According to tonight's radio broadcast, Koby is in uniform tonight but still ill, so he may not play much if at all.

So RMU split the Brooklyn trip. Pretty much what I expected. RMU just seems to struggle to keep the score low against LIU, and the Blackbirds are coming off an NCAA Tournament appearance.

Defense was outstanding against SFBK. Mendy and Petteway had big games. Fouls and turnovers a huge issue against LIU, though it was nice to see Josh Williams get a bit of his groove back.

RMU has a week off, since the NEC is playing on MLK Day. So the next game isn't until Saturday.

I hope this week leads to Koby Thomas returning. It looks like he warmed up and was in uniform against the Brooklyn teams, but he didn't play. I think RMU needs him, at least defensively. His length and athleticism can be a game changer.

Hopefully whatever's been going on with this illness/benching is over now. Koby needs to go hard in practice and Toole needs to put him back in the rotation. Play Josh and Jon 30 minutes, Matty 27-28, Treacy 15, Wilbon 12-15. Bain, Mendy, Petteway at 20 each. Coalmon 10. And slot Koby in at 15-20.

Albany defensive back is now at RMU for his graduate year. Missed last year due to injury but was starting strong safety for two years prior.

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2-0. That's all that matters right now.

Robert Morris and Sacred Heart are the only teams unbeaten in NEC play after the first weekend. It wasn't always pretty, but RMU got the job done this weekend against one of the favorites (FDU) and the team's top rival (Mount).

The fact that RMU played well defensively for extended stretches against both teams is definitely a good sign, though I'm sure Andy Toole would point out that it wasn't for long enough against either team. Saw some grit and good end of game management from the team in both games, too.

Matty McConnell had a solid weekend. His shot seems to be improving again. If he be a consistent double-figure guy for RMU, the team is much better off. Malik Petteway had a strong weekend. He's going to be vital here in NEC play because not every team has a guy like him inside. And how about Yannis Mendy stepping up Thursday night and Cam Wilbon stepping up Saturday? That's how you win games.

RMU is 6-1 at home, 1-7 on the road. Next four are on the road, beginning with the Brooklyn swing this weekend. Next four could say a lot about where this team is headed.

This year's team seems to be made up of a good group of players, two deep at every position. The non-conference games seemed to be marked by inconsistent efforts. Still, I think this team has the potential to be one of the better teams in the NEC with the opportunity to be in the mix to win the crown. We have players that have the potential to be all-conference this year, Josh Williams and Malik Petteway, and Charles Bain has the potential to be one of the better PF in the NEC. Of course, prior to the start of the season, we all thought Koby was our most likely all-conference player, so we shall see if he gets back on the court and starts to step it up. Jon and Matty, of course, are quality players. I think the new players on the team have made good progress and may take a step up this second semester, I am talking about Donte, Sayveon, Cam and Yannis. I like Chris Coalman's game also. He is not flashy, but he has nice size and can shoot and rebound. If this team is lacking a piece, it would be a player or two that brings toughness and the ability to step it up when the game is on the line. That is, players like Velton or Karvel. Malik appears to be the guy most likely to have that desire and toughness this year. He should do well competing in the NEC.

I wonder if RMU can petition to get him another year. Obviously he played too much last year to get a redshirt, but I was looking back and I don't think he played as a freshman in junior college. He's only 21.

He's just playing so well that it'd be such a lift to get him back for another year next season. He may up an All-NEC player with the way he's playing.

Good effort against Louisville in front of a crowd of over 16,000.
Does anyone know why Koby or Cam did not play?

Looks like Coach Clark is looking for a new defensive line coach.

http://careers.rmu.edu/cw/en-us/job/494152/assistant-coach-football-defensive-line

Would assume it's replacing Rafael Tolentino, because Delbert Tyler has been active on Twitter with recruiting.

RMU lost to Rider 69-50. Almost 30 turnovers.

What in the world is going on? That's four straight losses against beatable teams and a couple of them have been downright ugly. Team looks completely different than the one that opened up strong against USC and Missouri State and then won a few in a row.

First and potentially only commitment for the 2019 recruiting class. Olisa Ngonadi, a forward from National Christian Academy in Maryland, is a 6-foot-7 shot blocker and rebounder.

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Robert Morris has two scholarships available for 2019, as Matty McConnell and Malik Petteway will graduate Olisa Ngonadi just took one. The other is scheduled to go to Elijah Kiah El, who is not on the team this year but attending classes to get his academics in order. RMU will also have Philmon Gebrewhit next year. He's practicing with the team but is academically ineligible.

