1. Re-Toole-ing again
This year’s iteration of the Colonials features 11 new faces, and as many as 10 will vie for playing time. It’ll be a conundrum early for coach Andy Toole, who returns two starters — defensive-minded guard Dachon Burke and multifaceted wing Matty McConnell. Freshman guard Jon Williams drew praise from Toole and teammates and looked like a natural floor general in two exhibition games. Redshirt sophomore forward David Cole is the third and final scholarship player returning from last season and also should be in line for consistent minutes.
2. Finding offense
Robert Morris was one of the more offensively challenged teams in the Northeast Conference last year, ranking eighth out of 10 teams with an average of 64.4 points per game. The Colonials have a void to fill since Isaiah Still, the leading scorer last season at 15.7 points per game, transferred to Iona. Robert Morris lost 78 percent of its scoring over the offseason but returns two of their top four scorers in Burke and McConnell. And McConnell could be in for a breakout season. He scored a career-high 20 points and converted 6 of 9 3-pointers in Robert Morris’ first-round NEC tournament win against LIU Brooklyn. In RMU’s two exhibition games this season, he tallied 27 points and 5 steals, and 24 points and 6 steals, respectively.
3. Surviving the road
It could be a difficult opening stretch, as seven of Robert Morris’ first eight games will take place outside of Pittsburgh. The Colonials will open Nov. 10 at Ohio State and make stops in Phoenix, San Diego, Little Rock, Ark., and Albany, N.Y., before conference season kicks off Dec. 29 at Bryant. “Home” will look a little different after RMU’s old arena, Sewall Center, closed in the offseason. While the Colonials await the completion of UPMC Events Center, currently scheduled to open in January 2019, they will play their home games this season at PPG Paints Arena and Palumbo Center.
Robert Morris men’s basketball at a glance
2016-17 record: 14-19, 9-9 Northeast Conference, lost to Mount St. Mary’s in the second round of the NEC tournament
Coach: Andy Toole, eighth season, 134-106
Projected Starters
G — Jon Williams, Fr., 6-1 (NA)
G — Dachon Burke, So., 6-4 (7.6 ppg, 1.5 spg)
G — Matty McConnell, Jr., 6-2 (7.3 ppg, 1.6 spg)
F — David Cole, So., 6-7 (redshirted 2016-17)
F — Malik Petteway Jr., 6-8 (junior college transfer from Northwest Florida State)
Schedule
NOVEMBER
10 Ohio State, 7 p.m.
13 Grand Canyon, 10 p.m.
15 San Diego, 10 p.m.
19 Duquesne, 5:30 p.m.
24 Norfolk State, 6 p.m.
25 Little Rock, 4 p.m.
29 Youngstown State, 7 p.m.
DECEMBER
2 Siena, 2 p.m.
6 RIDER, 7 p.m.
10 DREXEL, 2 p.m.
16 Buffalo, 2 p.m.
19 N.C. State, 7 p.m.
22 CANISIUS, 7 p.m.
29 Bryant, 3 p.m.
31 Central Connecticut, 3:30 p.m.
JANUARY
4 ST. FRANCIS BROOKLYN, 7 p.m.
6 LIU BROOKLYN, 4 p.m.
11 SAINT FRANCIS, PA., 7 p.m.
13 Fairleigh Dickinson, 4:30 p.m.
18 Sacred Heart, 6 p.m.
20 Wagner, 4 p.m.
26 SACRED HEART, 7 p.m.
28 WAGNER, 2 p.m.
FEBRUARY
1 MOUNT ST. MARY’S, 7 p.m.
3 FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON, 2 p.m.
8 St. Francis Brooklyn, 7 p.m.
10 LIU Brooklyn, 4:30 p.m.
15 BRYANT, 7 p.m.
17 CENTRAL CONNECTICUT, 7 p.m.
22 Mount St. Mary’s, 7 p.m.
24 Saint Francis, Pa., 2 p.m.
Home games in CAPS
Omari Sankofa II: osankofa@post-gazette.com and Twitter @omarisankofa.
First Published: November 7, 2017, 12:00 p.m.
