RMU at Wagner

Robert Morris (10-20, 8-9) at Wagner (19-9, 12-5)
When: Saturday February 27th, 4pm
Where: Spiro Sports Center, Staten Island, NY
KenPom: RMU 307, WAG 158
KenPom Line: Wag -11
Storyline: There is a very good chance we are getting a preview on the NEC quarter final match in just a few days. Wagner has wrapped up the number one seed and regular season title. All roads go through Staten Island in the NEC playoffs until the Seahawks are knocked off. 

The Colonials will likely get first crack at the Seahawks. Even if RMU wins today to get back to 9-9 in NEC play, they will likely still be the eight seed, They would need Bryant, losers of 12 in a row, to upset an LIU team playing good ball in Brooklyn. It would be only the second time that the NEC's eighth seed would enter the conference tournament at .500 or better. 

Our guy J-Frank hits you with a good preview of the Seahawks over at Colonials Corner here.

Some thoughts...

I'm fascinated to see how Andy handles this game. Does he rest players (I doubt it), change up the defense (again, I doubt it). This team gets one more opportunity to fine tune things before NEC tournament action, and it comes against the team they'll likely face just a few days later. 

Rodney Pryor continues to be a beast. RMU will need that to continue. 

Billy Giles and Kavon Stewart are also playing solid ball. It was this time last year Kavon started playing like the best point guard in the NEC. Can he match that this season? Wagner is a very athletic team with good defenders and size at the tin. He'll have to be on his game.

I'm not too concerned with the result here today. I don't think it will have a lot to do with the first round matchup we will likely see a few days later. I am intrigued to see how the RMU guards handle Wagner's athleticism, how Wagner handles RMU's 2-3 zone, and if Pryor looks comfortable against the Seahawks. With all that said, an RMU win could really mentally mess with Wagner heading into that first round game. 

--Lee Kunkel
--@Kunkel5