Brooklyn, N.Y. – According to a poll of Northeast Conference (NEC) head coaches, the
Robert Morris University men's basketball team has been picked to finish seventh in the NEC in 2017-18. The poll was released as part of the conference's sixth annual NEC Social Media Day, held at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y.
Saint Francis U, which earned nine first-place votes and was a unanimous choice, was tabbed as the preseason favorite in 2017-18. Fairleigh Dickinson, which earned the other first-place tally, was picked to finish second, followed by Wagner, Mount St. Mary's, Sacred Heart and LIU Brooklyn. Trailing the Colonials in the poll are Bryant, Central Connecticut and St. Francis Brooklyn.
Led by eighth-year head coach
Andrew Toole, RMU returns a pair of starters in 2017-18 in guards
Matty McConnell and
Dachon Burke.
McConnell, a junior, enters his third season with the Colonials as the program's active leader in points (437), assists (115) and steals (111). Last season, McConnell appeared in all 33 games, including 27 starts, and produced averages of 7.3 points and 3.5 rebounds per game.
In the 2017 NEC Tournament, McConnell averaged 19.5 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.0 steals in two games as RMU advanced to the semifinals for the ninth time in the last 10 years. He scored a career-high 20 points in a 69-68 victory @ LIU Brooklyn (3/1/17) in the quarterfinals, followed by his second career double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds @ Mount St. Mary's (3/4/17) in the semifinals.
Burke, a sophomore, also played all 33 games as a rookie for Robert Morris in 2016-17, earning 17 starting assignments. He scored at a 7.6 points per game clip and grabbed 3.9 caroms per contest.
The 2017-18 RMU roster features 11 newcomers, including six freshman, three juniors and a pair of graduate transfers. The Colonials return just 23.2 percent (872-of-2,125) of their scoring and 23.9 percent (272-of-1,139) of their rebounding in 2017-18 but feature two of the top pick pockets in the NEC with the return of McConnell and Burke.
As a team, Robert Morris has led the NEC in steals in five times in seven seasons under Toole as well as seven time in the last 10 years. Last season the Colonials averaged a league-best 7.91 steals per game, with McConnell ranking third in the circuit individually at 1.64 thefts per game and Burke finishing sixth at 1.55 steals per contest.
In the 10 seasons that Toole has been at Robert Morris, including three as an assistant coach and the last seven as head coach, the Colonials have built their foundation on defense. Six of the top 10 marks in program history for scoring defense have come in the last decade, including the school record. In Toole's first year as head coach in 2011-12, RMU allowed an average of just 63.5 points per game, the top mark in the record book. Last season Robert Morris finished second in the NEC in scoring defense at 67.8 points per contest.
In seven seasons under Toole, Robert Morris has posted an overall record of 134-106 (.558), including a mark of 82-42 (.661) against league foes. Toole has guided the Colonials to a pair of NEC regular-season crowns (2013, 2014) as well as the 2015 NEC Tournament championship.
Over the last decade, RMU has appeared in the postseason seven times, including the NCAA Tournament three times (2009, 2010, 2015), the NIT on three occasions (2008, 2013, 2014) and the 2012 CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament.
RMU has a pair of road exhibitions on its 2017-18 docket to begin the season. The Colonials travel to Niagara Friday, Oct. 27, for a 7:00 p.m. tip and will also visit Saint Vincent Monday, Oct. 30, in another 7:00 p.m. start. Robert Morris christens the regular season Friday, Nov. 10, at Ohio State.
PRESEASON FAVORITE
In the 30-year history of the NEC Preseason Coaches Poll, Robert Morris has never been selected as the preseason favorite. The Colonials own a league-high eight NEC Tournament titles. NEC coaches have managed to correctly forecast the eventual league champion just twice in the last 16 years.
A DECADE OF SUCCESS
In the last 10 seasons, RMU has compiled an overall record of 207-137 (.602), which is tied for 15th among mid-major programs during that span with Iona (Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference) and Ohio (Mid-American Conference). The Colonials are one of just 19 mid-major programs to average 20 victories over the last decade.
2017-18 NEC Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll
(first-place votes in parenthesis)
1. Saint Francis U (9)
2. Fairleigh Dickinson (1)
3. Wagner
4. Mount St. Mary's
5. Sacred Heart
6. LIU Brooklyn
7. Robert Morris
8. Bryant
9. Central Connecticut
10. St. Francis Brooklyn
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