Three thoughts: Aaron Tate game winner saves Colonials season

[ColonialCrazy]

Wasn't pretty, but at this point, nobody in the RMU locker room cares. Coming off one of the hardest regular season loss's in the Andy Toole era, Robert Morris came out lackadaisical and struggled with a three win Central Connecticut team all game long. They did not lead for one second in the second half, but Aaron Tate's tip in bounced in as the buzzer went off, and the Colonials walked away with a desperately needed W.

Three thoughts:

Aaron Tate may have saved the Colonials season. Losers of three of the past four games including Thursday night against LIU, RMU was spiraling in the wrong direction. A loss at home to lowly CCSU would have been killer. The team, frustrated and discouraged the other night would have been in a huge pickle. After the game winner, Andy Toole said "We needed this game in the worst way. I'm happy for Aaron Tate. He has good collateral with the basketball gods." After the win, RMU got a bit more luck, as SFPA and Bryant both lost. Robert Morris is now tied for second with Bryant. A loss, and they could have fallen all the way to 6th.

While it seemed the whole team was sleep walking, two freshmen sparked the comeback. Marcquise Reed carried the load, and Elijah Minnie provided some extra offense with a few huge put backs. With Lucky Jones suspended due to a violation of team rules, it was up to Reed to spark the team. The freshman delivered in a big way, scoring the basketball, and picking off a few clutch steals. Minnie was the best forward on the court for Robert Morris. Gutty effort from the two youngsters.

Now the biggest question...can the Colonials take advantage? They had zero business winning this game, but found a way. As mentioned above, they got some nice help around the league and are back in the drivers seat for the two seed in the NEC tournament. A difficult roadtrip awaits --games at Sacred Heart and Bryant-- and we still don't know the status of Lucky Jones (suspension) and David Appolon (injury). If they can get the seniors back, figure out some of the puzzling questions that have plagued the team all season, a run at a championship is still possible. There are a lot of "if's" in that statement, but even "if's" didn't seem possible around 1:30pm EST.

Disclaimer: TV game, and the team needed a win....arena was dead! Come on Colonial Crazies! Two more home games remain, and they will be huge! #PackTheChuck for the Wagner and SFPA (senior night for Lucky Jones and David Appolon) game![/B]

--Lee Kunkel
--@Kunkel5
This post was edited on 2/14 4:32 PM by ColonialCrazy

 

[Carlester]

Crazy swing - down by double digits in the second half with things looking bleak to Quise leading the charge to get us back and Aaron's heroics to finish the day back in 2nd Place. You have to give the guys credit fighting to the end. Sure hope Lucky gets things figured out - I'd hate to see him waste the last month of a great career. This is going to be one wild NEC tourney as anyone can beat anyone, tons of close games every night.

Go Colonials!

 

[ColonialCrazy]

Carlester, I could not have said it any better. This tournament is going to be insane. No way to predict it to be honest. St. Francis Brooklyn will surely wrap up the one seed here in the next week or so, but even they look vulnerable. Sacred Heart had them on the ropes yesterday, and the Pios will likely be the 8 seed.

I think --much like MSM last season-- whoever gets hot at the right time will have a huge leg up, no matter their seed. LIU Brooklyn looks like that team right now, but have they peaked to early? We still have about 2 1/2 weeks until the tournament starts, and for a young team, that's a long time to sustain this level of play.

One thing to remember as we come down the stretch. No team has EVER won the NEC tournament that was seeded outside the top 4. It will be crucial that RMU at least guarantees themselves one home game. The Mount almost did it two years ago, but lost to LIU in the title game after winning at Bryant and RMU.

 

[Carlester]

LOTS of pressure on SFNY. Being the favorite, #1 seed and trying for their first ever tourney berth certainly puts a ton of weight on their shoulders. As far as we go, I wouldn't be surprised if we won seven straight or lost five in a row. We've been all over the place. It would definitely help if we had a full complement of players. Going to the press yesterday really helped, hope we do some more of that as it seemed to make us more engaged in our zone as well. Go Colonials!