Meyer on Morris Link
Moon Township, Pa. – Here's the by-the-numbers report on the Robert Morris trip to Brooklyn last weekend -- three days, two wins, one asterisk.
The two wins raised the record for the Colonials in the Northeast Conference record to 9-1. The asterisk next to their name in the NEC standings means they've qualified for the NEC Tournament for the 11th consecutive season.
"We expect to be in our conference tournament every year,'' RMU coach
Andrew Toole said, "and I think our guys have done a great job through the first 10 games to clinch a spot in the tournament. It keeps our streak alive of participating in the conference tournament. We all know you have to be in the conference tournament to have a chance to win it, and that's the first step in our process of hopefully getting to the NCAA Tournament.''
All in all, the journey was more productive than the Colonials could have hoped -- with the earned asterisk being a bonus.
The journey's production was rather impressive, coming as it did immediately after that one-point loss to Central Connecticut State at the Charles L. Sewall center a week earlier.
"I think it's a reflection of the guys who are in the locker room,'' Toole said. "I think they understand they played poorly in the second half of the Central Connecticut game, but there was nothing they could do about it other than take advantage of the opportunity to move forward. To go on the road at LIU, three-time NEC champion, and at Saint Francis Brooklyn, where they rarely if ever lose in the Pope Center, and play the way they did was a reflection of the demeanor the guys had, the way they prepared, the focus they brought on the trip. I was very proud of their effort. Not only their effort, but just the way they handled themselves in going in there and staying together, playing together and coming out with two great victories.''
"We messed up with Central Connecticut State,'' junior
Lucky Jones said, "but we regained our focus. We understand how hard this league is to win (and) that we have to bring it every day.''
Jones got the Colonials off to a great start at Saint Francis Brooklyn, scoring their first 11 points and finishing the first half with 18 points (more about that later here).
What really netted Robert Morris the two victories was its zone defense. The Colonials handled LIU Brooklyn, 65-56, the 56 points being the Blackbirds' season low. In RMU's surprisingly comfortable 72-50 win at Saint Francis Brooklyn, the Terriers' offensive production matched their season low (they lost at Syracuse, 56-50, Nov. 18).
LIU Brooklyn shot just 32.3 percent from the field (20-of-62) and made only 4-of-18 tries from beyond the arc.
Saint Francis Brooklyn shot only 34 percent from the field (18-of-53) and made just 5-of-18 casts from deep.
"Our defense was very active,'' Toole said. "I think one of the things we did well this weekend was remain active. In our zone, activity is everything. If we're alert and active, not only with our feet but our hands, it can slow you down and get you out of your rhythm offensively. I thought we did a good job in both games of extending on their guys who are dangerous shooters, and I thought our inside guys did a much better job of playing position defense and not allowing some of the interior players from LIU and Brooklyn (to get) really good angles to score easy layups.''
There is a bit of a caveat attached to the Colonials' defensive prowess against Saint Francis Brooklyn. Before the game, the Terriers learned starting point guard Brent Jones, key role players Wayne Martin and Anthony White and little-used P.J. Santavenere had been suspended indefinitely for violating school policies.
"Sometimes (a suspension) takes guys out of different roles and that becomes difficult basketball-wise," Terrier coach Glenn Braica said. "We like our team. We think we're deep. But it's different when guys are playing in different roles."
Jones, Martin and White average a collective 26 points a game against NEC teams. Martin and White average a combined 11 rebounds per game. And Jones averages 7.9 assists per game.
Those personnel losses certainly hurt the Terriers. However, the Colonials had four players of their own suspended three weeks ago, so they've been playing short-handed, too.
"Those people being gone, as unfortunate as it is, it has helped increase the level of urgency on our team,'' senior guard
Karvel Anderson said. "The margin of error is very small. Our players are bringing it every game.''
Anderson joined Jones in producing an amazing statistical oddity in the two games in Brooklyn. Anderson scored a total of 29 points in the two games, all in the second half. Jones scored a total of 27 points, all in the first half.
"Kind of crazy,'' Anderson said.
"Incredible,'' Toole said.
Jones' take?
"He go. I go. We all go,'' Jones said.
All righty, then.
"Lucky got us going really well in both games,'' Toole said. "Karvel Thursday got in a little bit of foul trouble (in the first half), but we know he's someone who people are going to try to take away. I think to Karvel's credit he's done a really good job of remaining patient and taking what the game gives him and understanding when it's his turn to take a shot or when it's his turn to make a play.''
"(We) made it a priority to keep (Jones) rolling while he was rolling,'' Anderson said. "I'm setting screens to get him open. Usually it's the other way around.''