I'm sure RMU will keep recruiting for 2019, because transfers are a reality in college hoops. But if all goes well, they shouldn't need to add much.

Best defensive performance of the season and five guys in double figures.

https://rmucolonials.com/news/2018/11/28/mens-basketball-rmu-stays-perfect-at-home.aspx

Good test on the road coming Saturday against Drezel. Very winnable game.

Jon was truly an outstanding student/athlete at RMU, maybe more appropriately a scholar/athlete. After graduation, he went on to earn a Ph.D. in engineering at Carnegie Mellon. In his second year as head coach of Penn Hills High School, his team won a WPIAL championship yesterday.

Chris Shovlin‏@chrisshovlin
Congratulations @Coach_LeDonne on your 1st #WPIAL #Football #Championship at @PennHillsSD #Quips #Colonials @RMUFootball @colonialsradio #ColonialPride #GoColonials

Toughest game of the year coming up at 2pm today. RMU will have to bring their “A” game if they want to keep it a game vs a nationally ranked (24) Purdue team. Gonna have to limit turnovers & hit our threes today.

Odds: Purdue -25.5
TV: Big Ten Network
Radio: 970 AM, 106.3 FM

#GoRMU

There is a photo on the RMU web site of ten seniors posing for a picture. I'm assuming those guys are the ones graduating who were dressed today.

It includes:

QB Jimmy Walker
WR Warren Robinson
TE Matt Barr
LB Andrew Romanchak
LB Adam Wollet
DT Amir Fenwick
PK William Kirch
P Adam Check
DB Tevaul Brown
DB Joshua Pinkston

I'm assuming grad student DT Cameron Darley will be gone and one or two other older players may graduate early even if they weren't honored today.

That still isn't a huge senior class to replenish the cupboard, and this team is sorely lacking talent. So I definitely expect departures.

There's talent at running back and receiver, though both need to develop more and find more consistency. There's depth on the offensive line, so now it's up to the coaches to continue developing talent and keeping players around so RMU isn't playing freshmen and sophomores all the time.

George Martin is a promising QB but they definitely need to bring in two guys to flesh out the room.

The key is defense. They need starters and depth at every position. No one's job should be safe going into spring ball and training camp next year. And some guys should be encouraged to move on and maybe play at a lower level.

This is a critical class. Clark needs to trim the fat from the roster, get some immediate contributors, and get some good freshmen.

3 wins in a row for the guys. Petteway has looked really good, though I was unable to watch the stetson game, stats looked good.

Josh has been GREAT. What a player. So glad he came to RMU.

One plus this year is the team has a few players capable of putting up lots of points. Josh, John, Matty, KT, Petteway, Bain. Bench is solid! Could be a really good year, especially NEC wise. Purdue clearly will be tough, but while unlikely, there is a small chance for upset.

Overall I have been impressed with the team so far.

Great effort against a good EKU team. So, so close.

Let's face it, this has been a tough season. A win against Wagner would be significant in providing some optimism and enthusiasm for both the team and the fans. It would be great to pick up a Conference win and also have a win at home to end the season. Go Colonials

Just have been doing some thinking... If RMU leaves NEC for BBall, seems clear with moves the conference has made to add football teams and Lacrosse teams seems like any previous leverage to stay as a football only or lacrosse only member has been lost.

Realistic Bball and non football options are Horizon and MAAC. I would prefer MAAC because lacrosse would have a nice home, as well as many of the other sports.

Obviously, no Football in either conference. So what are the realalistic options? Pioneer (please no), independent full scholarship, mvfc (no chance), OVC (highly doubtful), Patriot (do not think for football only it is a good option for a multitude of reasons), big south (probably would like to add to members, lots of really strong teams).

I would vote for big south, not really close. The only thing that would be better is a new conference in totally. We could make a dream conference, but I think autobids take a few years, schools are not going to want to miss out on that $$$.

My best guess, and what I hope for, is MAAC and big south for football.

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Nice preview article at DK Sports. Among lots of interesting things, Toole says Petteway is expected back soon.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2018/08/07/usc-president-nikias-sex-abuse-scandal/932101002/

Talked to someone today about this topic, didn’t think anything about it and then I remembered. The men’s team just played at USC. The Howard’s were there at USC.

Hmmmmmm

Curious for you guys more in tune with bball. When is last time 2 D3 games were scheduled? Is it due to playing at the student center? Just curious.

New video from RMU previewing USC. Toole talks about Malik Petteway's return and what the lineup might look like towards the end of it.

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