No team has made as many Northeast Conference tournament appearances as Robert Morris? 31. No team has won as many NEC titles as the Colonials? seven.
But while Robert Morris has the richest tournament history of any team in the league, recent history hasn?t been so kind.
The No. 2 seed Colonials make their sixth NEC championship game appearance in the past seven seasons at 7 p.m. today at No. 1 seed St. Francis (N.Y.). Of those past six appearances, Robert Morris has won only two trophies, back-to-back in 2009 and 2010.
Though the Colonials (18-14, 12-6 NEC) have not won the title since 2010, coach Andy Toole isn?t expecting a change of luck to happen magically.
?I don?t think you can look at it and say, ?Oh, it?s our time,? or, ?Oh, we?re due,? ? Toole said. ?Because I?m sure St. Francis Brooklyn thinks they?re due just like we do.?
The Terriers (23-10, 15-3) likely are more poised for a win, not only because they have been the most consistent and successful all season, but also because this championship would be their first. Toole said the Terriers are a physical and aggressive defensive team that does a great job forcing turnovers and taking opponents out of offensive position.
St. Francis also is home to two of the best players in the league. Senior forward Jalen Cannon, the league?s leading rebounder, and senior guard Brent Jones, a playmaker who controls the game?s pace, are both NEC first-team selections, while Cannon also is the player of the year. Toole said Robert Morris? ability to rebound consistently, something it has struggled to do, will likely determine the outcome.
The Colonials, on spring break this week, left for New York on a seven-hour bus ride Sunday, giving them an extra day in the city to practice and focus. Toole said while a championship can be exciting and nerve-wracking, it?s important for his players to control their emotions so they can adapt to whatever the game brings.
Last year, Robert Morris never recovered from Mount St. Mary?s hot start. Three years ago, Velton Jones injured a rib early in the game.
?We?ve been in this game a lot,? he said. ?The last few appearances haven?t worked out as well as we would have liked. But I think we?ve learned from it.?
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Matchup: Robert Morris (18-14) vs. St. Francis (N.Y.) (23-10), 7 p.m. today, Pope Physical Education Center, Brooklyn Heights, N.Y., Northeast Conference championship.
Robert Morris: Coming off a 66-53 semifinal win Saturday against Bryant. ... Sophomore G Kavon Stewart had 19 points, 8 assists and 7 steals ? all game highs and a career high in points and steals. ... Stewart has averaged 7.8 points, 6.2 assists and 2 steals per game in the Colonials? five-game winning streak. ... He ranks in the top-five of the NEC in assists, steals and assists-to-turnover ratio.
St. Francis (N.Y.): Coming off a 62-48 win Saturday against Saint Francis (Pa.). ... Senior F Jalen Cannon scored a game-high 20 points. ... Cannon is the conference?s leading rebounder, averaging 10.4 a game with 131 offensive and 212 defensive total in 33 games. ... He is also the fourth-best scorer, averaging 16.5 points per game.
Hidden stat: Robert Morris is 33-5 in five seasons under coach Andy Toole when converting 10 or more 3-pointers in a game.
But while Robert Morris has the richest tournament history of any team in the league, recent history hasn?t been so kind.
The No. 2 seed Colonials make their sixth NEC championship game appearance in the past seven seasons at 7 p.m. today at No. 1 seed St. Francis (N.Y.). Of those past six appearances, Robert Morris has won only two trophies, back-to-back in 2009 and 2010.
Though the Colonials (18-14, 12-6 NEC) have not won the title since 2010, coach Andy Toole isn?t expecting a change of luck to happen magically.
?I don?t think you can look at it and say, ?Oh, it?s our time,? or, ?Oh, we?re due,? ? Toole said. ?Because I?m sure St. Francis Brooklyn thinks they?re due just like we do.?
The Terriers (23-10, 15-3) likely are more poised for a win, not only because they have been the most consistent and successful all season, but also because this championship would be their first. Toole said the Terriers are a physical and aggressive defensive team that does a great job forcing turnovers and taking opponents out of offensive position.
St. Francis also is home to two of the best players in the league. Senior forward Jalen Cannon, the league?s leading rebounder, and senior guard Brent Jones, a playmaker who controls the game?s pace, are both NEC first-team selections, while Cannon also is the player of the year. Toole said Robert Morris? ability to rebound consistently, something it has struggled to do, will likely determine the outcome.
The Colonials, on spring break this week, left for New York on a seven-hour bus ride Sunday, giving them an extra day in the city to practice and focus. Toole said while a championship can be exciting and nerve-wracking, it?s important for his players to control their emotions so they can adapt to whatever the game brings.
Last year, Robert Morris never recovered from Mount St. Mary?s hot start. Three years ago, Velton Jones injured a rib early in the game.
?We?ve been in this game a lot,? he said. ?The last few appearances haven?t worked out as well as we would have liked. But I think we?ve learned from it.?
------------
Matchup: Robert Morris (18-14) vs. St. Francis (N.Y.) (23-10), 7 p.m. today, Pope Physical Education Center, Brooklyn Heights, N.Y., Northeast Conference championship.
Robert Morris: Coming off a 66-53 semifinal win Saturday against Bryant. ... Sophomore G Kavon Stewart had 19 points, 8 assists and 7 steals ? all game highs and a career high in points and steals. ... Stewart has averaged 7.8 points, 6.2 assists and 2 steals per game in the Colonials? five-game winning streak. ... He ranks in the top-five of the NEC in assists, steals and assists-to-turnover ratio.
St. Francis (N.Y.): Coming off a 62-48 win Saturday against Saint Francis (Pa.). ... Senior F Jalen Cannon scored a game-high 20 points. ... Cannon is the conference?s leading rebounder, averaging 10.4 a game with 131 offensive and 212 defensive total in 33 games. ... He is also the fourth-best scorer, averaging 16.5 points per game.
Hidden stat: Robert Morris is 33-5 in five seasons under coach Andy Toole when converting 10 or more 3-pointers in a game.