"I think the rest of the guys on our team understand that even though (Anderson) might get great looks early he's still going to try to make the right decisions to make sure our team gets a great look,'' Toole said. "We wanted to get Karvel going Thursday to start the second half. We drew something up at halftime to get him a shot, and he hit a great shot. The second possession he hit another, and that gave him confidence. Saturday, all of a sudden he hit three three-pointers and (that was) kind of the final nail and gave us enough separation to be able to win the game.
"Both those guys are very dangerous in their ability to shoot and score, and we need both of them playing well at all times to be able to continue to win games.''
UP NEXT: The Colonials play at Saint Francis University in Loretto, Pa., Thursday night. The Red Flash won at reeling LIU Brooklyn, 74-58, Saturday, putting itself squarely in the NEC Tournament picture with its fourth win in five games.
The Red Flash (5-5) weren't troubled much by the Blackbirds after constructing a 39-22 lead with six minutes left in the first half. LIU Brooklyn did get within 54-47 in the second half, but a 10-3 Red Flash run settled the matter.
SFU pocketed the victory less than 48 hours after being blown out at Saint Francis Brooklyn, 78-52, Thursday night.
"We talked to our guys about being able to bounce back," Red Flash coach Rob Krimmel said. "We knew LIU Brooklyn was going to be a difficult place to play. They were going to make a run at some point, and when they did we responded."
Stephon Wyatt and Ben Millaud-Meunier combined to make 7-of-11 three-point attempts in the first half. The Blackbirds, on the other hand, were just 3-for-19 from deep on the afternoon.
"We told the guys at halftime that defense is going to win the game,'' Krimmel said. "I thought we did a great job defensively limiting LIU to one shot and making the driving lanes smaller.''
LIU Brooklyn coach Jack Perri's assessment?
"Our offense was just gross in the second half,'' Perri said. "You're not going to win games when you score 58 points.''
The Blackbirds, who won the previous three NEC Tournament championships, are in danger of missing the NEC Tournament this season. They've lost four consecutive games and stand 2-8 in the league.
NEC NUGGETS: The Colonials against NEC opponents lead the league in points allowed per game (66.5), free-throw percentage (77.9) and three-point accuracy (43.5 percent) … Robert Morris made 8-of-10 attempts from three-point range against Saint Francis Brooklyn, which in its four previous games had held its opponents to 28.1 percent from deep … Bryant (8-2) took firm control of second place in the NEC with a 78-75 win against visiting Mount St. Mary's Saturday. The Bulldogs led, 60-48, with 10:30 remaining before the Mountaineers went on a 23-11 run to tie the game at 71 with 3:23 left. However, Alex Francis, Dyami Starks and Corey Maynard did enough thereafter to send the Mountaineers home 6-4. In a strange bit of scheduling, the teams meet again Thursday night at Mount St. Mary's. Francis (25 points), Starks (16) and Maynard (16) combined for 57 points for Bryant. Rashad Whack scored 21 points and Taylor Danaher added 19 points and 12 rebounds for Mount St. Mary's … Central Connecticut State, which rallied from an 18-point deficit to win at Robert Morris Feb. 1, came from 12 points down with 4:52 left in regulation and beat visiting Fairleigh Dickinson, 91-86, in overtime. "I don't know if there's such a word as 'comebackability,''' CCSU coach Howie Dickenman told the Hartford Courant. "If there isn't, there is now.'' The Blue Devils welcomed back star guard Kyle Vinales, who missed the first nine NEC games because of a broken finger. Vinales played 34 minutes, scored 20 points and handed out seven assists. "It's nice to have Kyle back,'' Dickenman said. "He was anxious as all get-out to play. Talk about a happy guy. He was a happy guy. Happy coaches, too.'' Faronte Drakeford scored 25 points for the Blue Devils, who shot 62.3 percent (33-of-53) from the field. Sidney Sanders Jr. scored 30 points for FDU, which has lost four consecutive games. Teammate Mustafaa Jones added 21 points on 7-of-11 accuracy from international waters … Wagner (6-4) built a 32-21 halftime lead at Sacred Heart and had little trouble beating the Pioneers, 62-55. Orlando Parker had 14 rebounds for the Seahawks, while teammates Jay Harris and Kenny Ortiz scored 15 points apiece. Evan Kelley scored 20 points for the Pioneers, who were just 16-of-61 (26.2 percent) from the field, including 4-for-27 from beyond the arc. Wagner visits Fairleigh Dickinson Thursday night, then closes its NEC schedule with five consecutive home games. Over the past two-plus seasons, the Seahawks are 19-6 at home against NEC opponents, according to the
Staten Island Advance.
