RMU Set for Second Run at Horizon League Tournament

Since leaving the Northeast Conference after the 2019-20 season, Robert Morris has struggled to regain its winning ways.

Capturing the 2020 NEC Tournament crown and earning a berth in the forgotten March Madness that wasn’t, RMU transitioned conferences to the Horizon League. 

The men’s basketball team failed to find their footing last season, finishing 4-15 and last in the conference at 3-12.

This season sparked a second-straight new beginning for Andy Toole’s team, only returning Kahliel Spear, Enoch Cheeks, Kam Farris, and Chase Cook while welcoming nine new members to Moon Township.

The results have not been much better.

Robert Morris sits 7-22 overall and 5-15 in conference play, situated 10th out of the Horizon League’s 12 teams with one game remaining.

RMU looks to snap a three-game losing streak Saturday night at Wright State.

An up-and-down season full of significant highs and lows has been frustrating and emotionally draining for Toole.

I asked RMU coach Andy Toole how emotionally taxing this season has been. He said “Have you ever been in a car accident? Not a bad one not a serious car accident but one where you maybe get rear ended and you’re just super sore. That’s been about the last four months of my life.”

— Austin Bechtold (@AustinRBechtold) February 20, 2022

Teams varying from the 5-12 spots in the standings will tip-off action beginning Tuesday. The higher seed hosts the game beginning at 7 p.m. local time.

The top four seeds in the conference receive first-round byes to the quarterfinals on Thursday.

Youngstown State (18-12, 12-8 Horizon League) is the 7th-place team entering Saturday’s game at Northern Kentucky. 

RMU’s last win was at YSU 73-68 on Feb. 13. The teams split their two matchups overall. Youngstown State won 64-60 at the UPMC Events Center on Jan. 5.

Detroit Mercy (13-13, 10-6) and Oakland (18-11, 11-7) both place ahead of the Penguins at the 5th and 6th-place seedings, respectively, due to winning percentage.

The Titans face second-place Purdue Fort Wayne and the Golden Grizzlies meet first-place Cleveland State.

RMU is locked into the 10th seed but will need to see how the other shoes drop between Detroit Mercy, Oakland, and Youngstown State to learn where the Colonials will be playing Tuesday night. 

Horizon League Standings:

1. 1. Cleveland State (15-5)
   2. Purdue Fort Wayne (14-6)
   3. Northern Kentucky (13-6)
   4. Wright State (14-7)
   5. Detroit Mercy (10-6)
   6. Oakland (11-7)
   7. Youngstown State (12-8)
   8. UIC (8-10)
   9. Milwaukee (8-13)
   10. Robert Morris (5-15)
   11. Green Bay (3-16)
   12. IUPUI (1-15)