Robert Morris women's, men's teams picked to finish 9th, 10th in Horizon League

The Robert Morris women’s and men’s basketball teams were picked to finish 9th and tenth, respectively, in their second season in the 12-team Horizon League, according to preseason polls released Tuesday by the league.

Horizon League head coaches voted in the women’s poll and a committee of media members, communication professionals and head coaches picked the men’s finish.

Sophomore forward Sol Castro was named to the women’s 2021-2022 Preseason All-Horizon League second team.

Castro, a native of Rio Colorado, Argentina, is the first Robert Morris player in nearly 20 years to lead the Colonials in scoring as a freshman (9.9 points per game). She averaged 5.5 rebounds per game and was named to the 2021 Horizon League All-Freshman Team.

The Colonials also return two other starters: graduate student Nina Augustin and senior Esther Castedo.

Coach Charlie Buscaglia, who is approaching his sixth season as Robert Morris’ head coach, will open the season with his team Nov. 9 at St. Bonaventure.

IUPUI, which received 11 first-place votes, has been picked as the preseason favorite, followed by Milwaukee, Green Bay, Northern Kentucky, Oakland, Cleveland State, Wright State, Youngstown State, RMU, UIC, Purdue Fort Wayne and Detroit Mercy.

Men’s coach Andy Toole, who is in his 12th season, returns two starters and three others who earned letters last season. Sophomore guard Kam Farris and senior forward Kahliel Spear combined to score 319 points. Faris shot 46.1% from beyond the 3-point arc and averaged 8.3 points per game. Spear averaged 9.9 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.3 blocks.

Toole has welcomed nine new players to the roster, including graduate transfers Rasheem Dunn and Ferron Flavors Jr. Dunn, a transfer from St. John’s who also played at St. Francis Brooklyn, has scored 1,407 career points and Flavors, who played at Oklahoma State, Fairfield and Cal Baptist, has recorded a career total of 905 points and 207 3-pointers.

Robert Morris opens the season Nov. 10 at Central Florida.

Defending Horizon Leaguge tournament champion Cleveland State received 30 first-place votes and was picked as the preseason favorite. Wright State, which received nine first-place votes, was picked second, followed by Northern Kentucky, Milwaukee, Detroit Mercy, Oakland, Youngstown State, UIC, Purdue Fort Wayne, RMU, Green Bay and IUPUI.