Moon Township, Pa. – Robert Morris University head men's basketball
Andy Toole announced plans for the program's first foreign tour in program history to prep for the 2018-19 season.
The Colonials will cross the Atlantic Ocean and visit Ireland for a nine-day, three-game trip. RMU will leave Tuesday, August 7, and return Friday, August 17.
Robert Morris will play games against Neptune Basketball Club (August 9) in Cork, Moycullen Basketball Club (August 12) at St. Mary's College in Galway and the Dublin Lions Basketball Club (August 16) as part of its tour. The Colonials are allowed 10 days of practice prior to the trip, which began Saturday.
"We've had a young roster the past few seasons, and as a staff we felt like the opportunity to take a foreign trip was one we couldn't pass up," head coach
Andrew Toole said. "Our student-athletes get a jump start on a new season through not only good competition, but by bonding with each other. I'm excited for our guys to witness and learn about a different culture while also playing meaningful games."
The trip to Ireland marks the first time RMU has taken advantage of an NCAA rule that allows basketball programs to go on an international trip once every four years. In addition to competition, the Colonials will visit the Cliffs of Moher, the Blarney Castle and the Trinity Castle.
The Colonials return four starters and nine letterwinners in 2018-19 and
announced its latest recruiting class in May. In addition, senior guard
Josh Williams will become eligible for Robert Morris after transferring from Akron in April of 2017.
Returning as starters for RMU in 2018-19 are senior guard
Matty McConnell, sophomore guard
Jon Williams and sophomore forwards
Charles Bain and
Koby Thomas.
Thomas was named the 2018 Northeast Conference Rookie of the Year in a vote of league head coaches after providing averages of 12.0 points and a team-high 6.9 rebounds per contest. He became the fourth student-athlete in the last 12 years from the Colonials and fifth overall in program history to take home the top rookie honor. Thomas finished with 227 rebounds as a rookie, the second highest total by an RMU freshman in program history.
McConnell is the active leader for Robert Morris in games played (94), starts (85), points (784), assists (204) and steals (175). He cracked the top 10 for career steals last season and enters the 2018-19 season ranked ninth all-time while also being tied for 15th in school history for career starts. Last season McConnell provided the Colonials with averages of 10.8 points, 2.8 assists and 2.0 steals per contest.
RELATED: Robert Morris 2018-19 Roster
Jon Williams, along with Thomas, established a freshman record for starts by a rookie, as the duo each started RMU's 33 games last year.
Jon Williams averaged 6.7 points and 3.5 assists while shooting 43.3 percent (58-for-134) from beyond the arc, which ranked fifth in the NEC.
Bain appeared in all 33 games for Robert Morris, including starts in seven of the last eight games, an averaged 5.3 points and 2.9 rebounds per game.
In eight seasons under Toole, Robert Morris has compiled an overall record of 150-123 (.549), including a mark of 91-51 (.641) against NEC foes. Toole has guided the Colonials to a pair of NEC regular-season championships (2013, 2014) as well as the 2015 NEC Tournament title.
Since the beginning of the 2007-08 campaign, RMU has posted an overall record of 223-154 (.592) and has appeared in the NCAA Tournament three times (2009, 2010, 2015), the NIT three times (2008, 2013, 2014) and the 2012 CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament.
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