremiah Worthem, Charles Oliver, Aaron Tate and the freshmen point guards play in what is a big conference game. They haven't got a taste of big time NEC action. Time to get their feet wet. 

Speaking of those freshmen point guards, I can't wait to see how Toole handles Britton Lee and Kavon Stewart. Lee checking into the first conference game was one of the biggest shocks of the season. He earned the playing time in practice. Stewart has got most of the back-up PG duties throughout the season. How Andy handles the two in this game could be a glimpse into what he will do the rest of the season.

I'm assuming the Bryant students are still on winter break, or just returning from break, so I doubt we will see an insane crowd like the game in Smithfield last season. With that said, there should be a good amount of people on hand for what could be an early NEC title preview.

--Kunkel5

--Lee Kunkel