Moon Township, Pa. - For the vast majority of the first season of his Robert Morris University career,
David Appolon was an afterthought.
"He had a two- or three-game stretch last year when he did some good stuff,'' RMU coach Andrew Toole said.
However, when weighed against the 37-game schedule the Colonials played last season, that "two- or three-game stretch'' was rather insignificant.
Nothing like the three-game stretch he just put together in his sophomore season, either.
Including the Colonials' 66-54 victory at Hampton last Saturday, Appolon scored 22 points, grabbed nine rebounds and provided key bursts of defensive energy in helping Robert Morris forge the three-game winning streak it will take into Saturday night's game against Duquesne at the Charles L. Sewall Center.
So? Appolon played well in three games. Robert Morris won all three games.
Coincidence? Or something deeper?
"Well, put it this way,'' Toole said. "I think if he didn't have those three games I don't know if we win all three.''
The 6'2" guard's "Appreciate Appolon'' stretch began against Ohio University, Dec. 1, when backup point guard Anthony Myers-Pate couldn't play because of an ankle injury. Appolon, who hadn't played since the Colonials' opener at Rider Nov. 9, capitalized on his opportunity to get back onto the court with seven points, four rebounds and an assist in 17 minutes as RMU upended the previously unbeaten Bobcats 84-76.
"His effort against Ohio University was a great lift for us with Ant being out,'' Toole said.
When the Colonials played at Campbell Dec. 4, both Myers-Pate and forward Russell Johnson were out because of injuries. Again, Appolon had an opportunity.
Again he responded.
In 21 minutes, he provided eight points, a rebound and two steals in the Colonials' 61-58 victory.
"He really did some nice things for us,'' Toole said. "Then at Hampton, same thing.''
In 17 minutes, Appolon supplied seven points and four rebounds.
"He came in and provided energy, shot good shots that he can make, didn't try to do too much -- which I think is a key -- and had a very, very positive impact on the outcome,'' Toole said.
So what are we to make of this? Was this just another three-game aberration for Appolon? Or is he ready to make the transition from afterthought to super sub?
For now, let's give him the benefit of the doubt and suggest that he finally "gets it.''
Perhaps he had a basketball epiphany at some point during that six-game stretch in which didn't leave the bench after the Rider game.
"I decided I just had to humble myself and work hard in practice no matter what,'' Appolon said. "I told (Toole), 'Whenever you're ready to give me a call, I'm going to be ready. I'll fly around and help my team in different ways, and it starts with defense.'''
Apparently, Toole wasn't immediately ready to give Appolon that call.
"It was tough,'' Appolon said. "I'm in my room, frustrated about not playing. And the other thing that was frustrating was that we were losing.''
The Colonials lost three of their first four games this season.
"I decided to play smarter in practice,'' Appolon said. "Coach Toole wants to have confidence in you, and if you can show that you know how to run the plays, work hard in practice and play defense, he'll give you a shot. No matter who it is - from the top guys to the little guys - he'll give you a shot. I'm like, 'No matter what, I'm going to be ready. I'll give (Toole) a reason to show that I'm going to be ready.'''
So it was that against Ohio University Toole was ready - and so was Appolon.
"I still have a lot to learn,'' Appolon said. "I still have a lot to do. My rule is to play defense. I gave myself that rule. Toole told me to be an energy guy. That's what he recruited me for.''
Because in high school in Philadelphia, that was what Appolon did - gave energy and played defense.
"That was my thing - play defense and help my team out,'' he said. "Steal the ball and go the other way, get a fast break dunk, make a play for the team. I just feel like defense is the key to basketball. I feel like offense is kind of lucky, but you can play defense. And then the rest of my game builds off my defense.''
Appolon reminds at least a few Colonial observers of Mezie Nwigwe - a talented, athletic, sometimes baffling guard who as a senior in 2010 was named the Northeast Conference Defensive Player of the Year.
"I've heard about him,'' Appolon said. "I heard he was a good stopper and brought a lot of energy and made a lot of good plays on defense and that's why he played every game.''
Maybe Appolon, who last season played in only 14 of the Colonials' 37 games, can become like Nwigwe and be an every-game contributor.
Senior point guard Velton Jones, who's also from Philadelphia, believes Appolon is trending in that direction.
"His confidence is real high right now, and he's performing like we know he can perform,'' Jones said. "It makes me proud that he's out here and he's playing like we know he can play and giving us energy and helping the team win.''
Toole's take?
"My opinion is that I think in the last three games David has just decided that he's going to go out and play as hard as he can and try and do what we work on every day, and it's worked out well for him,'' Toole said. "Not that he's played a perfect game. No one plays a perfect game. He's going to make mistakes, but I think he's done a much better job of playing through those mistakes. You hope he can maintain that mindset. He's giving the right amount of effort, and good things have happened for him.
"He's been really good in these last three games and I'm going to be cautiously optimistic, but we're going to try to have him improve every day in practice and keep that same level of focus.''
And if that happens?
"Then I think his performances in the games will continue to be contributory,'' Toole said. "Usually, things change when you get tired of the way they are. Maybe Dave got the message of, 'Hey, the next time I get my chance, when I get my opportunity, when I create my opportunity through practicing properly, I'm just going to go out and play as hard as I can and see what happens.' You know, there have been times in his career when we've put Dave in and you'd think he'd be more focused or energetic going into the game, and that hasn't been the case. But certainly these three times he's come off the bench he's played with an energy level that makes us a better team. If he can continue to do that, not only will he continue to carve a bigger niche for himself, but I think we'll also be a better team.''
For sure, the Colonials became a healthier team at Hampton. Both Myers-Pate and Johnson played.
Myers-Pate played 19 minutes, and although he didn't score he did provide depth in the backcourt.
"Ant gave us some good minutes and did some good things,'' Toole said, "but he's not 100 percent. Toward the end of the game, his ankle started to stiffen up, so we had to sit him the last four or five minutes. It's nice to have him back on the floor. He gives us a little more flexibility with some of the stuff we can do offensively.''
Johnson, who has a tender ankle, played 23 minutes, scored eight points, snagged five rebounds and blocked a shot.
"Russell was moving well,'' Toole said. "He made some really good effort plays. He's obviously struggling with his shooting a little bit. We'll try to get him in here and get him a bunch of makes and get his rhythm and his routine back.''
Johnson made only 2-of-12 field goal attempts in his last two games, but he contributed offensively by making 17 of his 20 free throw attempts.
His struggles offensively have contributed to a team-wide offensive inconsistency. And yet despite not having many consistent scorers, the Colonials have managed to produce enough points to win.
"We always end up getting to the 65- or 70-(point) mark,'' Toole said. "I think one of the things that's good about us -- at least this is what I tell myself -- is we do have multiple guys who can have double-digit games. We just never know when those are going to occur, which is the nerve-wracking part, (but) we always know someone's going to get there. We just aren't exactly sure who or what day.
"But you look at the five guys who start for us. They've all gotten double-digits this season. We have a variety of guys who can put the ball in the basket, and I think that makes you a little bit harder to guard. And hopefully makes you a little more dangerous.''
