Robert Morris University (#15, Midwest, Minneapolis pod)
vs. Michigan State (#2)
Fri. 3/20 at about 9:50 pm
Vegas Line: +16.5
General Profile
Location: Moon Township. Pennsylvania
Conference: Northeast — Tournament Champion
Coach: Mike Rice, hired 2007. Record at Robert Morris = 50-18.
08-09 Record: 24-10 (15-3)
Last 12 Games: 9-3, won 5.
Best Win: vs Mount St. Mary’s, 48-46, on 3/11/09 for the NEC tournament title.
Worst Loss: at Monmouth, 57-60, on 2/19/09.
Off. Efficiency Rating: 101.3 (170th)
Def. Efficiency Rating: 97.3 (91st)
Nuts n Bolts
Star Player(s): Jeremy Chappell (6’3″ senior guard), 16.9 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 2.5 spg, and over 85% from the FT line.
Unsung Hero: Rob Robinson (6’8″ junior forward), 11.4 ppg, 5.6 rpg and shoots almost 53% from the field.
Potential NBA Draft Pick: None.
Key Injuries: No significant injuries.
Depth: 34.6% mins. (89th nationally)
Achilles Heel: Taking care of the ball. RoMo gives up 15.1 TOs per game, 279th in the nation.
Will Make a Deep Run if…: …they can take care of the ball and Chappell catches fire. And some divine intervention wouldn’t hurt. Doesn’t hurt that they shoot 39.7% from three, 17th in the nation.
Will Make an Early Exit if…: …they are intimidated by their opponent and the TV cameras.
Last Year Invited: 1992.
Streak: One year.
Best NCAA Finish: 1983; went 1-1, winning in the preliminary round then losing to Purdue in the Round of 64.
Historical Performance vs. Seed (1985-present): n/a
Other
Distance to First Round Site: 860 miles
School’s Claim to Fame: Named after a Declaration of Independence signer and a man who helped pay for the Revolutionary War.
School Wishes It Could Forget: That there’s a Robert Morris College in Chicago. And RMU’s last three first-round games? Kansas, UCLA, Arizona. Not exactly friendly draws.
Prediction: Another tough draw to add to the list — so likely another 0-1.
Major RTC stories: NEC Wrapup and Tourney Preview
Preview written by: John Stevens, Rush The Court.