The wait is over for Robert Morris University as the road to March Madness begins tonight.
With their Northeast Conference quarterfinal match up on the docket, the seventh seeded Colonials travel to Maryland to face the second seeded Mount St. Mary?s Mountaineers.
They are two teams traveling in vastly different directions. The Colonials, who once were found at the top of the NEC standings, have fallen back to finish 15-16 in regular season play, winning only two of their last 11 decisions since late January.
In contrast, the Mountaineers have surged in the standings, defeating eight of their last 10 foes since Jan. 25 and finishing with 12 conference wins. Out of the 12 conference wins, the Mountaineers had a season sweep of the Colonials.
The home standing Mountaineers look poised to be a threat to punch their ticket into the big dance.
Robert Morris must find a quick cure for their collective ailments of February or a season which started with such promise will be abruptly casted away. It is a task easier said than done, as the Colonials got handled decisively by the Mountaineers, losing by 25 and 19 points, respectively.
Mount St. Mary?s barnstormed the Colonials early in the first meeting. They shot seven of their 16 total field goals found the net from downtown. Finding the bucket with regularity in the first half became secondary to the defensive clinic on display.
The Mount forced 10 Colonial turnovers in the first 20 minutes and held them to under 20 percent shooting. Meanwhile, they held Dachon Burke to a single field goal and two total points.
A shorthanded RMU squad was held to 15 points in the half, as Matty McConnell did not dress for this one-sided affair.
The Colonials went 17-57 overall from the field and committed 19 turnovers. Mount St. Mary?s came into Pittsburgh and conquered the Colonials, 67-42.
The second meeting was the same script, different theatre.
An abundance of scoring for the Mountaineers ensued, filling the scoresheet with five players in double-figures.
The Mount matched their defensive effort from the first contest, forcing 19 more turnovers. That?s a combined 38 turnovers in two games. Despite allowing Burke and McConnell to combine for 30 points, the Mountaineers did not allow another Colonial player into double-figures, cruising to a season sweep of Robert Morris, 72-53.
The most decisive factor in the two regular season contests were turnovers.
Robert Morris lost this particular battle, 38-15. The Mountaineers collected 53 points off of turnovers against the Colonials.
To send the Mountaineers home early, protecting the basketball and not giving away extra possessions is critical.
Burke and McConnell lead the team in steals currently for Robert Morris. To extend the season, it would require them to set the bar defensively this evening. The two unquestioned ?Colonial Generals? have the power to send a clear cut message to not only their squad, but the Mountaineers as well.
An efficient and fast start is exactly what the doctor can prescribe for a victory tonight.
The table is set.
The most exciting stretch of the basketball season has arrived.
With their Northeast Conference quarterfinal match up on the docket, the seventh seeded Colonials travel to Maryland to face the second seeded Mount St. Mary?s Mountaineers.
They are two teams traveling in vastly different directions. The Colonials, who once were found at the top of the NEC standings, have fallen back to finish 15-16 in regular season play, winning only two of their last 11 decisions since late January.
In contrast, the Mountaineers have surged in the standings, defeating eight of their last 10 foes since Jan. 25 and finishing with 12 conference wins. Out of the 12 conference wins, the Mountaineers had a season sweep of the Colonials.
The home standing Mountaineers look poised to be a threat to punch their ticket into the big dance.
Robert Morris must find a quick cure for their collective ailments of February or a season which started with such promise will be abruptly casted away. It is a task easier said than done, as the Colonials got handled decisively by the Mountaineers, losing by 25 and 19 points, respectively.
Mount St. Mary?s barnstormed the Colonials early in the first meeting. They shot seven of their 16 total field goals found the net from downtown. Finding the bucket with regularity in the first half became secondary to the defensive clinic on display.
The Mount forced 10 Colonial turnovers in the first 20 minutes and held them to under 20 percent shooting. Meanwhile, they held Dachon Burke to a single field goal and two total points.
A shorthanded RMU squad was held to 15 points in the half, as Matty McConnell did not dress for this one-sided affair.
The Colonials went 17-57 overall from the field and committed 19 turnovers. Mount St. Mary?s came into Pittsburgh and conquered the Colonials, 67-42.
The second meeting was the same script, different theatre.
An abundance of scoring for the Mountaineers ensued, filling the scoresheet with five players in double-figures.
The Mount matched their defensive effort from the first contest, forcing 19 more turnovers. That?s a combined 38 turnovers in two games. Despite allowing Burke and McConnell to combine for 30 points, the Mountaineers did not allow another Colonial player into double-figures, cruising to a season sweep of Robert Morris, 72-53.
The most decisive factor in the two regular season contests were turnovers.
Robert Morris lost this particular battle, 38-15. The Mountaineers collected 53 points off of turnovers against the Colonials.
To send the Mountaineers home early, protecting the basketball and not giving away extra possessions is critical.
Burke and McConnell lead the team in steals currently for Robert Morris. To extend the season, it would require them to set the bar defensively this evening. The two unquestioned ?Colonial Generals? have the power to send a clear cut message to not only their squad, but the Mountaineers as well.
An efficient and fast start is exactly what the doctor can prescribe for a victory tonight.
The table is set.
The most exciting stretch of the basketball season has arrived.
