Men’s Hoops vs Syracuse Game Day Post
Since there was somewhat of a success with the football open threads, we’re going to continue using them through basketball season, especially in the early portion of the schedule. After all, the Colonials don’t play in Moon Township until December, so the only way to follow Mike Rice’s squad is via television, radio, and the internet.
So, without further adieu, a preview of the 2009-2010 season opener.
ROBERT MORRIS (0-0, 0-0 NEC) at SYRACUSE (1-0, 0-0 Big East)
Location: 7pm at Carrier Dome in Syracuse, N.Y.
Television: ESPNU (Pittsburgh Comcast channel 266)
Radio: WPIT 730 AM
Web: rmucolonials.com, WPIT’s online media player, and follow the stats via your favorite college hoops site
Projected RMU starters: F Rob Robinson (6’8, 215, Sr.), F Dallas Green (6’8, 210, Sr.), F Russell Johnson (6’6, 180, So.), G Mezie Nwigwe (6’4, 195, Sr.), G Velton Jones (6’0, 170, So.)
Projected Syracuse starters: C Arinze Onuaku (6’9, 261, Sr.), F Rick Jackson (6’9, 249, Jr.), F Wes Johnson (6’7, 205, Jr.), G Andy Rautins (6’4, 195, Sr.), G Brandon Triche (6’4, 198, Fr.)
NOTES:
- Senior point guard is officially listed as questionable for the game. Langhurst broke his index finger on his shooting hand lifting weights about ten days ago. It’s more likely that Langhurst will return to action following the Penn State game on Nov. 16. If Langhurst does not play, redshirt freshman Velton Jones will take his place in the starting lineup.
- Langhurst, Mezie Nwgiwe, Dallas Green, Gary Wallace, and Khalif Foster are the only remaining RMU players that were part of the team that lost 87-81 to Syracuse in the NIT at the end of the 2007-2008 season. Foster was out with a knee injury. Langhurst had 15 points, Nwigwe had 8, Wallace had 6, and Green played just 6 minutes.
- As for Syracuse, only Rick Jackson, Arinze Onuaku, and Scoop Jardine played against the Colonials in that game and are still on the roster. Andy Rautins was on the roster but out all season. Jardine will play a role in Wednesday’s game. He missed all of 2008-2009 with an injury.
- The game is part of the 2K Sports Classic, benefiting Coaches v. Cancer. Syracuse is one of four host sites, joining California, North Carolina, and Ohio State. The old format featured the opportunity for upstart teams to make it to the semifinals at Madison Square Garden. But since the Gardner Webb’s of the world don’t bring in the big bucks, the promoters altered the format. The four host sites will move on to Madison Square Garden no matter what, while Robert Morris will be among the seven other teams split into two subregional pods. RMU will travel back to upstate New York on Nov. 20-22 to finish the tournament. Albany will host the Colonials, Detroit-Mercy, and Alcorn State. Florida International will host the other pod, with James Madison, North Carolina Central, and Murray State joining them.
- Syracuse beat Albany 75-43 in the opener of the Classic. Arinze Onuaku led the Orange with 14 points. Five scorers had 10+ points for Syracuse. The win was the 800th of Syracuse coach Jim Boehiem’s career.
- Future Colonial opponent Alcorn State was blown out by Ohio State 100-60.
Colonials were simply outsized and unprepared tonight. Looked really flat and had no emotion
hey russ johnson the season has begun
RMU’s youth showed. It’s going to be a roller coaster until about late December. Having those three games in Albany will be nice, because it’ll be three different teams and a lot of early minutes for some guys who are playing their first collegiate games.
Syracuse is likely the toughest opponent on the Colonials’ schedule this year, compounded by having to play the first game of the year in front of over 15,000 Syracuse fans made for a very challenging night.
Generally, for an NEC team to play a competitive game against a top tier program, the NEC team needs to have a great night shooting from the outside, and the top tier team needs to have an off night shooting from the outside. That was not the case last evening; Syracuse made 13 of 26 three point shots, while RMU made 6-23 three point shots. The top tier programs generally have superior inside players, and Syracuse is no exception. When the top tier team is having an excellent night shooting from the outside, combined with the superior inside players, it is just too much for even a very good NEC level team to stop.
With that said, there are a few positive items to pull out of the game stats:
Velton Jones playing in his first official college game had 15 points and 4 steals.
Karon Abraham, a true freshman, proved, despite his lack of height, that he can complete at any level. He scored 13 points. Look for him to be a consistent player in double figures, plus being a very aggressive defensive player.
Lijah Thompson, a true freshman, scored 5 points, had 5 rebounds, and an assist and a steal in only 7 minutes of play.
Brad Piehl, another true freshman, played 16 minutes and had a couple of points and 3 rebounds.
Russell Johnson, playing in his first official college game, was in the starting lineup. Johnson did not have a good night, but is a very talented player who should greatly improve as the season goes along.
Coron Williams, the last remaining newcomer, and true freshman, got in the game and had a couple of rebounds. Although, he missed his only two shots taken, both from behind the three point line, he is a very talented shooter.
Note – it seems there will be no players red shirted this year, since all of the newcomers were in the game.
Also, Rob Robinson had a double/double last night, 10 points and 11 rebounds, a nice accomplishment against a Big East power.
This is a team that clearly has the ability to get better game by game this year. Penn State will be another game against a team from a top tier conference, but the Colonials may have already faced their toughest opponent of the season.
Go Colonials!