Meyer on Morris Link

Moon Township, Pa. – Dec. 21, 2013 – Robert Morris is scheduled to play Oakland University at 1 p.m. Sunday in Oakland's O'rena in Rochester, Mich.
 
A few things seem wrong with that sentence.
 
For one, Oakland is in California, right? Well, not all the Oakland's apparently.
 
And isn't Rochester in New York? Well, one of them is, for sure. But, again, not all the Rochester's are in New York.
 
And playing this game in the O'rena? Wrong venue entirely.
 
This game should be one of those contests played on an aircraft carrier out at sea, because one huge subplot in this matchup could be decided in international waters.
 
That's where RMU's Karvel Anderson and Oakland's Travis Bader rule.
 
Anderson, who's shooting 48.3 percent from three-point range this season, has made 44 trifectas in 12 games. He's already a threat to break RMU's single-season record for most three-point field goals with about two-thirds of the season remaining. Former Colonial Scott Shepherd currently owns the record with 93, set in 1988-89.
 
Bader, shooting 36.6 percent from beyond the arc this season, has made 58 three-pointers in 13 games and is threatening J.J. Redick's NCAA career trifecta mark. Bader has 415 career triples. Redick, who shot 40.7 percent from deep during his Duke career (2002-06), made 457 treys.
 
Anderson is aware of Bader's three-point prowess.
 
"Lucky told me about him,'' the Colonials' senior guard said.
 
Lucky Jones apparently is the team's resident expert on standout players across the country.
 
"He knows everybody,'' Anderson said.
 
"I keep my eyes open,'' Jones said.
 
Jones knows about Bader's shooting ability, but he doesn't seem impressed.
 
"We have a greater shooter,'' he said, nodding to Anderson.
 
Anderson took the high praise from his teammate in stride.
 
"It's always a great matchup to be going against a player who has the same strength that I have and have those comparisons, so I look forward to it,'' he said. "Hopefully I win that matchup.''
 
"Hopefully with our zone we make it very difficult for (Bader),'' Jones said. "We'll see.''
 
If Anderson can better Bader, that would certainly help the Colonials in their quest to knock off a team that without question is better than its 3-10 record .
 
As an aside, the Golden Grizzlies playing Eastern Michigan and Robert Morris back-to-back makes this weekend sort of a mini-Keightley Classic for Oakland. Robert Morris and Eastern Michigan each participated in the real Keightley Classic in November that also included Texas-Arlington, Cleveland State and Kentucky.
 
Oakland, under long-term coach Greg Kampe, has traditionally scheduled an almost impossibly difficult non-conference schedule.
 
This season was no exception.
 
The Golden Grizzlies began this season with road games against North Carolina, UCLA, California and Gonzaga -- all losses in November. Earlier this month, they played at Indiana and against Michigan State at the Palace of Auburn Hills. Add on another two defeats.
 
"I know Oakland has played the hardest schedule in the country so far this year,'' RMU coach Andrew Toole said. "They have a style and a system in terms of their scheduling that's been really effective for them. I think they do some really nice things with what they're able to generate financially with that kind of schedule.''
 
For one thing, Oakland generates so much revenue from taking guarantees to play at North Carolina et al that it can hire charter planes to transport itself to those games.
 
"But it can be really tough at times,'' Toole said. "You're playing some really tough opponents, and they're not going to your place.''
 
The Colonials' schedule is no slouch. They've played at Kentucky, and after the Oakland game they'll play at Oklahoma (Dec. 30) and Alabama (Jan. 4).
 
"The hardest part is you know you're going to have to play some of those games for financial reasons,'' Toole said. "The hard part is you don't have much control over your other opponents. It's not that you can't try to schedule people. It's just who will play you.''
 
Especially in the Charles L. Sewall Center.
 
In late August, the Colonials still had three games to schedule for this season. They wound up filling those holes with Toledo, Buffalo and Oakland, but only Toledo agreed to come to the Sewall Center this season. Having to play Buffalo and Oakland on the road was one reason the Colonials found themselves with only four of their 15 non-conference games at home this season.
 
They finished their home non-conference schedule with a 3-1 record, including a 72-61 victory against Campbell last Wednesday evening.
 
