When: Thursday, January 30th, 8pm
Where: Charles L. Sewall Center, Moon Twp PA
KenPom: RMU 159, Bryant 161
Storyline: The Colonials will once again be undermanned as they take on their new-found rival, the Bryant Bulldogs, on national TV with first place in the NEC on the line. The Chuck needs to be ROCKIN.
Link: Televised on ESPNU, online at WATCHESPN
First Off... #PackTheChuck:
Before we get to the actual game, let's make it very clear that the Chuck needs to be packed, loud, and crazy. It's an 8pm tip, so there is plenty of time to get out of class, get some food, and get some pre-game "energy" in you if you know what I mean.
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| The Red Sea needs to be rockin. |
I mean seriously, the stage is set. 6-0 RMU vs 5-1 Bryant. First place, and likely home court in the NEC tournament, on the line. National TV on ESPNU! Backs against the wall again, as the Colonials will likely have only eight guys.
It's not Kentucky, but there won't be a bigger regular season game for Robert Morris in a long time that gets this type of coverage. The Colonial Crazies section needs to be loud and packed. Heck, even I'm making the trip from Philadelphia PA for the game!
I'm hearing it's a #RedOut, so get those red shirts on, and bring it.
What's at stake:
It's hard to make these predictions given injuries, suspensions, etc....BUT I truly believe that if the Colonials find a way to win this game Thursday, and follow that up with a win over CCSU, who they should be able to beat, that RMU will win the regular season championship and, more importantly, host every game in the NEC tournament.
They would be a perfect 8-0 at the halfway point, and it still appears 12-4 would be enough to win the league. They would have both wins over Bryant, so they would own that tie-breaker, and have wins over Mount and Wagner already tallied, not to mention an easier schedule second half.
They would also own a two game lead over every team in the conference at the end of the night Thursday if they are to win.
Even with eight guys the rest of the way, I can't see the Colonials going any worst then 5-3 the second half of the schedule, which would be a 13-3 overall record, which wins the league nine times out of ten.
Another huge key? Getting that aforementioned tie-breaker over the Bulldogs in case both teams finish with the same record.
As you can see, there is a lot at stake on Thursday night. Throw in ESPN, and you get the biggest regular season game of the season in the NEC.
Down But Not Out:
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| Hawk needs to stay out of foul trouble. (RMU Sentry Media) |
After taking a look at some of the box scores, nobody has had a dramatic increase in minutes, and many teams shorten up their bench this time of year to about eight guys. This may be a little skewed because RMU destroyed Sacred Heart, but that's one advantage to beating down a team, you can rest certain players.
Where it hurts is, one, the lack of options. Andy Toole has these eight, and just these eight to choose from, and the lack of size.
Stephan Hawkins MUST stay out of foul trouble, especially Thursday night, if the Colonials are going to have a chance moving forward. He's the only guy on the roster that can protect the rim, and that's important in this 2-3 zone.
Wagner really took advantage of that lack of size at times, and there is no doubt Bryant forward Alex Francis will make life difficult. Hawk needs to stay out of foul trouble, and it wouldn't hurt if RMU attacked Francis and got him in foul trouble.
(Update: It has been announced by the Post Gazette's Craig Meyer that Wrothem, Lee, Tolson-Ford, and Grey have been suspended for one year from the school.)
Keep Starks in Check:
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| Slowing this man down will be important. (Bryant Athletics) |
Starks is the type of scorer that when he gets going, you're in a lot of trouble. See last year's meeting at the Chuck when Starks caught fire, and the Bulldogs stunned the Colonials in their NEC opener. In that game he went for a career high 29 (he has bested that since) and made 7 of 12 threes.
The 2-3 will once again need to be active and wary of where Starks is at all time.
Let Him Chuck:
Okay, that's a really bad headliner. Sorry guys. But seriously, let Chuck Oliver chuck it!
Chris wrote a really good feature on Charles here, I recommend you give it a read.
In the two games since Jeremiah Worthem has been suspended, Oliver, along with a few others, have seen not only an small increase in playing time, but also more opportunities to put up shots.
Oliver has taken advantage in the small sample given since the suspensions.
Oliver has scored 13, and 9 points in each of the two games, and made 4 of 8 three pointers. He's also gotten to the free throw line more in the two games, especially against Sacred Heart.
It was clear that Worthem was becoming the third scoring weapon, behind Karvel Anderson and Lucky Jones, something the Colonials lacked in the non-conference. The freshman was the key man, scoring a career high 21 in the Colonials big win at Mount St Mary's, his last game played.
Who can be that third weapon? Mr. Oliver can.
Thursday night, the Colonials will need him. Bryant can really score, and RMU will have to run and gun with the Bulldogs. There is little doubt that Karvel and Lucky will get theirs, but it's key that RMU have that third weapon.
If Oliver can continue to put up right around 10 to 15 points-per-game, the Colonials will be in good shape even with just eight guys.
KenPom Prediction:
KenPom has the Colonials winning this game, 80 to 75. That's a lot of points and would certainly be a fun night. I think that's pretty accurate. Not expecting too much defense. I think Karvel and Lucky match Starks and Francis, but the other Colonials outplay the rest of the Bryant team and RMU wins a nail biter.
Enjoy the game, and one more thing... #PackTheChuck
--Lee Kunkel
--@Kunkel5
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