First, the coverage begins with
Eric Hall at the Beaver County Times. He has a couple bits of information, including news on captains, walk-ons, and confirming Russell Johnson's Prop 48 status. It feels right to read the first major basketball article of the fall.
Now, for tonight's events...
Maybe it was just because they were sharing the floor with world renowned trampolinists. Maybe it was just the excitement of real practice and real basketball beginning for the first time in 2008-2009.
Or maybe Robert Morris fans are in for a treat.
Seemingly taking inspiration from the world-renowned trampolinists that were part of the Robert Morris "Meet the Colonials" opening practice session Thursday night, Mike Rice's men's basketball team displayed a high tempo, physical, and high-flying team that looked very impressive.
It's night one of a long preparation before the trip to St. Bonaventure in November, but the Colonials could be described in three words: Hungry, athletic, and confident.
Jeremy Chappell's Blue team topped Jimmy Langhurst's White team 25-24 in the 20-minute practice scrimmage, with Gary Wallace hitting a jumper in the last couple of seconds that had even Mike Rice a bit pumped up. Rice roamed the sidelines while Jimmy Martelli and Andrew Toole coached the two teams.
Chappell and newcomer Rob Robinson were the stories of the session, and for Robinson, the excitement began in warmups. Apparently taking cue from the "halftime" trampoline show, the 6'7 215 junior transfer from the Globe Institute showed impressive athleticism on several warmup dunks. For Colonials fans used to more stationary post players like Iffy Ehirim or AJ Jackson, Robinson will provide a stunning contrast. He moves a bit like Chappell, just 5 or 6 inches taller.
Speaking of "The Chappell Show", it appears that the senior guard didn't leave his shooting touch at the Pittsburgh Summer League. He was one of few players to show little issue with the deeper three-point line, and his shot seems even smoother than in years past. He's also stronger, faster, and more confident.
No surprise he's been named a captain along with Jimmy Langhurst.
As a whole, the team looked surprisingly crisp for its first public session. Foul shots were an issue, but the passing, vision, and defense were all better than expected. Several players tried to test their range with the new 3-point line and failed miserably, but that will come with more familiarity and more shots with hands in their face in practice.
Other quick observations, just in going down the roster:
- #1 Robinson's display tonight and the fact he was heavily featured leads me to believe he'll be a starter. The other forward spot seems to be in contention from several players.
- #2 Mezie Nwigwe seems stronger, but he hasn't lost his speed. If Rice goes small with his starters, Nwigwe could get the call. Otherwise, he'll be the first guy off the bench.
- #3 Velton Jones ran the point a bit behind Gary Wallace on the Blue team. He'll be a bit of a work in progress, but he had a decent showing in controlling the pace of the scrimmage.
- #5 Bateko Francisco looks stronger and more willing to go to the hoop on offensive drives. His defense is up there again. How he fits into the offense and how consistent he's an offensive threat will be an interesting development.
- #11 Iffy Ehirim sort of fell off the map last year. He seemed more willing to fight for the basketball, but he has quite a few people to fight off for playing time.
- #12 Jimmy Langhurst might be the other one with Chappell to have no problem with the new 3-point line. He hit one or two and was back distributing the basketball.
- #14 Gary Wallace surprised everyone in the building when he didn't take the inbounds pass and dish it to Chappell for the winning shot. He took it himself, and whether it was that decision or the fact he drilled it confidently, he got his head coach to "Oooh!" You get Mike Rice to do that and your night is made.
- #15 Khalif Foster looked a bit rusty with his shot. It looked like he tweaked something late in the scrimmage, but it didn't appear serious.
- #24 Dallas Green is in the doghouse because of his academics. He's academically ineligible for the first semester.
- #25 Will Royal also looked rusty. It's likely no coincidence that Royal and Foster, the two guys recovering from season-ending injuries, are the guys that looked rusty.
- #34 Jason Burns showed excellent defense if a bit of an erratic shot. You can see why the Colonials originally thought about Jason at a prep school, as he definitely is a lanky guy. He showed a willingness to grab rebounds and get dirty off the bench, though.
- #44 Josiah Whitehead is the opposite of Robinson. Where Robinson is lanky and soaring above the opposition, Whitehead is a bull barelling through them. He'll draw plenty of charging calls on defense, although the faster Robinson did get the better of him on several occasions.
There are two walk-ons on the roster. As we learned from Eric Hall, Mark Javens is not one of them. I did not get the name of the second, but one is Malik Singleton. He was the only one to get his name mentioned over the PA system, although both walk-ons played sparingly.
Also, this team appears even closer than last year. Good news for those who love chemistry.
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As for the women's team, their performance was a bit sloppier. Without Sade Logan, the Lady Colonials began their title defense working in six different newcomers at multiple positions across the floor. One of them had a homecoming of sorts, as former Woodland Hills student Monica Jones is now a Colonial after spending time at Howard College. Astute Colonials fans might remember that Jones originally signed a letter of intent with the Colonials three years ago. She never made it to RMU and ended up at Howard College in Texas. Jones was a focus tonight, getting several buckets along with Kendra Williams and Angela Pace. Pace and Williams will no doubt be the offensive focus with Logan out.
The team looks to be close - again - and that will help.
Some notes, plus the roster:
- #2 Tiffany McMillion (6'3 sophomore) might be more of a presence inside with Chinata Nesbit gone.
- #3 Sade Logan (6'0 senior).
- #4 Angela Pace (5'10 senior). Shot looks good early. Sometimes it can wander off over the summer, but like Chappell, she seems to be in good form early.
- #5 Monet Johnson (5'11 junior). Transfer from Monroe College was a
juco All-American last year and is a national champion. Could she be another Nesbit/Monsac juco snag for Coach Sal?
- #11 Destiny Harrison (5'8 sophomore). Might be the candidate for most improvement, as she didn't play much last year and looked strong, confident, and in control Thursday night.
- #12 Shakeena Cunningham (5'7 sophomore). With Logan out, Kendra Williams and Cunningham might be teamed up in the backcourt. The Buffalo native will need to improve her ball control though if she's going to run the point instead of the accomplished Bronx native.
- #14 Mary Durojaye (6'2 freshman). London calling? The England native was a member of the
U-18 English National Team and played for the
Barking Abbey basketball school.
- #20 Grace Williams (6'1 senior). She'll be relied on the most to help replace Nesbit, likely getting more minutes and potentially becoming more of an offensive force.
- #21 Kendra Williams (5'7 senior). Likely the number one offensive option with Logan out.
- #22 Monica Jones (5'10 junior). As mentioned already, she's a transfer from Howard College, a juco in Texas.
- #23 Aqueelah Watkins (5'11 junior). Watkins is a Nebraska native, but she's on her way in from Howard College as well. No doubt a nice two-fer by Charlie Buscaglia as he went to check up on Jones.
- #24 Bianca Hooten (5'11 sophomore). Transfer from Bowling Green, so I don't believe she's eligible this year unless she transfered last semester. She comes highly rated, too, according to the Adidas All-Star Report.
- #42 Gianna Woods (6'0 freshman). Looks like Coach Charlie was all over the place on the recruiting trail. Texas. London. And sunny Long Beach, California to pick up Woods. We'll see how much she plays as freshman tend to sit a bit under Coach Sal.
So there's a roster. Finally! The ladies have a lot to work on though to get a 3rd straight title, but if we've learned one thing under the Buscaglia reign, it's to never count out the Colonials.