Once again, playing a zone defense paid dividends. The Camels' 61 points are the fewest allowed by Robert Morris this season. Before Toole switched from a horrendous man-to-man defense to the zone, the Colonials allowed an average of 80 points per game. In the three games it's played a zone, Robert Morris has allowed an average of just 68 points a game.
 
"We have a lot of spots to cover at times, but if we're getting the job done playing a zone, then I guess that's what we have to do,'' Jones said. "We just went to something that was working for us and that was being effective on the court. As long as we stay effective with it, that's how long we're going to stay with it. Our best option is to force (the opponent) into taking a three and we just have to run out there and contest.''
 
The Colonials did a good job contesting Campbell's casts from deep. The Camels entered the game shooting 38 percent from beyond the arc and averaging 8.9 made three-pointers per game. Against RMU, Campbell shot 31.8 percent from beyond the arc and finished with seven made three-pointers.
 
"They couldn't get the three ball going and they just had to rely on getting to the basket,'' Jones said. "That was very hard against our zone.''
 
Campbell did rebound well, beating the Colonials, 33-27, on the glass. The Camels had 14 offensive rebounds, which negated some of the effect of the RMU zone.
 
"There were a lot of times -- at least from my vantage point -- that (Campbell) had three or four guys going after rebounds  and we had two or three,'' Toole said. "Our guards have to go in there and dig out some rebounds. Basically what the problem is, we have too many guys standing and watching when the shot goes up. Now, box out responsibilities are going to change when you're in a zone, but there has to be a hunger and a desire to go get the ball. That's what rebounding is. We had guys who stood and watched. If we get guys to miss shots, (we have to) take advantage of that.''
 
Toole also wasn't overly pleased with the play of his bench.
 
"I was happy with some of the guys who came off the bench,'' he said. "I wasn't happy with everyone. But you can't be happy with everyone. That doesn't happen very often. (The bench is) the reason we won the Duquesne game because we had great contributions from everybody off our bench. When they do the right thing and they make the right plays, they know that. I thought Aaron Tate was very good again (against Campbell). He was a bright spot off the bench for us. He was active. He did a really nice job defensively, and he had four rebounds in 14 minutes. He was a bright spot for sure. Other guys weren't as engaged as I think they need to be.''
 
Freshman point guard Kavon Stewart would have to be included in the "bright spot'' category. He played 15 minutes and had a stat line of five points, three assists, two turnovers and four steals.
 
"All my steals, I was sure I was going to get them because I saw (the Camels) being casual with the ball,'' Stewart said.
 
Stewart is rapidly developing into a catalyst off the bench.
 
"He's active,'' Toole said. "He has a really good feel for the game. He can get into the lane. He can draw fouls. He can create issues for the defense. He has to make sure he's preparing himself every time he goes on the floor, that he knows whatever our offensive execution is inside and out, whatever our defensive execution is inside and out. That's why it's hard to be a freshman point guard because you have a lot on your plate, not only adjusting to life but also the speed of the game and the details of the game and mean coaches and all that stuff.''
 
Senior point guard Anthony Myers-Pate contributed 12 points and eight assists. Jones led all scorers with 18 points. Anderson scored 16 points, making 4-of-7 from deep.
 
This season, Anderson is shooting 71 percent (22-of-31) from beyond the arc at home. On the road, he's shooting 36.7 percent (22-for-60) from international waters.
 
Do the rims at the Sewall Center look different than those on the road?
 
"They must,'' Anderson said, smiling. "I mean, really they don't. It's always good to be home so you have that comfort with you.''
 
Alas, Anderson and his teammates won't enjoy the comfort of home again until Jan. 16.
 
They play their next five games on the road, beginning today at Oakland.
 
They can at least pack a two-game winning streak into their luggage.
 
"A little bit of momentum,'' Jones said, "but, you know, we had this talk before when we won two in a row.''
 
The Colonials began their season 2-0, then lost seven of their next eight games.
 
"We have to stay humble,'' Jones said. "We have a great Oakland team coming up. We're going to their house. We haven't been very good on the road in crazy environments, but it's basketball. Anybody can be beat at any given time. As long as we have focus and bring energy, we can go in there and give ourselves a chance.''

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