Basketball, and sports in general are funny.
All season long the Colonials have struggled with consistent effort, particularly on the defensive side, and a lack of identity on the offensive end. Before tip, it was announced that the Colonials would be without their leader Lucky Jones, who supplies a lot of offense, and makes more hustle energy plays on the team than anyone (outside of maybe App). They would also be without their biggest body, Leo Gomis, who missed the game with a hamstring injury.
Things looked bleak, based on how the team had been playing, 0-3 to start the year at the Chuck, and the injuries. Then they went on to play their best game of the season, dominating Duquesne for their fifth straight win over their local rivals. Sometimes, a little adversity is all a team needs to pin their ears back and play with a fire, something Andy Toole has been searching for all season.
A few notes:
Rodney Pryor continues to be a great asset. He is now averaging 15.1 points-per-game, 3.7 rebounds-per-game, and 1 assist-per-game while shooting 51 percent from three (!!!!!!!!). That is out standing.
Against the Dukes, Pryor shot 9-12 from the field, 4-5 from three, and scored a game high 25. You can't help but compare him to Karvel Anderson. Both came from JC and slipped through the cracks. Both are marksmen from downtown, and both make some insane shots despite excellent defense. Anderson was able to expand his game, and it will be interesting to see Pryor develop, but so far he has been a success.
It was no coincidence that the Colonials played their best game offensively and Kavon Stewart played what was likely the best game of his career at RMU. Stewart went 1-8 from the field, but was able to convert 10 of 13 free throws and was in complete command of the offense the entire game. He was dynamic off the dribble, and set up teammates for easy shots. 11 assists to only two turnovers is fantastic.
Out of the freshman class, it's been Marcquise Reed that has gotten the most attention (for good reason too), but Saturday we saw two others throw their name out there. Elijah Minnie is figuring things out. The 6-8 local product (5.2 ppg, 3.7 rpg) produced his second straight 10 and 10 game. He's likely RMU's best interior player on both ends just nine games into his career.
We've seen flashes of great athleticism and good interior defense, but now we're starting to see the consistency. If he can continue to play with a high motor, he will be a valuable asset by seasons end.
Speaking of high motor guys, how about Andre Frederick?!?! Where did that come from? Frederick was a BEAST in the paint on the defensive end. He collected four blocks, altered many more shots, and cleaned things up on the glass. Him and Minnie were the best two bigs on the floor all game long, going against a team from the A-10. I would expect Frederick to have a chance to compete for minutes going forward. Stephan Bennett and Leo Gomis better pick it up.
The question now becomes this.... Can the Colonials bottle that effort, and mix Lucky Jones back into the rotation when he gets healthy? Toole now knows that his team has that type of effort in them. No excuses to not play with consistent effort over a 40 minute period.
As for the injuries, neither sound too serious at the moment. Gomis has a hammy problem that will need a few days to rest. Frederick played well enough to not force Gomis back into the lineup.
As for Jones, he tore ligaments in his middle finger on his shooting hand. It has been something he has battled for a few days now, and will likely need a bit of rest for it to truly heal. No timetable was given, but I would not be surprised to see RMU rest Jones and get that finger back to 100 percent for NEC play. We will see.
Andy Toole remains undefeated at 5-0 against the Dukes. Jim Ferry has yet to pick up a win over the Colonials, PSU, and or Pitt. I don't think his seat is hot yet, given the massive rebuild needed there, but he better start picking up some big wins. Duquense was flat out out coached and made no adjustments against a wounded team that had been struggling.
The Colonials will head to Toledo to play a tough Rockets team that is one of the better mid-majors in college basketball on Wednesday (espn3). It's likely a tougher matchup than the last non-conference game at Clemson. Sandwiched in between is a home game against a struggling Delaware team.
--Lee Kunkel
--@kunkel5
This post was edited on 12/14 9:05 PM by ColonialCrazy
All season long the Colonials have struggled with consistent effort, particularly on the defensive side, and a lack of identity on the offensive end. Before tip, it was announced that the Colonials would be without their leader Lucky Jones, who supplies a lot of offense, and makes more hustle energy plays on the team than anyone (outside of maybe App). They would also be without their biggest body, Leo Gomis, who missed the game with a hamstring injury.
Things looked bleak, based on how the team had been playing, 0-3 to start the year at the Chuck, and the injuries. Then they went on to play their best game of the season, dominating Duquesne for their fifth straight win over their local rivals. Sometimes, a little adversity is all a team needs to pin their ears back and play with a fire, something Andy Toole has been searching for all season.
A few notes:
Rodney Pryor continues to be a great asset. He is now averaging 15.1 points-per-game, 3.7 rebounds-per-game, and 1 assist-per-game while shooting 51 percent from three (!!!!!!!!). That is out standing.
Against the Dukes, Pryor shot 9-12 from the field, 4-5 from three, and scored a game high 25. You can't help but compare him to Karvel Anderson. Both came from JC and slipped through the cracks. Both are marksmen from downtown, and both make some insane shots despite excellent defense. Anderson was able to expand his game, and it will be interesting to see Pryor develop, but so far he has been a success.
It was no coincidence that the Colonials played their best game offensively and Kavon Stewart played what was likely the best game of his career at RMU. Stewart went 1-8 from the field, but was able to convert 10 of 13 free throws and was in complete command of the offense the entire game. He was dynamic off the dribble, and set up teammates for easy shots. 11 assists to only two turnovers is fantastic.
Out of the freshman class, it's been Marcquise Reed that has gotten the most attention (for good reason too), but Saturday we saw two others throw their name out there. Elijah Minnie is figuring things out. The 6-8 local product (5.2 ppg, 3.7 rpg) produced his second straight 10 and 10 game. He's likely RMU's best interior player on both ends just nine games into his career.
We've seen flashes of great athleticism and good interior defense, but now we're starting to see the consistency. If he can continue to play with a high motor, he will be a valuable asset by seasons end.
Speaking of high motor guys, how about Andre Frederick?!?! Where did that come from? Frederick was a BEAST in the paint on the defensive end. He collected four blocks, altered many more shots, and cleaned things up on the glass. Him and Minnie were the best two bigs on the floor all game long, going against a team from the A-10. I would expect Frederick to have a chance to compete for minutes going forward. Stephan Bennett and Leo Gomis better pick it up.
The question now becomes this.... Can the Colonials bottle that effort, and mix Lucky Jones back into the rotation when he gets healthy? Toole now knows that his team has that type of effort in them. No excuses to not play with consistent effort over a 40 minute period.
As for the injuries, neither sound too serious at the moment. Gomis has a hammy problem that will need a few days to rest. Frederick played well enough to not force Gomis back into the lineup.
As for Jones, he tore ligaments in his middle finger on his shooting hand. It has been something he has battled for a few days now, and will likely need a bit of rest for it to truly heal. No timetable was given, but I would not be surprised to see RMU rest Jones and get that finger back to 100 percent for NEC play. We will see.
Andy Toole remains undefeated at 5-0 against the Dukes. Jim Ferry has yet to pick up a win over the Colonials, PSU, and or Pitt. I don't think his seat is hot yet, given the massive rebuild needed there, but he better start picking up some big wins. Duquense was flat out out coached and made no adjustments against a wounded team that had been struggling.
The Colonials will head to Toledo to play a tough Rockets team that is one of the better mid-majors in college basketball on Wednesday (espn3). It's likely a tougher matchup than the last non-conference game at Clemson. Sandwiched in between is a home game against a struggling Delaware team.
--Lee Kunkel
--@kunkel5
This post was edited on 12/14 9:05 PM by ColonialCrazy
