Robert Morris looks to find footing in 3rd year in Horizon League

In early March of 2020, the Robert Morris men’s basketball squad was riding high.

After finishing the regular season tied for second place in the Northeast Conference, the Colonials plowed through the NEC Tournament, defeating St. Francis in the title game to claim the league’s automatic bid for the upcoming NCAA Tournament.

At that point, on March 10, 2020, coach Andy Toole had captured his sixth 20-win campaign at the helm in Moon, with the Colonials set to appear in the Big Dance for the second time under his leadership.

However, the jubilation following RMU’s conference tournament championship proved to be short-lived, as about 48 hours later, the NCAA Tournament was canceled for the first time since its creation in 1939 due to the developing covid-19 pandemic.

Much has obviously changed since then, in the world and with the Colonials.

In June of 2020, Robert Morris announced it was leaving the NEC for the Horizon League.

But by then, the Colonials had all but put a bow on their roster for the 2020-21 campaign. Battling covid restrictions and with a lineup that was designed to compete at the NEC level, Robert Morris went 4-15 overall and 3-12 in its first season in the Horizon League.

This past season wasn’t much brighter, although it did mark a bit of an improvement — the Colonials finished 10th in the 12-team league, compared to last in 2019-20.

Needless to say, the transition from the NEC to the Horizon League hasn’t been without bumps in the road.

“We didn’t have a chance to maybe upgrade certain positions. The first year was tough,” Toole said.

“And last year, we tried to go into the transfer portal and thought we could accumulate as much talent as possible. A lot of guys who had Division I stats were on our roster and that created some buzz and excitement, but I don’t think we ever really became a true team.”

Now, as Robert Morris gears up for its third year in the Horizon League and the 13th under Toole’s leadership, the Colonials hope to find a footing within their new conference.

Lending confidence is that Robert Morris returns four starters, led by graduate forward Kahliel Spear, who, in his final year of collegiate eligibility, is looking to build on an already solid resume.

The 6-foot-8 big man led the Horizon League by shooting 55.1% from the floor last year (188 of 341), pacing Robert Morris in both points (14.7) and rebounds (7.7) per game.

An All-Horizon League Third Team selection last year, Spear, an economics major at RMU who also earned All-Academic honors in 2021-22, was named to the preseason all-league second team in mid-October.

“I think I’ve evolved a lot,” said the Bucknell transfer in his third year at Robert Morris. “My first year, I came on the scene and not very many people knew me. Last year, a little bit more attention and I was able to grow and show what I can do.

“I feel like I’ve only grown even more in areas of being more comfortable, knowing the offense, helping my teammates, being a leader and then scoring on the perimeter.”

Backing up Spear is a capable returning backcourt of senior point guard Michael Green III and junior two-man Enoch Cheeks.

Cheeks was the only Colonial last year besides Spear to start all 32 games, while Green contributed 10.4 points per game and a 40.4% conversion rate from the floor.

Robert Morris also returns another piece of the frontcourt in senior Matt Mayers, who, in just under 18 minutes per game, averaged 6.0 points and 4.4 rebounds.

Toole also beefed up his roster with some transfer portal additions in junior guard Josh Corbin (Winthrop) and sophomore forward Kevin Martina (Sam Houston).

Plucking sophomore Jackson Last out of the JUCO (Salt Lake Community College) ranks should add further depth at guard, as well.

“They’ve jelled really well,” Toole said of his transfers. “Some of those guys have really impacted the quality of our practices and the competitiveness of our practices, and those were things that we needed.

“I think we brought in some guys that have great passion for the game, guys that enjoy being in the gym, guys that enjoy competing. I think that’s really changed the atmosphere around our day-to-day work.”

Also looking to contribute will be a trio of true freshmen in guards Ben Krystkowiak and T.J. Wainwright plus forward Stephaun Walker. Krystkowiak is the son of former Montana and Utah coach Larry Krystkowiak.

According to the Horizon League preseason poll, voted on by league head coaches, sports information directors and media, the Colonials are expected to inch up the standings a bit this year, with a projected eighth-place finish.

“Our goal is to be able to finish in the top four, buy ourselves a first-round bye in the Horizon League Tournament and then take it from there and win a championship,” he said. “I see us all doing that. We’re all in here individually, extra work every day.

“As a team, we’re together, we’re bought in, we’re listening to coach (Toole) and we’re working hard every day. Competitiveness has never been anything that we’ve lacked in my three years here, and I can say that again for this year.”